The third and final day of the Telugu Cinema Vajrotsavalu celebrations saw some real life drama during the course of the event. While actor-producer Mohan Babu provided the opening dialogues Chiranjeevi gave the closing speech with veteran film maker Dasari Narayan Rao playing the supportive role. With Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy gracing the occasion as the chief guest, versatile actor Rajendra Prasad played host for, what will be remembered as one of the most eventful evenings of the year.

The event began with the felicitation of the Telugu Film Industry's first generation heroine Anjali Devi who was presented the 'Legend award' The row was sparked when Chiranjeevi was called onto the dais to be felicitated with the 'Legend award'. Accepting the felicitation Chiranjeevi said "I have only come onto the stage to accept the blessings of my seniors in this industry. I do not and cannot accept this award as a legend. I will tell the reason as to why I am not accepting this award as a legend, later".

Following this actor-producer Padma Sri Mohan Babu was invited on stage to accept the 'Celebrity award'. Even while Rajendra Prasad was giving an introduction, Mohan Babu walked onto the dais, shook hands with chief guest CM YSR and minister Shabbir Ali and taking the mike from Rajendra Prasad, announced that he was not accepting the felicitation "I have come now only to pay my respects to our honorable CM Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy and to my guru Dasari Narayana Rao. I am not accepting this award and I will tell the reason later, once our CM has left the venue."

After the other feliciatations, including that of actors Balakrishna, Jayasudha, Jayaprada and M.S.Reddy and performances by Vishnu-Archana, Manchu Manoj and Mohan Babu himself, Mohan Babu took to the mike and began to tell as to why he did not accept the 'Celebrity award'.

"When the committee came to me and told that they would be felicitating me with the 'Celebrity award' and not the 'Legend award' I asked them what a legend was and what a celebrity was. I worked in the film industry for 42 years now. For 10 years I worked in the direction department and in a span of 32 years I acted in over 510 films and produced 47 films. Doesn't that qualify for a legend? I established a school that provides free education to 25% of its students. The schoo'ls admission form does not ask for a person's caste and religion. I decided to remove those terms from education because I lost my job over a caste issue. I served our country in the capacity of an MP (Rajyasabha). Doesn't that qualify for a legend? That is the reason why I have refused the 'Celebrity award'. What are the guidelines for being a legend?

Why were veteran actors like Krishnam Raju, Vijaya Nirmala, who is a Guinness record holder and my friend Giri Babu, who acted and produced so many successful films, treated so shabbily? Why weren't their film clippings shown during their felicitation? Why was a silver jubilee director like E.V.V.Satyanarayan ignored?"

Following this speech Chiranjeevi was called upon to give his views but Chiranjeevi said that he would speak but after some performances as he did not want the audiences to get bored with continues speeches.

After a couple of performances a very agitated Chiranjeevi walked onto the stage and spoke in earnest "Our Industry is one of the biggest film industries in our country but still people outside our state do not recognize us. During the Goa international film festival it was really sad to see that legends like NTR and ANR were not featured among the legendary actors of Indian Films. This 75 year celebrations were held to thank our kala amma thalli and prove our strength to the people of India. We all belong to one family and in that any problems should be dealt among ourselves. It is not good to come out into the public and fight over petty issues. We should be grateful to our Telugu Kala amma Thalli (Mother of art) for giving us the fame and fortune that we are enjoying today. We should not forget those days when we were struggling in this industry. When we would wait for even a small itsy bitsy role and give it our 100%. We all are one and we will remain as one.

When the committee members told me that I would be felicitated with the legend award, I refused saying that I was not deserving of that term. I had come to this industry along with Balakrishna, Venkatesh and Nagarjuna and when they are not being awarded the title I cannot accept the same. 25 years from now, when I am much older, if people still think I am deserving of this award I will accept it then, when we will be celebrating 100 years of the Telugu Film Industry." Saying so Chiranjeevi dropped the legend award into the time capsule that will be opened again in 2032 when the Telugu Film Industry will complete 100 years.

Following Chiranjeevi emotional speech, veteran film maker and Minister Dasari Narayana Rao spoke "In the 30 years that I have known Chiranjeevi I have never seen him so aggravated. Though said in anger Chiranjeevi has made a point. In order to organize a event on such a grand scale we had to divide the committee into groups with prominent film personalities supervising each group. I agree that mistakes were made as in the matter of who were being named legends was not though about deeply and sincerely but what would you achieve by pinpointing it now. Isn't NTR a legend even though he did not receive the coveted Dada Saheb Phalke award? I have directed over 150 films and yet I have not received any recognition from the central government on that front. Not even a Padma Sri. But am I not respected by every body right from the late NTR to the present generation actors like Allu Arjun. I personally apologize for any lapses that have occurred during this event. But this is the time for enjoying and being happy not harp over issues like whether or not you are a legend."

Replying to a question asked by anchor Suma actor Pawan Kalyan said "Many technicians and actors have dedicated their lives to bring this industry to the stage that we are in now. It is now the responsibility of the present generation to uphold that stature and carry it further. On behalf of the young generation of film makers, I promise that we will work with utmost dedication and discipline to make our film industry reach new heights of artistic excellence".

With over 104 films and the careers of many actors accredited to him, ace film maker-director K.Rahgavendra Rao was felicitated, at the Telugu Cinema Vajrotsavalu, as one of the prominent figures of the 75 year old Telugu Film Industry. During one of the various performances of the three day diamond jubilee celebrations many film makers asked the veteran director questions and the director was more then willing to impart his knowledge.

Nagendra Babu: In all the years that I have known you I have never seen you tensed. What is the secret behind your ever present calm and composure?

KRR: I have worked a lot with writer Satyananda. During those days when our producers would get us tensed and get worried themselves, we used to follow a small saying "Orpe Aayudam�Chirunavve Bhushanam" (Patience is the weapon and a smile is an ornament).

B.Gopal: First it was movies like Babu and Jyothi then films like Adavi Ramudu and Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari and now Annamaya and Sri Ramadau. How do you manage to make successful films from various genres?

KRR: Your skill grows with time and age. All those films are possible with the kind of experiences that you have.

S.S.Rajamouli: I have worked with you for ads and television serials. But I am yet to understand how you are able to portray your heroines so beautifully?

KRR: I project what is beautiful about that particular heroine. If her nose and lips are not as good as her eyes then we concentrate on her eyes. Like that.

Audience: Most of the time your songs are the once which hold the audiences' to their seats. How do you manage that?

KRR: I listen to the song repeatedly till I dream about it. That is how I go about picturising the songs for my film.

Audience: What do you think that people think about you films?

KRR: Once when, after the release of Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, we went on an Andhra tour, one person came up to me and said that everybody should watch that film thrice. I asked why three times. He told me that the first time people should see the film for Sridevi, the second time for Chiranjeevi and the third time to watch the two of them together. That is what people think about my films.

Dheenraj (writer): What is your favorite story and who are your favorite writers?

KRR: (laughs) you are telling that my films have stories? Anyway my favorite writer is the person who has done up to 60 films with me, Satyanand. Then Jandhyala, Bharavi. Paruchuri brothers are like my family.

Maganti Babu(MLA): What is the story behind the truck loads of flowers and fruits that you use in your film songs?

KRR: I just combine the natural beauty of flowers and fruits with nature's most beautiful creation i.e. a woman. That is all To this director S.S.Rajamouli good naturedly said "Yes. If the producer lets one truck of fruits roll down then two trucks of money roll towards him".

Babu: You always sport a beard. Any special reason?

KRR: My first film Babu did not do as well as I thought I would. For my next film I prayed that I would come to Tirupathi if the film did well. But by the time I finished with the film I lost most of my hair and grew a beard. The film was a hit and from then I continued with the beard. That is all. Bye the way where is Suresh Babu. He should have been ready with a very uncomfortable question by now?

Suresh Babu (smilingly): Who is your favorite producer?

KRR: (to the audiences) See I told he would ask a difficult question. (Smiling at Suresh Babu) Is there any body who has surpassed the movie moghuls?