Ramakrishna Theatre devoid of its fond mentor

​Hyderabad: Nandamuri Harikrishna who died in a road mishap in Nalgonda on Wednesday had a greater association with Ramakrishna Theatre and its premises at Abids. All his friends and fans were not able to digest the sudden demise of their beloved leader. After paying floral tributes to their leader, they recalled their association and affection which they got from Harikrishna.

Krishna (58), a close friend of Harikrishna, who looks after the Aahwaanam hotel maintenance now, maintained good relations with the actor-politician for the past 20 years. Krishna said Harikrishna always gave priority to his friends more than family. He recollected that on Tuesday both went to Basheerbagh petrol bunk in a car for diesel and came back to the hotel and Harikrishna took rest in room number 1001 till evening. Then Harikrishna called him and told that Wednesday morning he was going to Nellore to attend a function so there might be little chances of coming to the hotel. With tears in his eyes he said I never thought that, that was the last look I could have.

Harikrishna spent his childhood and young days on Ramakrishna Theatre premises. His father, former Chief Minister late NT Rama Rao’s Chaitanya Ratham was also parked there for so many years. After getting the hotel property as his share, Harikrishna used to spend maximum time there. Foundation was laid to the Aahwaanam hotel in 1964 and was inaugurated in 1968. Right from that time Harikrishna built an association with it.

He used to call his friends and fans to the hotel and spend time there. Whenever fans come to him he used to receive them properly with great affection, Krishna said. The Tata Sierra old car and the Royal Enfield bullet which was presented by his father NT Rama Rao was very much liked by him. He used to drive the Royal Enfield bullet on the premises of Ramakrishna Theatre whenever his mood was good.

Harikrishna used to come every day to Aahwaanam hotel at 6:00 am to offer puja afterwards he did breakfast there. Then he went to house and came back to the hotel at 12 noon and met friends, fans and political party leaders till 3:00 pm. Then he relaxed for some time and left the hotel premises at 4:00 pm. This was the everyday schedule of Harikrishna at Aahwaanam hotel. Recently when his fans met him and discussed about his 62nd birthday party celebrations across the two Telugu States, he said he had decided not to celebrate his birthday this time. He gave a call to his fans and friends to collect funds and contribute it to the Kerala flood victims.

Speaking to The Hans India, Kolakaluri Vijay, secretary, NTR Harikrishna Fans Association recollected that whenever his fans came to meet him, he used to ask whether they had lunch or not. He used to talk to everyone only after they had lunch and always encouraged them to help others always.

Gollapally Dayananda Rao and Krishna Rao who were friends of Harikrishna recollected their works with him. They told they had worked extensively with their beloved leader to start a new political party ‘Anna Telugu Desam party’ during 2009 elections from the premises.