ANR cremated with state honours

The mortal remains of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, popularly known as ANR, were cremated at the Annapurna Studios here on Thursday, with thousands of fans, actors and technicians from the Telugu film industry and across the country bidding him a tearful farewell. Members of ANR’s family lit the pyre together as the police fired gun shots into the air with the bugle playing the last post.

The funeral procession with state honours began at 12 noon from Annapurna Studios that ANR had founded 40 years ago. The body was then taken to the Andhra Pradesh Film Chambers of Commerce office located in Jubilee Hills and was kept there for an hour, so members could pay homage to the departed soul.

Thousands lined up along the stretch from the studios to the film chambers to get a glimpse of ANR, one of the Telugu film industry’s greatest icons. Later, the body was taken back to Annapurna Studios where the final rites of the departed actor were performed.

Though ANR’s family had earlier announced that the last rites will be performed at the Erragadda cremation grounds, the Telugu film industry requested that it be done on the studio premises itself. Sources say that a memorial will also be constructed at the studio as tribute. The studio has more than four floors where film shooting take place on an daily basis.

Top stars from the film industry, including Union Minister Chiranjeevi, Sridevi, Mahesh Babu, Pawan Kalyan, Jr NTR, Daggubati Rana, Venkatesh ,Anushka, Movie Artistes Association president Muralimohan, D Rama Naidu and others, came to the Annapurna studios to pay their respects.

Chief Minister Nallari Kirankumar Reddy, opposition leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader K Taraka Rama Rao, Loksatta leader Jayaprakash Narain and APNGO leader P Ashok Babu also visited the studio.

All shootings for the day were cancelled so that everyone could participate in the funeral procession and the last rites. Exhibitors have been urged to cancel shows on Thursday as a mark of respect to ANR.

Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who had been battling cancer, died on Wednesday at the age of 91.