Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema given annually by Government of India for lifetime contribution toIndian cinema. Southern names like ANR, LV Prasad and D. Rama Naidu are associated with this Award. When it comes to this year, the announcement is yet to be done. Supran Sen of Film Federation of India said that decision is not taken by the committee till now. ‘The announcement is delayed probably because they haven’t met yet. So, the announcement is pending,’ said Sen.
Names in consideration for Award are actors Pran from Bollywood, Soumitra Chatterjee from Bengal and producer Edida Nageshwara Rao of Poornodaya Movie Creations from South. This banner has produced memorable movies in Telugu film history like ‘Shankarabharanam, Swathi Muthyam, Swayamkrushi.’ The initial rule of giving the Award to those who are retired was changed to honor them while they were still active in their fields of work. As Pran is retired from movies in 1998, we might see a moment of pride for Telugu cinema soon in the form of announcement of Edida Nageshwar Rao as recipient of Phalke Award.