The Akkineni family celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao. They unveiled his Panchaloha statue in Annapurna Studios. Former Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, and several others attended the event. The statue was inaugurated by Venkaiah Naidu.
While speaking at the event, Venkaiah Naidu said, “ANR was a great actor and a great human being. He was a man who upheld values. We should make speaking the Telugu language a habit in our life. He was an acting university. If the present generation imparts great qualities of ANR, they can improve their lives. Only a very few people live even after their passing, and ANR is one among them. He was a great philosopher. Cinema is more powerful tool than politics.”
Naga Chaitanya said, “I’m glad that I got to work with my grandfather in his last movie Manam. It indeed was a high point in my life. Whenever I visit Annapurna Studios, the only thought in me is how one man’s extraordinary vision became a reality. The legacy of ANR is truly an encyclopedia and this statue is our humble tribute to that. I’m fortunate to be born into the Akkineni family that has the foundational values of Akkineni Nageswara Rao. ANR lives on!”
Nagarjuna said, “It was imprinted in my mind from a young age that if I see someone’s idol, what I feel is that he was a great person and he was not with us. I didn’t see this statue until Venkaiah Naidu garu unveiled it. Because we have to accept the fact that father is not with us. He is the person who filled our hearts with love. Annapurna Studio is his favorite place. Installing his statue here is like infusing life into it. He is with us now.”