The city mourned the passing away of thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao recalling its memories with him. A number of condolence programmes were organised right from the morning with the news of one of the most popular and acclaimed actors the Telugu cinema has produced passing away spreading. Crestfallen fans of the Akkineni family of actors left by a bus to Hyderabad to be present during the cremation in Hyderabad.
On the Beach Road, event manager Veeru Mama put up a portrait of ANR to help people pay homage. Actor Purnima who had shared the screen in four films with ANR was among those who paid floral tributes.Andhra University conferred an honorary doctorate on the actor in 1977. The actor had been a permanent member of the Senate of Andhra Pradesh. Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju, Rector E .A. Narayana and Registrar K Ram Mohana Rao and the university community condoled the death of Akkineneni.
Government Whip and Visakhapatnam South MLA Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao condoled the death of the thespian. Akkineni had last visited the city on June 23, 2012 to inaugurate Ghantasala Sangita Kalasa at a programme organised by VUDA. The actor went down the memory lane recalling his association with the city. ‘Kulagotralu’ in which ANR played the lead role was the first film to be shot in the city.
The actor was felicitated in a befitting way by among others, actors Gollapudi Maruti Rao and S.K. Misro, Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Chairman of Daspalla Group M. Raghavendra Rao and M.V. Ramana of CMR group. VUDA Vice-Chairman of VUDA N. Yuvaraj condoled the demise of Akkineni.
At a condolence meeting at ANR Shopping Mall, partners A. Narayana Murthy and Panduranga Rao paid tributes to the actor who inaugurated the mall.
