Amitabh Bachchan Reads Out His Father’s Poem at ANR Awards: ‘Mere Bete, Bete Hone Se…’ – News18

Last Updated:October 29, 2024, 01:54 IST

Amitabh Bachchan presented the ANR National Award to Chiranjeevi, sharing heartfelt lines from his father’s poem about legacy.

Bollywood’s legendary Amitabh Bachchan took centre stage at the ANR National Award ceremony in Hyderabad on Monday, where he presented the prestigious accolade to Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi. The event, celebrating the contributions of legendary actor-producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao, saw Bachchan reflecting on his newfound connection to the Telugu film industry. He expressed his gratitude for being part of such a vibrant industry.

During his speech, Bachchan paid tribute to the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao, stating, “I want to express my gratitude to Nag (Nageswara Rao’s son and actor Nagarjuna Akkineni), the foundation, and the entire family for bringing to life a colossus that we have had the privilege to observe on this earth of Telugu cinema and indeed the entire film industry.” He acknowledged the immense joy and cultural richness that ANR brought to Indian cinema and noted how challenging it is for anyone to match his monumental contributions.

In a heartfelt moment, Bachchan shared lines from a poignant poem by his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan. “In it, he speaks of how his friends tell him he must write a will stating what he plans to leave for his sons, as nowadays a son often needs to go to court to prove he is his father’s son,” he explained. He went on to quote the powerful lines: “Mere bete, bete hone se mere uttaradhikari nahi honge. Jo mere uttaradhikari honge, woh mere bete honge.” (My sons, just because you are my sons does not mean you will be my inheritors. Those who are my inheritors will be my sons.) “Nag, you and your family have proven that you are the true inheritors of this great personality,” he added.

Bachchan concluded his address by expressing his deep admiration for Chiranjeevi, calling him a “dear friend.” He thanked him for his kindness and support, including offering him a role in the film Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy.