Stars shine on Filmfare (South) Awards night

HYDERABAD: A constellation of stars was at hand to cheer as the best and brightest performers of the southern film industry were honoured at the 50th Annual Manikchand Filmfare Awards 2002 (South) on a star-spangled evening. For the glitterati gathered at the packed-to-capacity stadium, the brilliance of the stars, their bonhomie and humour were a feast for the eyes and ears.While the award winners could not hide their glee, their competitors joined in their joy, knowing only well they stood a chance next time to clutch the beautiful Filmfare statuette. For director K Raghavendra Rao, maker of 100 movies over the last 28 years, the function was memorable. He was given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in Telugu. And who better to present it to the director than two stars he regularly cast, the ethereal Jayaprada and Jeetendra. Thank you, said the doyen. The precious two words were the sum total of the speeches he has made from a public podium over his lifetime. Kannada actor Vishnu Vardhan was the other recipient — again from Jayaprada and Jeetendra — of the Lifetime Achievement award. He said in all humility: I am yet to achieve much career-wise. I am glad I have achieved the love of the public. Mega Star Chiranjeevi, who won the Best Actor award in Telugu for his performance in Indra could not make it to the function as he is away in London undergoing treatment for a back ailment. His mother Anjana Devi and father K Venkat Rao received the award on his behalf from K Raghavendra Rao. The star who lit up the stadium was none other than Soundarya who won the Best Actress award in Kannada for the film Dweepa. She also took the Filmfare trophy for best film for Dweepa, being its producer. Comedian Brahmanandam had the crowd in splits, this time with his silence for a few moments when he went on stage to receive Best Comedian award in Telugu for his performance in Manmadhudu. In his speech, he also wanted the best comedian award to be included in the National awards. Among the stars who participated in the function were producer D Rama Naidu, Venkatesh, Sharath Kumar, Radhika, Ramya Krishna, Namitha, Sanghavi, Namrata Shirodkar, Anjala Zaveri, director Jayanth, directors E V V Satyanarayana, S V Krishna Reddy, K Viswanath, actors Ravi Teja, Rajesh, Naresh, Vikraman, Nagma, Uday Kiran, Prabhu Deva, Jyothika and others. Times Group Managing Director Vineet Jain and Manikchand Group chairman R M Dhariwal were also present at the programme managed by 360 Degrees, a Times Group venture.