K Raghavendra Rao was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement award at the MAA cine awards function held in Hyderabad yesterday. After he was presented with the award, ANR, D Ramanaidu and Chiranjeevi lavished praises on him.

ANR recalled his long-time association with the celebrated director. "He knows how to raise the level of a film through background score. When he endeavoured to make a film on Annamayya's life, many debunked both him and Nagarjuna. He later proved his immense talent through that film."

Ramanaidu said that his family was indebted to KRR's family. "His father, Prakash Rao garu, was instrumental in helping me hold myself in the industry. Later, it was through his film, Kaliyuga Pandavulu, that my son debuted as a hero."

Chiranjeevi said that he knew so much about KRR, that he could publish a book on him! "I got the opportunity to work with him after 49 films. Allu Arjun was lucky enough to debut under his direction. I am proud of the fact that I have done more number of films under his direction than even NTR had done. It was after Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari that I came to be called the Megstar. He gave a new lease of life to someone like Jitendra. His age may be 70, but he is 17 at heart."