Actress Sridevi still throws a spell on the audience with her glamour, as evident on Saturday evening at TSR-TV9 National Film Awards for 2011 and 2012. Union minister Chiranjeevi received a boisterous reception from admiring fans.
On an evening filled with star dust, the stars seemed to fade before the rapturous response from the audience when comedian Brahmanandam received the best comedian award for Dhenikaina Ready. “I have been a great admirer of Zeenat Aman,” said the star comedian in the presence of the diva of yesteryears.
The fascination with mythology and epics never ends; a point driven home by Balakrishna’s best actor award for 2011 for the larger-than-life lead in Sri Rama Rajyam. Nagarjuna won the award for his portrayal of Shirdi Sai for 2012. Her bhajan for the movie Shirdi Sai won singer P Kausalya a trophy as well. Anushka Shetty, who won the best actress trophy for Damarukam, outshone others.
The awardees included Zeenat Aman, Shatrughan Sinha, Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Gulshan Grover and Alka Yagnik. Tollywood veterans Akkineni Nageswara Rao and D Ramanaidu were present. Youngest director and Guiness record holder Kishan Srikanth of Kannada film industry won the special jury award.
Mohan Babu and his family members carried home a trophy each.
While MP T Subbirami Reddy was both announcer and commentator at the event, Shobhana, a recipient of special jury award, and Neha Dhupia held the audience under their sway.
Kaikala Satyanarayana, a recipient of lifetime achievement award, brought alive Dada Saheb Phalke awardee Pran’s animated portrayal of Sher Khan character in Zanjeer. Kaikala played the role in Telugu remake of Zanjeer. Veteran playback singer PB Sreenivas was also conferred the lifetime achievement award posthumously. The award was received on his behalf by singer P Susheela. Actor UV Krishnam Raju and veteran director K Raghavendra Rao were honoured on the occasion.