Date:30/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/30/stories/2007083060980800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Festive atmosphere in NTR’s ancestral village

G.V. Ramana Rao

NIMMAKURU: This ancestral village of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), about 60 km from Vijayawada, was engulfed in a festive mood on Wednesday with the family members of NTR, fans of film star Balakrishna and admirers of the TDP thronging it from the surrounding villages for the wedding reception of NTR’s grandson Lokesh and granddaughter Brahmani. Villagers said that while the bridegroom’s mother Bhuvaneswari and bride’s father Balakrishna used to visit the village frequently along with their father NTR, it was a rare visit for former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for a family function.

Fans and admirers jostled to shake hands with Mr. Naidu and Mr. Balakrishna on the dais.

Chartered flight

The newly married couple and relatives landed at Gannavaram airport by a chartered flight and drove to the village in a Volvo bus. Several members of the NTR family paid floral tributes to the statues of the TDP founder and his wife, Basavatharakam, at the entrance of the village.