Shyam Benegal gets Akkineni National Award

The Akkineni Nageswara Rao National Award for the year 2013 will be given away to Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards winner Shri Shyam Benegal. This award function is being held for the past 7 years by Akkineni International Foundation. Shyam Benegal is one of the ace directors in Bollywood who filmed several national award winning movies like ‘Ankur’, ‘Nishanth’, ‘Bhumika’, ‘Manthan’, ‘Junoon’, ‘Arohan’, ‘Nehru’, ‘Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda’, ‘Mammo’, ‘Samar’, ‘Zubeidaa’ and the list goes on.

The prestigious award function will be held on January 27th at N-Convention with the presence of Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar and Information & Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari. It was announced in a press conference on Wednesday by the committee chairman Sri T Subbirami Reddy.

Speaking at the press conference T Subbirami Reddy said, “Inspired by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, ANR implemented this Akkineni Nageswara Rao National Award through Akkineni International Foundation. He deposited a sum of Rs 1 crore in the foundation account and since 2005 he has been organizing this event with the interest amount received on it.” Speaking further he said, “Ace director Shyam Benegal, who created a new trend in Indian Cinema is going to receive the award this year. I thank Akkineni Nageswara Rao for organizing this big event. I also feel proud and happy to be the Committee Chairman of this award.”

Akkineni Nageswara Rao said, “The artists had no recognition at the time I was doing dramas and stage shows. I have never seen an artist being honoured with a flower anywhere in those days. We were treated very low in those days. I even remember longing for the days for being honoured with a small flower. However, everyone is aware of the number of awards I got later. In 1991 I got the idea of giving away awards to artists at the time I received Dadasaheb Phalke award. I’ve implemented this award only with the intention of earning respect for artists in the society. Dada Saheb Phalke award has inspired me to follow the tradition. I saved Rs 1 crore in account of Akkineni International Foundation and started this programme with the interest amount received on it. In this order I started a committee in 2005 to give away the award for one prominent film personality every year from then onwards. This year we have chosen the veteran director Shyam Benegal to give away the award.” He concluded saying “I never take the credit of any award won by me. According to me all awards that I won belongs to my film industry, directors, producers and especially the technicians.”

List of Akkineni Nageswara Rao National Award from 2005 to 2011:

2005 - Padmabhushan Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner Dev Anand.
2006 – Padmasree Shabana Azmi.
2007 – Actress Anjali Devi.
2008 – Padmasree Vyjayantimala Bali.
2009 – Bharata Ratna Dr Lata Mangeshkar.
2010 – Padmasri Dr K Balachander.
2011 – Padmasree Hema Malini.
2012 – Padmasree, Padma Bhushan & Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner Shyam Benegal.