HYDERABAD: Eminent theatre personality Chatla Sriramulu had instituted an award ‘Pratibha Puraskar’ to be given to a theatre personality every year. This year the award was presented to Jeedigunta Ramachandra Murthy at a function held at Telugu University auditorium. An ailing Chatla Sriramamurthy could not attend the event, but his wife Adilakshmi was present.
The event began with many of Sriramulu’s friends and disciples recalling their association with this stalwart theatre guru. Though originally, a play was to be staged, it was scrapped and a skit and a Kuchipudi dance were staged.
The felicitation function was presided over by Oleti Parvateesam former employee of Doordarshan with K.V.Ramanachary IAS (Retd.) and advisor to Telangana government as the chief guest. Of the guests Mamidi Harikrishna, Director Department of Culture and Language Telangana State gave a stupendous speech covering all the aspects of importance of this function hoping the video being made would make Chatla Sriramulu healthy. All the invitees on the stage joined hands to felicitate Jeedigunta Ramachandra Murthy. Chief Guest Ramanachary presented him with citation, shawl and garland and spoke highly of Jeedigunta’s contribution to the radio and drama that received intermittent applause. Former Dy. Director General of AIR Manalagiri Aditya Prasad spoke of the contribution of Sriramulu to Radio and also spoke of how good Jeedigunta was in handling various issues related to broadcast. Another stalwart of theatre Modali Nagabhushana Sarma also lauded contribution of Jeedigunta. Stage, cinema and TV artiste Siva Parvathi and stage and film artiste Subbaraya Sarma also spoke.
