Hundreds of admirers bade a tearful farewell to Nandamuri Harikrishna as his mortal remains were consigned to flames at the Filmnagar Mahaprasthanam today.
Hundreds of admirers and supporters, including a large number of prominent personalities from the film and political fields, bade a tearful farewell to Nandamuri Harikrishna, son of late AP Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, as his mortal remains were consigned to flames according to Vedic rites at the Filmnagar Maharpasthanam on Thursday evening.
The actor-turned-politician, who was known for his maverick and rebellious nature, and who saw many ups and downs in his political career in the Telugu Desam Party founded by his late father, was accorded a state funeral by the Telangana government. The last rites of the leader, who died in a ghastly road accident at Aneparthi in Nalgonda district on Wednesday morning, were performed by both his actor sons Kalyan Ram and Jr NTR. As the last post was sounded and an armed police contingent fired three rounds into the air, Kalyan Ram lit the funeral pyre.
AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who is married to Harikrishna's younger sister Bhuvaneshwari, Naidu's cabinet colleagues, a large number leaders from the TDP and other parties, Telangana Minister for Cinematography Talasani Srinivas Yadav, scores of film personalities and a large number of his fans attended the funeral.
Earlier, the funeral procession of Harikrishna's mortal remains was taken from his residence in Mehdipatnam. The body was carried in a flower-decked vehicle to the crematorium, traversing a 5 km route via the S D Hospital Road, Mehdipatnam, Rethibowli, Tolichowki and Shaikpet, and culminating 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 Nandamuri Balakrishna, brother of Harikrishna, and Lokesh Naidu, son of Chandrababu Naidu, also acted as pall-bearers after the mortal remains reached the crematorium.
Hundreds of admirers and supporters thronged the 5-km route, and the police, who made tight security arrangements, had a tough time in controlling the surging crowds. In view of the procession, vehicular traffic was diverted at many points in the city.