Sun Jun 01 13:14:45 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A celebration commemorating the birth anniversary of legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) was held in Vijayawada. Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh lauded NTR as a cultural icon and a people’s leader who brought welfare governance and global recognition to the Telugu people. Veteran actor Rajendra Prasad was felicitated with the NTR Memorial Award for his contributions to cinema.
**News Article:**
**NTR Honored at Birth Anniversary Celebration in Vijayawada**
*Vijayawada, India – June 1, 2025* – A grand celebration was held in Vijayawada on Saturday evening to commemorate the birth anniversary of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), the legendary actor and former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. The event, organized by the X-Ray Literary and Cultural Service Organisation, saw Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Cinematography Kandula Durgesh paying rich tributes to NTR’s legacy.
Minister Durgesh hailed NTR as a transformative figure, both in Telugu cinema and in the political landscape of the state. “NTR was not merely a film star, he was a people’s leader,” Durgesh stated, emphasizing NTR’s contributions to welfare governance and his role in bringing global recognition to Telugu pride.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the NTR Memorial Award to veteran actor Rajendra Prasad, recognizing his remarkable 48-year career in cinema. The award was presented by Minister Durgesh. Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad, Vijayawada East MLA Gadde Ramamohan Rao were among those present at the event.