Abhijit Dev Kumar
Bags National Award for his role in ‘Bommalata’
HYDERABAD: His, is a story alright; only it was real and not just reel. Sometimes things happen for good and looking back in time, it seems like a readymade script with a perfect screenplay. This is what happened with Sai Kumar, who bagged a National Award for his role in ‘Bommalata’, A bellyful of dreams.
An eighth standard student in Disney High School, Uppal, he helps his father, T. Dasarath, at his barber shop in Chilukanagar everyday. His antics at school were a source of entertainment for his classmates, teachers and even Principal, K. Ramanendra Prasad.
Way back in 2005, he was selected to essay the role of the protagonist in the movie being produced by Rana and directed by Raghavendra. His father was sceptical. “I was doubtful at the beginning and I didn’t know if movies were for him. I wanted him to study. But with assurance from Raghavendra and Rana, we let Sai go ahead. I am proud of what he has achieved”, says a doting father.
When his name was announced for the National Award, Sai’s parents had no clue if it was real or just a joke. “We didn’t even know that he had won the award. The next morning, Chinni, Sai’s acting trainer broke the news. I was awestruck”, says T. Vanaja, Sai’s mother.
After losing home in the road widening, enduring hardship at the shop and taking on every challenge that came their way, his parents say that his achievements were enough to wipe their sorrows away.
Winners in their own way, Dasarath and Vanaja stand by their hero Sai, hoping that the days to come would be a story worth more than every award in the world.