R Narayana Murthy will on Friday receive the Komaram Bheem National Award-2017. The award has been jointly announced by Telangana Television Development Forum, Adivasi Samskuthika Parishad, Gondwana Cultural Protection Force and Bharath Cultural Academy. The announcement has been made by KV Ramanachari, the chairman of the awards committee

In the past, the award went to Allani Sridhar, the director-producer of 'Komaram Bheem', and Suddala Ashok Teja, the lyricist. Narayana Murthy will receive the award, together with a cash prize of Rs. 51,000 and a citation, in the third week of this month.

The award is in recognition of the ideals of Bheem, who fought for the rights of the Gond tribals. The films of the People's Star espouse the slogan of Jal (water), Jungle (forest) and Jameen (land). Murthy has made films like Artharatri Swathantram, Adivi Dhiviteelu, Lal Salam, Dandora, Erra Sainyam, Cheemala Dandu, Dalam, Cheekati Sooryulu, Ooru Manadira, Vegu Chukkalu, Aranyam, Errodu, and Singanna.