Padmabhushanudiki Mega Sanmanam Part - II
- IndiaGlitz, [Monday,April 24 2006]
All the celebrities were called on to the dais and Chiranjeevi was garlanded by Big B Amitabh Bachhan also also honored him with a Shawl.
Amitabh Bachchan expressed his feelings by saying: "I am very happy to attend such a wonderful celebration to this wonderful person and great actor "Chiranjeevi". He invited me 3 times " 1. For the success for his film 2. For his daughterÂs marriage and 3. For todayÂs function. I could not make it for the first two but I am very happy to be here. This is unheard off and unseen off that for one person the entire telugu film industry has come together to honor him, congratulate him at one place/stage. He has been a man of great humility. It is difficult to be successful all the times, but Chiranjeevi has proved again that humility and dedication make a person to remain on top forever. Hire is a great myth in India that Hindi Cinema is the largest cinema. The largest cinema in this country is Telugu Cinema. The largest number of films which are made in this country are made in Telugu and I do not think I am wrong in saying that even commercially also Telugu Cinema is larger than any other cinema in this country. He is the "Megastar" of Telugu Cinema and ÂKing of Cinema of this country. I wish him everlasting life and success and may he continue his dedication and humility for years to come". Chiranjeevi said, "My heart felt thanks to all India Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan. Mr. Bachchan is immortal as he got a place in the hearts of millions of people. For me Amitabh Bachchan is a guiding force and lie a lighthouse the ocean, but Mr. Bachchan has got no other Bachchan to guide him. I am fortune enough to that extent. On behalf of whole Andhra I pray God for BachchanÂs good health and long life. In 1982 when he was seriously ill lot of Indians prayed for his recovery and my parents performed Rudrabhishekham in Nellore. Since then my family has become one of the families who own Bachchan. I owe to him a lot and thanks to Bachchan".
During ChiranjeeviÂs speech he read out a poem written by late Harivamsa Rai Bachhan, the father of Amitabh Bachchan, the summary of which is "a person should be able to reserve some place for him in anothers heart. It is a real asset". Mr. Bachhan took leave and at the end of the function Chiranjeevi said "I am unable to express my happiness in words. So many people came and blessed me. I do not know how to thank them and they have all strengthened me, encouraged me, I really owe to them. I never liked felicitations and this is the first felicitation I have agreed to. But this time, I said yes because I am getting so many elders blessing in the name of felicitations. By seeing my heroines I could not believe that so much was there in the past. Now I could recollect my past days and feel very happy that they all have come so long to wish me. Generally I do not like to live in past but after seeing all my Heroines, directors, producers, technicians my golden days in the past have come into my mind. In 1977 for the first time when I have entered the Madras Film Institute, Dasari Narayana Rao and D V S Raju were there and I became very nervous on seeing them. I could not perform well on that day because of tension but Dasari encouraged me and asked me to dance and thatÂs how I joined the film institute. I used to spend money very economically in those days. I believe for any person behavior is very is very important. I always tried to be in good books of my directors/producers. I never criticized anybody and always tried to encourage new talents even though how small they are, because many people criticized me when I started my career and I know how one feels on being criticized. I am very thankful to my industry members and everyone present here. My special thanks to Allu Aravind and all the directors/producers, dance master Sundaramgaru helped me a lot in changing my dance sequences always and thank him for his guidance and support".
Mohan Babu said, "Firstly, we thought of felicitating Chiranjeevi from Movie Artists Association but some Income Tax problem arised. However, the entire Telugu Film industry came forward and did the function. We are like a family.
"Chiranjeevi" means forever and our Chiranjeevi should also have long life". He presented a shawl to Chiranjeevi personally to Megastar and felicitated him on behalf of MAA as president of MAA. Pavan Kalyan said, "Chiranjeevi" is power. I am fortunate enough to be closely associated with him right from my childhood. I got very much inspired by Mohan BabuÂs words and Chiranjeevi knowsw only love and tries to share it to whomsoever he comes across. He has a great feeling for poor and that feel is todayÂs "Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust". WE will dedicate ourselves to Annayyas cause and be always with him".
Dasari Narayana Rao said, "Today is a new festival i.e. "Telugu Cine Festival". If it would be some other function this type of response will not be there because it is our megastarÂs function, such fervor is there here. He is the 3rd person in telugu film industry to get Padma Bhushan after Shri A. Nageswara Rao and Shri Jaggaiah. He had seen the past generation and seeing the present generation also. He is very fortunate enough because he has closely associated with that era and now also playing an active role in the present era. He is the youngest person to receive Padmabhushan and an example of a person who came from scrap and reached sky with his sincerity and devotion. His efforts paid him. He has touched almost all the producers, directors and technicians not only of Telugu Film Industry but of all South India. He never hurt anybody and formed of web of his men around him. Telugu Industry responded to the achievements of Chiranjeevi and today honoured him. Society has some ill feelings about the film industry that the heroines are not good are all the ame are drunkards etc. but it is not so. We have doctorates, Padma SriÂs and Padmabhushans with us. I believe in discipline and this discipline has made Chiranjeevi to go to such heights. Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust has achieved a lot and today anybody cfan go to ChiranjeeviÂs Blood Bank for want of blood at any time to save somebodyÂs life. The fans of Chiranjeevi are following his path and are moving forward for a great cause. MGR and Rajkapoor are role models in the South Indian Film Industry. MGR had only one scene in life smoking a cigar. ThatÂs all. Raj Kumar also was a legend and one should live a life like Raj Kumar".
The function concluded with vote of thanks by K S Rama Rao.