Noted writer, director and actor of verse drama Meegada Ramalinga Swami has been chosen for the Lok Nayak Foundation Award for 2018.
The award, which carries ₹1.5 lakh cash and a citation, would be presented to him here on Saturday.
The earlier recipients of the award include: N.R. and Malati Chandur, Boyi Bhimanna, Vasireddy Seetha Devi, Kalipatnam Rama Rao, Janamaddi Hanumat Sastry, Ravuri Bharadwaja, C.V. Subbanna Satavadhani, Olga, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao, Garikapati Narasimha Rao and Vanguri Chitten Raju
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Announcing this at a media conference here on Friday, chairman of the foundation and former MP Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad said Mr. Ramalinga Swami, who hails from North Andhra, was chosen for the award in recognition of his immense contribution to the field of verse drama.
Mr. Ramalinga Swami had written 23 dramas and groomed artistes apart from acting in the plays. He had also created a unique ‘Sangeeta Navavadhanam Prakriya’ on the lines of ‘Ashtavadhanam’.
Mr. Lakshmi Prasad recalled that Bezawada Gopala Reddy was the inspiration for starting of the foundation.
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The annual award was being given in January to mark the death anniversaries of the late Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao and noted poet Harivansh Rai Bacchan. Initially, the cash award was ₹1 lakh but was later raised to ₹1.5 lakh.
Award function Supreme Court Judge Justice Lavu Nageswara Rao would be the participate as chief guest at the function to be held at Kalabharathi auditorium. Chairman of Vignan Group of Educational Institutions Lavu Rattaiah, president of NRI Medical College, Mangalagiri, Mukkamala Appa Rao and president of K.L. University Koneru Satyanarayana would participate as guests of honour
Minister for HRD Ganta Srinivasa Rao would preside.
MLC and president of Gitam University MVVS Murthy would inaugurate the programme.