“Balladeer Vangapandu Prasada Rao is like a brand ambassador for Andhra University and felicitating him is like honouring Uttarandhra folklore,” Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju said while honouring him at a programme here on Sunday.
Department of Theatre Arts and Praja Sanmana Committee organised the programme.
Earlier, Vangapandu’s much-acclaimed dance drama, ‘Adavi Diviteelu’, depicting how girijans are exploited by businessmen and the way they hit them back, was staged at the open space near Dr. V.S. Krishna Library. Bh. Ramamurthy directed the dance drama.
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Prof. Raju handed over a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh to Vangapandu.
Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao said Vangapandu’s writings would touch the heart and his songs make everyone think about the present conditions. Former MLA G. Sumana said Vangapandu wrote for people.
Rector E.A. Narayana and HoD of Theatre Arts K. John spoke.
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Deputy Commissioner of Commercial Taxes and president of the felicitations committee T. Siva Sankara Rao presided.
Public Prosecutor of High Court Posani Venkateswarlu, vice-president of the felicitations committee B. Krishna Chaitanya, general secretary K. Sobhanachalam, and secretary G.V.S. Prasad, and film actor Chidambaram were present.
Vangapandu, along with his daughter Ushasri, sang some of his songs.
He is like a brand ambassador for Andhra University and felicitating him is like honouring Uttarandhra folklore
G.S.N. Raju
Vice-Chancellor