Mohan Krishna receives Gollapudi award

CHENNAI: Yet another dream of a director making his debut in cinema got recognition and honour.

ఇంద్రగంటి మోహన్‌ కృష్ణ (Indraganti Mohan Krishna) received the Gollapudi Srinivas National Award for 2005 for his Telugu film, గ్రహణం (Grahanam).

He was the ninth recipient of the award instituted by the Gollapudi Srinivas Memorial Foundation.

The award function on Saturday evening was filled with memories of Gollapudi Srinivas, the debut director who died in 1992 while shooting a film, ప్రేమ పుస్తకం (Prema Pusthakam) in the rocky part of Visakhapatnam coastline.

Everyone shared the same feeling - the audience, the awardee or the guests - one of empathy, jubilation and honour. Gollapudi Srinivas's family got several rounds of applause for having turned a personal tragedy to a celebration of new ventures.

The chief guest, actor Aamir Khan, had to make a small speech before the scheduled one to satisfy the enthusiastic audience waiting to hear him. He lauded the family's effort and spirit to turn a personal sorrow to commemoration of debut film directors. "Being a parent, I empathise with the feeling of another parent," he said. He also appreciated the award winner and his team for the debut venture.

Earlier, his speech was interrupted by few youngsters claiming to be a part of an organisation, `Youth for Social Change' raising slogans against Mr. Khan for endorsing soft drinks. They were whisked away by the police.

Actress Shobhana, playback singer Shankar Mahadevan and film maker Goutam Ghose spoke.

The guests commended Mr. Mohan Krishna. The award presented for excellence in film debut direction consists of a cash prize of Rs.1.50 lakh and a memento. Accepting the award from the guests, Mr. Mohan Krishna called it an "unreal and overwhelming experience".

To him, the award was the "greatest interpretation of sorrowful memory". It was not just a recognition but jubilation of hard work. He dedicated the award to his mother Janaki and his team.

His film `Grahanam' is based on a short story of renowned Telugu writer Chalam, దోషగుణం (Doshagunam) that explored ways such as superstitions by which female sexuality was controlled in a patriarchial society.

The jury who selected the awardee, director Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and film critic Kalyanaraman were honoured.

Earlier, Goutam Ghose delivered a lecture on collective memories and timelessness in cinema. Playback singers Shankar Mahadevan and Mahalakshmi Iyer entertained the audience with an hour of lilting music. Actress Perizaad Zorabian compered the occasion.

Courtesy: The Hindu