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India’s Film Heritage Foundation (Fhf) is set to commemorate the centenary of Telugu cinema legend Akkineni Nageswara Rao with a countrywide film festival.

Rao, known for his versatility, worked in the Telugu, Tamil and Hindi-language cinema industries over a 71-year career spanning more than 250 movies. He was a recipient of numerous accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinema honor.

Titled “Anr 100 – King Of The Silver Screen,” the event will showcase 10 restored classics from Sept. 20-22, across 25 Indian cities.

The retrospective, coinciding with Rao’s 100th birth anniversary on Sept. 20, will feature landmark Telugu films spanning six decades. Film aficionados can look forward to screenings of early classics like “Devadasu” (1953), “Missamma” (1955), and the mythological fantasy “Mayabazar” (1957). The 1960s will be represented by “Bharya Bharthalu” (1961), “Gundamma Katha” (1962), “Doctor Chakravarthi” (1964) and “Sudigundalu” (1968). The selection also includes later hits such as “Prem Nagar” (1971) and “Premabhishekam” (1981), concluding with...

Pulling off a hilarious new gig for their upcoming web-series ‘Dhootha’, Tamannaah Bhatia pranked her fellow co-star Naga Chaitanya, only to find out that the joke was on her the whole time as the actor was well-aware of everything. In a video posted by Prime Video, Tamannaah was seen getting her last touches of make up being done when she got a sudden visit from the ‘Manam’ actor on-set. Pranking him, the ‘Baahubali’ actress said: “Chaiya, what a surprise. Great to see you, but what are you doing in Mumbai?”

Responding to this, Naga answered: “Great to see you Tamannaah as always, you look great. But I think there has been a mix-up, I think this is my set.”

Baffled by this, the actress said: “No this is my set. I think you are confused.” Handing over the set-sheet to him rather coyly, she said: “Here read this, it says Tamannah Bhatia.

Pulling off a hilarious new gig for their upcoming web-series ‘Dhootha’, Tamannaah Bhatia pranked her fellow co-star Naga Chaitanya, only to find out that the joke was on her the whole time as the actor was well-aware of everything. In a video posted by Prime Video, Tamannaah was seen getting her last touches of make up being done when she got a sudden visit from the ‘Manam’ actor on-set. Pranking him, the ‘Baahubali’ actress said: “Chaiya, what a surprise. Great to see you, but what are you doing in Mumbai?”

Responding to this, Naga answered: “Great to see you Tamannaah as always, you look great. But I think there has been a mix-up, I think this is my set.”

Baffled by this, the actress said: “No this is my set. I think you are confused.” Handing over the set-sheet to him rather coyly, she said: “Here read this, it says Tamannah Bhatia.

Tollywood ’Thank You’ is helmed by Vikram K Kumar, and produced by Dil Raju under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations.Tnm StaffScreengrab/ YouTubeThe teaser of actors Naga Chaitanya and Raashi Khanna’s upcoming movie Thank You was unveiled on May 25. Billed as a romantic film, Thank You is helmed by Vikram K Kumar, and produced by Dil Raju under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations. The film also stars actors Malavika Nair, and Avika Gor in the lead roles, while actor Sai Sushanth Reddy has also been roped in for a pivotal role in the film. Thank You is slated for release on July 7. The teaser hints that the film tracks the story of Naga Chaitanya’s character, who is a successful businessman, who has had troubles with his relationships in the past. The teaser presents a glimpse of the romantic relationships the hero has had. Sharing the teaser,...

Telugu star Naga Chaitanya Akkineni will be seen as a hockey player in his much-hyped upcoming movie ‘Thank You’. The ‘Manam’, actor who wrapped up the shooting for the movie earlier, will be seen in a role for which he had undergone a body transformation as well. Despite Naga Chaitanya’s role as a hockey player, […]...

Nagarjuna Akkineni, who is known for Telugu blockbusters such as Oopiri, Soggade Chinni Nayana and Manam, recently completed his shooting schedule for Ayan Mukerji’s fantasy adventure Brahmastra.

The superstar will be seen sharing screen time with Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. He will be seen essaying the role of an archaeologist, who travels to an ancient temple near the Ganges along with his students. In the film, Ranbir and Alia meet Nagarjuna at a critical point which leads to a series of events.

Excited about completing the shooting, Nagarjuna took to his Twitter handle and tweeted, “And it’s a wrap for me on #Brahmastra. Such an amazing experience it has been with our stellar performers #Ranbir and @Aliaa08. “Can’t wait for you guys to witness the outstanding world #AyanMukerji has created #TheBigIndianMovie”...

Tollywood‘Manam’, which released in 2014, starred three generations of the Akkineni family – Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, and Naga Chaitanya, and Akhil Akkineni.Digital NativeFile Photo The Telugu flick Manam starred the three generations of the Akkineni family – the legendary Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, and Naga Chaitanya, and Akhil Akkineni. It also happened to be the last feature film to star Akkineni Nageswara Rao. A fantasy drama that was released in the year 2014, Manam was directed by Vikram Kumar. According to the latest reports, Vikram Kumar has pitched a story to Nagarjuna with the title Manam 2. Sources told Deccan Chronicle, “Vikram has been regularly meeting Nagarjuna and on one occasion he narrated a story to suit him and his sons. Nagarjuna asked him to develop it and come with a full narration.” However, the film will not be a sequel to Manam, we hear. Besides getting Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni...

Tollywood The film is directed by Vikram Kumar, who has previously worked with Naga Chaitanya for ‘Manam’. Digital NativeDigital NativeNaga Chaitanya's Thank You, directed by Vikram Kumar of Manam fame, went on floors last month. The film is touted to be a love story that shows various phases of the protagonist’s life. The film will have three female leads, and the latest update is that actors Avika Gor and Malavika Nair have been signed as the female leads in the film. An official confirmation on the same is expected soon, and the makers are reported to be currently looking for the third female lead. Initial rumours had suggested that Samantha Akkineni was roped in as the female lead alongside Naga Chaitanya, but the makers refuted the rumors and said that Samantha is not a part of the project. The film will mark the second collaboration of Naga Chaitanya and Vikram Kumar after Manam,...

TollywoodThe project will mark the second collaboration between Chaitanya and Vikram Kumar after ‘Manam’.Digital NativeOn Saturday, actor Naga Chaitanya, on the occasion of his father Nagarjuna’s birthday, took to Twitter to announce his next project with director Vikram Kumar. In a tweet, Chaitanya revealed that the film is titled Thank You and a special poster was unveiled. Announcing the project, Chaitanya tweeted: “Thank You. An expression that can be forgotten or when used right can mean more than any other there is. Thank You Movie. A story I’m looking forward to tell! With a team I’m really thankful I met.” The project will mark the second collaboration between Chaitanya and Vikram Kumar after Manam, which also starred Nagarjuna and late Nageswara Rao in key roles. Thank You..an expression that can be forgotten or when used right can mean more than anyother there is . #ThankYouTheMovie A...

TollywoodThe actor accepted the challenge from director Nandini Reddy.Digital NativeTwitter | Naga ChaitanyaAs part of Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar’s Green India Challenge, an initiative to plant saplings to make India green, actor Samantha Akkineni had accepted the challenge from her father-in-law and actor Nagarjuna and they had together planted saplings and posted the pictures online. And now, actor Naga Chaitanya, Samantha’s husband, accepted the challenge from director Nandini Reddy and planted saplings. Posting pics of him planting the saplings in his yard, Naga Chaitanya tweeted: “Thank you @nandureddy4u for nominating me! Here’s to a greener future... I nominate @Vikram_K_Kumar, @iamSushanthA, @ShivaNirvana and @Rakulpreet to keep this going! Thoughtful initiative by @MPsantoshtrs (sic).” Thank you @nandureddy4u for nominating me ! Here’s to a greener future..I nominate @Vikram_K_Kumar @iamSushanthA @ShivaNirvana @Rakulpreet to keep this going ! Thoughtful initiative by @MPsantoshtrs .. #GreenIndiaChallenge #HaraHaiTohBharaHai pic.

EntertainmentDespite her glamorous roles and regular appearances in star vehicles, Samantha has steadily attempted to make a space for herself by seeking out meaningful roles. Sowmya RajendranIt's been 10 years since Gautham Vasudev Menon's Ye Maaya Chesave, starring Samantha and Naga Chaitanya released. That also means it's been 10 years since Samantha made her debut in the film industry. A decade is a long time for a woman actor to have survived in the heroine role. But Samantha has gone beyond just survival; the actor is at the peak of her career, and in a position to do films as the solo lead. She's also increasingly become conscious about the platform that stardom offers, speaking her mind on social media quite often. After her dreamy debut in Ye Maaya...where she stole hearts as Jessie, Samantha did a number of films in Tamil and Telugu. However, despite her glamorous roles and regular appearances in star vehicles,...

Tollywood Today, there’s rarely a film which one can call a simple cute love story - and that's not necessarily a bad thing.Hemanth Kumar C RStill - 'Fidaa'The world around us is changing every day, and so has our idea of love. In a decade, an entire generation of people has gone from wanting to celebrate love to questioning what it means to be in love; and from understanding the essence of love to exploring whether love has more forms than what we expect. The days of ‘simple love stories’ are long gone. Films, these days, are no longer about whether love is pure or not, but more about what it takes to be in love long after the couple professes their feelings for each other. And this has a lot to do with how people and their expectations and struggles have changed over the years. A shift...

Tollywood Today, there’s rarely a film which one can call a simple cute love story - and that's not necessarily a bad thing.Hemanth Kumar C RStill - 'Fidaa'The world around us is changing every day, and so has our idea of love. In a decade, an entire generation of people has gone from wanting to celebrate love to questioning what it means to be in love; and from understanding the essence of love to exploring whether love has more forms than what we expect. The days of ‘simple love stories’ are long gone. Films, these days, are no longer about whether love is pure or not, but more about what it takes to be in love long after the couple professes their feelings for each other. And this has a lot to do with how people and their expectations and struggles have changed over the years. A shift...

TollywoodThe father and son have earlier acted in the film ‘Manam’ which also starred Samantha Akkineni.Digital NativeReports of Nagarjuna and Naga Chaitanya starrerBangarraju first came to light last year, however the film has been delayed for several reasons. As per latest updates, sources have stated that the film will go on floors this April and that pre production work is currently underway. The film will the father and son duo in the lead roles, their second film together following the 2014 release Manam which also starred Samantha Akkineni. Bangarraju is a sequel to Nagarjuna's earlier film Soggade Chinni Nayana in which he played a dual role of father and son along with Ramya Krishnan and Lavanya Tripathi in lead roles. Kalyan Krishna who had directed the film will be wielding the megaphone for the sequel as well. It will be bankrolled by Nag’s Annapurna Studios. The director is busy...

TollywoodThe film is helmed by debutant director Ashwin GangarajuDigital NativeVeteran director SS Rajamouli’s son Karthikeya is making his debut as producer with the film Aakashavani. SS Karthikeya, son of ace director SS Rajamouli, caught the attention with his unique promo and trailer cuts for the films such as Manam and Baahubali. The youngster is running his own publicity house Showing Business, through which he handles the promotional activities of films and makes catchy trailer cuts. He has also been assisting his father in direction for quite a few years now. This gave rise to a speculation that Karthikeya may soon make his debut as director. However, the youngster has surprised everyone with an announcement that he would be floating his own production house. The film is directed by Ashwin Gangaraju, who will be making his debut as director. The director has worked with SS Rajamouli in his ambitious projects Eega and Baahubali 1 & 2, earlier.

Tollywood2017 was a glorious year for Telugu cinema with many hits, new stars on the block, and celebrities who made news for all the right and wrong reasons.Hemanth Kumar C R2017 couldn’t have been a better year for Telugu cinema with films like Baahubali 2 and Khaidi No 150 setting the cash registers ringing. From SS Rajamouli’s epic drama to Sekhar Kammula’s pleasantly surprising Fidaa, it was a year which had something for everyone. Here are 10 things that hogged the limelight this year in the Telugu film industry. Team Baahubali 2 SS Rajamouli’s magnum opus Baahubali 2 was the biggest film to have emerged from Tollywood in 2017. It broke the myth that there can’t be a pan-Indian film in contemporary Indian cinema. From Punjab to Kerala, the film received a unanimous thumbs up from the critics and audiences alike. But more than that, the success turned SS Rajamouli into a national treasure and for once, a Telugu film soared high on a national scale. The film, starring Prabhas, Anushka, Rana Daggubati, Tamannaah, Ramya Krishna and Sathyaraj, was hailed for its storytelling, visual effects, production design, music. No wonder, it went on to amass a jaw-dropping Rs 1600 crores and more at the box-office. In Hindi alone, the film crossed Rs 500 crores (nett), a first for any film in Bollywood so far. Chiranjeevi returns to the arena; Rajasekhar defies all odds Megastar Chiranjeevi returned to the silver screen for his first full-fledged role in more than nine years with Khaidi No 150. Directed by Vv Vinayak, the film was a remake of Kaththi; however, it was the sight of Chiranjeevi dancing to the tunes of ‘Ammadu Let’s Do Kummudu’ which turned into euphoria across cinema halls in January this year. The film also proved that Chiranjeevi’s mojo hasn’t diminished at all despite the long hiatus from films. On the other hand, 2017 was also a special year for actor Rajasekhar who scored his first hit in more than 15 years or so, thanks to Praveen Sattaru’s Psv Garuda Vega. The film’s success was the answer to all the critics and naysayers who questioned Praveen Sattaru about why he was working with Rajasekhar in first place. The drug scandal Tollywood faced the heat from a special investigation team (Sit), which questioned several high-profile celebrities including Ravi Teja, Puri Jagannadh, Navdeep, Mumaith Khan, Subba Raju to name a few. The events leading up to this interrogation were dramatic to say the least. Soon after news broke out that hundreds of teenagers in some of the most renowned schools of Hyderabad had become victims of drug abuse, a drug dealer is also said to have named several celebrities from the Telugu film industry as his clients. Days after questioning all these celebs, the Sit didn’t arrest anyone. But it did send a strong signal that drug abuse is a criminal offence. Balakrishna pulls off a big surprise His 100th film Gautamiputra Satakarni got everyone talking about the actor’s ability to pull off a historical drama and it went on to become the biggest hit in Balakrishna’s career. But that’s hardly the most surprising news that we heard about the actor in 2017. In November, when the AP state government announced its Nandi awards for 2014, 2015 and 2016, it came as a huge shock to everyone that Balakrishna was chosen as the Best Actor for his film Legend. Incidentally, the film also won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film in a year when other films like Manam and Race Gurram too were in contention. Let’s just say, we were as surprised as you are. Pawan Kalyan’s political run begins After nearly three years, Pawan Kalyan finally became quite active in the political scenario. Right from meeting students to understand their aspirations to addressing an august gathering at Harvard, 2017 was a busy year for Pawan Kalyan. The actor-and-politician also outlined the principles of his political party ‘Jana Sena’ and he began an unique recruitment drive, where aspirants were required to clear a written exam to become a member of the party. That’s not all. Pawan Kalyan was quite forthright about his political views, even if it meant standing up to Tdp and Bjp’s policies at the state and the central level. Dil Raju’s double hattrick Dil Raju, one of Telugu cinema’s biggest producers, is on cloud nine and quite rightfully so. He created a sensation by scoring six hits back-to-back in 2017 alone, a unique record in recent times. No other producer has had such a glorious run in a single year. Period. Starting from Sharwanand’s Shatamanam Bhavati, Dil Raju tasted success with Nenu Local, Duvvada Jagannadham, Fidaa, Raja The Great, and finally McA. The producer even celebrated the success of this defining moment in his career by inviting all the actors and directors, who worked with him in 2017, and felicitated each one of them at a grand ceremony. Spyder’s debacle When Spyder was first announced, with Mahesh Babu playing the lead role, the general consensus was that it just couldn’t go wrong. After all, it was being directed by Ar Murugadoss, who had films like Thuppaki and Kaththi to his credit in recent times. The film was produced with a budget of more than Rs 100 crores and it was billed as one of the most expensive south Indian films at the time of its release. However, the result came as a rude shock to everyone who was betting big on the film. The story, which was based on an intelligence officer’s race against time to stop a psycho from wrecking havoc in a city, didn’t resonate with the masses and it was one of the biggest flops of the year at the box-office. Chai-Sam wedding It was a fairytale wedding that was made of the stuff of dreams. That Naga Chaitanya and Samantha were going to get married in 2017 was on everyone’s mind, and the wedding itself lived up to the buzz surrounding the grand ceremony. Prior to his son’s wedding, Nagarjuna had told the media that it’s going to be a private affair with only close friends and family members attending the event. The wedding took place in Goa, and later, the family threw a grand reception in Chennai and Hyderabad. If we had to pick one moment which made everyone smile, it was the sight of Naga Chaitanya and Samantha saying ‘I Do’ at the wedding ceremony. A new ray of hope For the longest time, Telugu film industry had come under the scanner for not offering strong characters to women actors. However, 2017 had a different story to tell. In Sai Pallavi, Anushka, Shalini Pandey, Nivetha Thomas, Nivetha Pethuraj, Eesha, and Rakul Preet, the industry found a new ray of hope. While Anushka turned her role (Devasena) in Baahubali 2 into a warrior queen who commanded respect and admiration in equal measure, Sai Pallavi made us fall in love with her onscreen persona in Fidaa. And then, there were others like Nivetha Thomas and Nivetha Pethuraj who delivered strong performances in Ninnu Kori and Mental Madhilo respectively. Rakul Preet too made her mark with her role in Rarandoi Veduka Choodham. A new star is born If one had to pick the Best Actor in 2017, it all narrows down to two choices - Prabhas (Baahubali 2) and Vijay Devarakonda (Arjun Reddy). Baahubali 2 was testimony to Prabhas’ unrelenting faith in SS Rajamouli and his portrayal of the lead character, Amarendra Baahubali was his best yet. And then, the Telugu film industry found a new star in Vijay Devarakonda who stunned everyone in Arjun Reddy. The sight of a man who broke every rule that defines what a Telugu film hero can do on screen is hard to forget after watching Vijay hogging the limelight in Arjun Reddy. Clearly, the contest will go down the wire between the two.

EntertainmentFans thronged to watch Akhil perform live in concert as he serenaded them with songs from the movies.Tnm Staff Akhil_Hello_Rana.JPGAkhil Akkineni along with actors Rana Daggubati, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and music director Anup Rubens, thrilled the audience by putting up a one-of-a-kind promotional tour in the USA over the last week. The Hello! Team, who travelled to New Jersey, Dallas and San Jose, were greeted by thousands of fans who showered them with love and adulation. In a press release, the makers said that unlike any traditional promotional event, the Hello! USA tour was a spectacular show to remember, with singing, dancing and a lot of interaction between the audience and the actors. Fans thronged to watch Akhil perform live in concert as he serenaded them with songs from the movies, while also showing off some energetic dance performances along with the whole team. Rana, who hosted the show, ensured that everyone’s energy levels were high and upbeat. There was also a meet and greet event organized, much to the delight of all those who got to meet the stars in person. Overall, the event was a houseful affair at all three venues and was a great success, with #Hellousa creating quite the buzz on social media among fans. Now, the Hello! Team is all set to bring the show to Hyderabad on December 20, two days before the movie’s release. For Hyderabad, “Hello - Sing & Dance Together with Akhil” will be held at N Convention Centre, where ‘Mega Star’ Chiranjeevi will be the Chief Guest. Directed by Vikram Kumar of Manam fame, the film has Akhil Akkineni playing the lead role with Kalyani Priyadarshan, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Lissy, making her debut. Others in the star cast of this romantic action thriller are Jagapati Babu, Ramya Krishnan and Ajay. Anup Rubens has scored the music for this film while Ps Vinod has cranked the camera with Pravin Pudi editing it. Hello, produced by Nagarjuna under his banners Annapurna Studios and Manam Enterprises, will hit theatres on December 22. Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...

EntertainmentFans thronged to watch Akhil perform live in concert as he serenaded them with songs from the movies.Tnm Staff Akhil_Hello_Rana.JPGAkhil Akkineni along with actors Rana Daggubati, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and music director Anup Rubens, thrilled the audience by putting up a one-of-a-kind promotional tour in the USA over the last week. The Hello! Team, who travelled to New Jersey, Dallas and San Jose, were greeted by thousands of fans who showered them with love and adulation. In a press release, the makers said that unlike any traditional promotional event, the Hello! USA tour was a spectacular show to remember, with singing, dancing and a lot of interaction between the audience and the actors. Fans thronged to watch Akhil perform live in concert as he serenaded them with songs from the movies, while also showing off some energetic dance performances along with the whole team. Rana, who hosted the show, ensured that everyone’s energy levels were high and upbeat. There was also a meet and greet event organized, much to the delight of all those who got to meet the stars in person. Overall, the event was a houseful affair at all three venues and was a great success, with #Hellousa creating quite the buzz on social media among fans. Now, the Hello! Team is all set to bring the show to Hyderabad on December 20, two days before the movie’s release. For Hyderabad, “Hello - Sing & Dance Together with Akhil” will be held at N Convention Centre, where ‘Mega Star’ Chiranjeevi will be the Chief Guest. Directed by Vikram Kumar of Manam fame, the film has Akhil Akkineni playing the lead role with Kalyani Priyadarshan, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Lissy, making her debut. Others in the star cast of this romantic action thriller are Jagapati Babu, Ramya Krishnan and Ajay. Anup Rubens has scored the music for this film while Ps Vinod has cranked the camera with Pravin Pudi editing it. Hello, produced by Nagarjuna under his banners Annapurna Studios and Manam Enterprises, will hit theatres on December 22. Enanble Notification: NoTNM Marquee: No...

Director Vikram Kumar made his directorial debut with the English film Silent Scream, which went on to win the National Film Award for Best Educational/Motivational/Instructional Film in the year 1998.

He then worked in commercial films which brought him fame. His film Manam, which featured the three generations of the Akkineni family, A Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni (cameo) was one of the blockbuster hits and had earned him the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu.

Looks like the Tollywood actor and filmmaker Nagarjuna has finally decided to put an end to all the controversies about his film Manam not being selected for the coveted Nandi Awards by the Andhra Pradesh state Government.

Every year, the Andhra government gives away the Nandi Award for best film, director, producer etc. However, with the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra and Telangana, the awards for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 were announced recently, raking up a lot of controversies.

The highly anticipated teaser of Akhil Akkineni's second feature film, Hello has been released. Akhil is marking his re-launch, which is directed by Vikram Kumar of Manam fame.

The teaser starts with Nagarjuna's voiceover saying, "The luckiest people on the Earth meet their soulmates against all odds".

The  teaser which is slightly longer than a minute, is filled with stunning visuals and promises to offer high-end action sequences.

Naga Chaitanya’s career graph has showed a marked improvement in the recent past with his films doing well at the box office. He began his career playing the lead role in the 2009 release Josh and has starred in successful films such as Manam and Auto Nagar Surya. The actor is now busy with Yuddham Sharanam, a complete action-oriented film that is sure to have his fans thrilled.

Director Vikram Kumar, known for films such as Manam and 24, has confirmed that he is launching filmmaker Priyadarshan's daughter Kalyani in his upcoming yet-untitled Telugu project, starring Akkineni Akhil in the lead.

"I had worked as an assistant with Priyadarshan sir and I have known his daughter since she was a kid. We felt this would be a great launch pad for Kalyani. She is expected to join the sets in ten days' time," Vikram told Ians.

A romantic actioner, the film is being produced by actor Akkineni Nagarjuna.

Actress Samantha, who is currently busy shooting for Tamil film Irumbu Thirai, apart from her Telugu projects, will finally join the sets of Vijay’s next film in June. According to sources close to the Manam star, her portion will be shot with Vijay in Chennai, as soon as the team returns from their Europe schedule. This is second time in a row after Theri that Samantha has teamed up with Vijay and their fans are eagerly waiting for the onscreen magic.

Mahesh Ramanathan, the 5 time National Award winning producer and Chief Operating Officer of Reliance Entertainment has quit after an 8 year stint. Mahesh, a management graduate from Iim-Ahmedabad will now partner with Oscar Award winning sound designer, Padmashri awardee and National Award winner, Dr Resul Pookutty in starting up a film production & production services venture with a wide blueprint covering International, Hindi & Regional films. Mahesh produced/co-produced films for Reliance Entertainment that won 5 National awards in the Best Film category including the prestigious Swarna Kamal from the President of India for Malayalam home production Kutty Srank (Best Film of 2009). Mahesh was also instrumental in Reliance Entertainment producing the popular Singham franchise in Hindi. Mahesh has co-produced, marketed & distributed all Reliance Entertainment's films like 3 Idiots, Bodyguard, Don 2, Singham Returns and Holiday besides blockbusters Atharintiki Daredi and Manam in Telugu and Boss in Bengali . Speaking about the partnership Dr Resul Pookutty said,...

It's a known fact that almost every Indian looks up to the megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Amongst all the wonderful things, the one thing that makes Big B a cut above the rest is his never say no attitude. Big B recently wrapped up a cameo shoot for the Nagarjuna Akkineni starrer Telugu Manam, a film that stars three generations of the Akkinenis viz., the (late) A. Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna and Nagarjuna's son Naga Chaitanya. Besides this, no other detail of the film has been disclosed. Big B wrote on his blog, "I have worked too hard for the day and the night ... finished commitment after commitment - a dubbing for Teach Aids on the pointers for those that are unaware of these dreaded diseases ... thereafter a quick cameo shoot for Nag, son of the legendary Late Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, and a dear friend, for the film he has made...

Chennai, April 8: The trailer of upcoming Telugu family-drama "Manam", which was unveiled Tuesday on the occasion of Ramanawami, gives the audience one last glimpse of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (Anr), who passed away recently.

"Manam" is Nageswara Rao's last film, which also features his son Akkineni Nagarjuna and grandson Akkineni Naga Chaitanya.

The trailer opens with a voice-over of Anr and ends with a close-up of the actor, who has essayed an important role in the film.

Going by the trailer, the film looks like a family entertainer coupled with an element of mystery.

Although.

Chennai, March 4: Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, who worked with his late father Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Akkineni Naga Chaitanya in forthcoming Telugu drama "Manam", says the experience was adventurous and memorable.

"Manam" was the last film of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who passed away recently.

"'Manam' is totally an entertainment-based movie with elements of magic that could thrill viewers. It's been a great and an adventurous journey thus far in my acting career and it was memorable to act with both my father and son simultaneously," Nagarjuna posted on his Facebook page.

Directed by Vikram.

Chennai, March 3: Forthcoming Telugu drama "Manam", featuring three generations of actors from the Akkineni clan, will release March 31 worldwide on the occasion of Ugadi, says the film's director Vikram Kumar.

"Manam" is the last film of legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who passed away recently.

"Nagarjuna sir has zeroed in on the release date. We are bringing the film on March 31 as an Ugadi treat. There will be no change in that. In fact, he has confirmed about the release date at a recent media interaction in Tirupati," Vikram told Ians.

Also featuring Akkineni Nagarjuna and his son Naga Chaitanya, the film.

Chennai, Jan 29: Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna says he wants "Manam", last film of his late father Telugu movie icon Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who was more than just a father to him, to be a befitting farewell.

Rao passed away Jan 22 due to intestinal cancer. He was 89-years old.

"I want his last film 'Manam' to be a befitting send-off to a man who was much more than just a father to me. He was on the sets of the film when he collapsed (last year). When they opened him up he was in the fifth stage of cancer. Until then he was in the pink of health," read a post from Nagarjuna on his official Facebook page.

Nageswara.

Hyderabad, Jan 22: Telugu cinema icon Akkineni Nageswara Rao died here early Wednesday, his family said. He was 91.

The thespian, who was battling cancer for few months, breathed his last at a private hospital. Family sources said the end came at 12.10 a.m. However, the announcement was made after 2 a.m.

Popularly known as Anr, he is survived by three daughters and two sons, including popular actor Nagarjuna.

Born Sep 20, 1924 in Venkata Raghavapuram in Krishna district of coastal Andhra, the legendary actor acted in 255 films. He was currently acting in a film titled "Manam" with his son Nagarjuna and.

Chennai, Oct 15: It's a rarity but a treat for movie buffs to see real life film families working together on the big screen. In the Telugu film industry, three such family multi-starrers are getting ready for release.

The most awaited of these is Telugu comedy-drama "Manam", featuring three generations of actors of the Akkineni lineage.

The film, which is being directed by Vikram Kumar, stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, his son Nagarjuna and grandson Naga Chaitanya in key roles.

Nagarjuna says it's an opportunity he couldn't let go of.

"We always wanted to do a film as a family. Dad and I have worked together earlier, but since Chaitanya entered the industry, we were keen to team up again. When Vikram narrated.

Chennai, Oct 4: One of the busiest actresses in the Tamil and Telugu film industry, Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she doesn't want to sign any new projects until she gets a very special role.

"I am on strike. No more signing on the dotted line till I get a full-fledged super awesome blow my mind kind of role except for the ones I have already signed," Samantha posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Basking in the success of her recent Telugu release "Attarintiki Daaredhi", she is awaiting the release of two other Telugu films - "Autonagar Surya" and "Ramayya Vasthavayya".

Samantha is currently shooting for Telugu films "Manam" and for two yet-untitled projects - one with director Santosh Srinivas and another with V.V..

Chennai, Sep 19: The first look of Telugu multi-starrer featuring three generations of Akkineni family is likely to be released Friday on the 90th birthday of acting legend Akkineni Nageswara Rao (Anr).

Nageswara Rao will be seen with his son Nagarjuna and grandson Naga Chaitanya in the film.

"I think this is the best gift we could think of. Plans are being made to release the first look poster of the film on Friday. We thought it would be a great moment for his fans to look forward to. Releasing it on this day also means good visibility," a member from the film's unit told Ians.

"Manam" is being directed.

Chennai, Sep 13: Reacting to rumours that she will sport a bikini in one of her upcoming Telugu films, southern actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu said audiences know that she is not a bikini material.

"If you have watched my films, you wouldn't need me to tell you that me sporting a bikini in my next is just a rumour. Put this to rest," posted Samantha on her Twitter page.

Having starred in big-ticket films such as "Dookudu", "Brindavanam" and "Neethaane En Ponvasantham", Samantha has not donned the two piece swim wear in her films.

Currently busy shooting for Telugu films "Manam" and "Auto Nagar Surya", she.

Hyderabad, Sep 5: Actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya is "excited" and "nervous" ahead of shooting for the first time with his grandfather and father in upcoming Telugu comedy-drama "Manam". Chaitanya will shoot with his family members here Sep 9.

"Manam" also features Chaitanya's grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao and father Akkineni Nagarjuna. It is touted to be the first family multi-starrer in Telugu.

"I'm quite excited and nervous at the same time. I'm sure shooting few days together with my grandfather and dad will ease my tension because facing them together before the camera will be totally different from.

Chennai, July 28: Telugu actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya's next untitled outing, which will be helmed by Vijay Kumar Konda, is likely to be produced by the actor's father Akkineni Nagarjuna under his home banner Annapurna Studios.

"Chaitanya's next film will be with director Vijay Kumar Konda. Chaitu recently agreed to star in the project as he was very much impressed with the script. The film is likely to produced by Nagarjuna sir under his home banner," a source from the industry told Ians.

"Chaitanya is currently shooting with his father and grandfather for 'Manam'. He is likely to start shooting for this new project.

Chennai, July 25: Akkineni Akhil, younger son of Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, has shot down rumours of signing his debut film and said he is still gearing up to take the plunge.

"Hey everyone! Just clearing the air, I haven't signed any movie at the moment. I'm still in the process of getting ready for my debut. A debut isn't a joke, so taking all the advice and help I need to set up the right script," Akhil posted on his Twitter page.

It was reported that Akhil would make his cinematic debut in upcoming Telugu comedy-drama "Manam" featuring his grandfather Nageswara Rao, father Nagarjuna, and elder brother Naga Chaitanya.

"I'm.

Chennai, June 19: She has her hands full for this year, but southern actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who has worked with big stars and banners in the past, is now keen to explore small-budget films with exciting scripts in the next year.

She is currently busy shooting for three big Telugu projects - "Manam" with Akkineni Nagarjuna, "Attarintiki Daaredhi" with Pawan Kalyan and "Ramayya Vasthavayya" with Junior Ntr.

She will soon start working for another big project with Junior Ntr.

"Next year, I wish to be part of small films with exciting scripts. (I) will not be taking up too many big films," posted Samantha.

Hyderabad, June 4: Akkineni Nagarjuna missed his late mother Akkineni Annapurna at the launch of his dream project "Manam", which also features his father Akkineni Nageswara Rao and son Akkineni Naga Chaitanya.

"We did a small puja to mark the beginning of our film 'Manam'. (It was) an emotional day for all of us. (I) wish mother was there," posted Nagarjuna on his Twitter page Monday.

Annapurna, who was married to Nageswara Rao for 62 years, passed away in 2011. Annapurna Studios established in 1976, was named after her.

"This will be a dream project for us as it will see our entire family come together and work. I'm.