‘Director Ratna’ for Rajendra Singh Babu
BENGALURU
Kannada film Director SV Rajendra Singh Babu was presented with the ‘Director Ratna’ award in the presence of stars and artists to celebrate his 50th year as a film director.
The closing ceremony of the five-day SVR 50 Achievement, Celebration, and Film Festival organized by the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce witnessed intimate moments at the Ravindra Kalakshetra.
Actresses Suhasini, Arjun Sarja, Ravichandran, Hamsalekha and many others recalled the moments when Babu encouraged them to grow in the film industry.
Music director Hamsalekha also paid tribute to the association with a gold medal and a special desi-style felicitation. The musical ecstasy programme conducted by the Hamsalekha team was like a journey of melodious songs from Babu’s films.
Speaking after the award ceremony, actress Suhasini said, Babu is the one who introduced me to the Kannada film industry and made me gain people’s love to this extent. If he had not given me a chance, Suhasini would have been a zero. He should always be remembered. Babu was an adventurer who made big-budget films in the 70s and 80s. He was a courageous director who thought big.
If you are born, you should be reborn in Kannada. I want to work in Kannada cinema in my next ten lives, said Director SV Rajendra Singh Babu. Accepting the honours, he said, although I have worked in many languages, including Hindi and Telugu, working in Kannada cinema has given me joy. Our land, soil, and air have always inspired me. He said, Actresses like Hema Malini gave me the opportunity to work in Hindi. They were the ones who convinced people like Ramesh Sippy. Many people including Veeraswamy KCN Chandrashekhar stood behind them. I will always remember people like Vishnuvardhan Ambareesh.
Actor Dhruva Sarja, Directors Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar, TN Seetharam, Kandeelu film producer Prakash Kariappa, journalist Gangadhar Mudaliar, and Board President Krishna Gowda were present.
