Five Padma in Andhra Pradesh's tally

Andhra Pradesh has bagged five Padma awards, including a Padmabhushan and four Padmashris, for the year 2009.

For his contribution to the Telugu film industry spanning around five decades, actor G Sivarama Krishna Murthy alias Krishna was conferred the prestigious Padmabhushan.

Another cine artist and comedian Dr Kanneganti Brahmanandam was conferred the Padmashri in the field of art, while Dr Alampur Saibaba Goud, an ophthalmologist and chairman of a voluntary organisation Devnar Foundation, was given the award for his work in the field of medicine. Goriparthi Narasimha Raju Yadav and Begum Bilkees Idris Latif were given Padmashri awards for their extensive works in the fields of science and engineering and social work respectively.

Many in the film industry feel that Padma Bhushan for Superstar Krishna is long overdue though the superstar himself said he never hankered for awards. “It is immaterial whether I receive the award now or sometime ago as its value remains intact,” said an upbeat Krishna interacting with the media at his Padmalaya Studios.

He acted in over 300 films essaying a wide range of roles in mythological, folk, historic, social, James Bond to Cowboy films. “I am happy for being recoginised for my work. I think they have rewarded me with the award for my contribution to the cinema as an actor, director, producer, studio-owner, exhibitor and distributor. Padmalaya banner has nationwide recognition as we produced films in Tamil, Hindi and Bengali languages. Over 90 per cent of the films I directed succeeded at the box office,” he said. Now onwards the actor wants to be choosy. “I will act in films only that interest me and will not act under obligation,” he said.

Comedian Brahmanandam is over the moon on hearing the news. When contacted, he said: “I give the entire credit to the Almighty. It was T.Subbirami Reddy who had encouraged and helped me,” he recalled.

“With Padma Sri I have received awards at the State, national and international levels,” said the ace comedian.

Earlier he received Nandi awards from the State Government and won Guinness Book of World Records for having acted in a record number of over 700 films. Thespian and a Padma Bhushan awardee himself Akkineni Nageswara Rao congratulated the two artistes of the Telugu film world.

“Presenting Padma Sri to Brahmanandam is like giving the award to comedy. Brahmanandam has the knack of enriching any role. It is refreshing to see a Telugu comedian receiving a Padma award after a long gap after Relangi,” said an elated director EVV Satyanarayana and added: “Krishnagaru is a good human being. He deserves the award as he has grown up into an institution as an actor and studio owner.” One could see festive ambience on the sets of the film `Neramu-Siksha’, a Krishna starrer directed by his wife Vijaya Nirmala. “Be it success or failure Krishna takes with the same spirit.

Though Sri Sri got an award for the song `Telugu veera levara...’ from Krishna’s all-time superhit `Alluri Sitaramaraju, he never expected any award. I am happy as they have chosen the right person for the award,” she said.