Hyderabad: Hundreds of admirers and supporters, including a large number of prominent personalities from cine and political fields, bade a tearful and emotional farewell to Nandamuri Harikrishna, son of late Nataratna and chief minister N. T. Rama Rao as his mortal remains were consigned to flames according Vedic rites at the Filmnagar Maharpasthanam here on Thursday evening.
The actor-turned politician, who was known for his maverick and rebellious nature and who has seen many ups and downs in political career in Telugu Desam founded by his late father NTR, was accorded a State funeral by the Telangana State government. The last rites of Harikrishna, who died in a ghastly road accident at Aneparthy in Nalgonda district on Wednesday morning, was performed by both his actor sons Kalyanram and Jr NTR. As the last post was sounded and an armed police contingent fired three rounds of volley in the air, Kalyanram lit the funeral pyre.
AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was married to Harikrishna’s younger sister Bhuvaneshwari, his cabinet colleagues, a large number leaders from the TDP and other parties, Telangana Minister for Cinematography Talasani Srinivas Yadav, scores of film personalities and large number of his fans attended the funeral.
Earlier, the funeral procession of Harikrishna’s mortal remains was taken in a procession from his residence in Mehdipatnam. The body was carried in a flower-decked vehicle to the crematorium traversing a 5km route via Mehdipatnam, SD Hospital Road, Rethibowli, Tolichowki, Shaikpet and culminated at the Mahaprasthanam. Chandrababu Naidu and retired Supreme Court Judge Chalameshwar acted as pall-bearers along with others in carrying the body from the residence to the bedecked vehicle. Actor Balakrishna, brother of Harikrishna and Lokesh, son of Chandrababu Naidu, also acted as pall-bearers when the mortal remains reached the crematorium.
Hundreds of admirers and supporters thronged the five-km route and the police, who made tight security arrangements had a tough time in controlling the surging crowds. In view of the funeral procession, vehicular traffic was diverted at many points in the city. (NSS)
