Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu presented the Kala Ratna Award to senior journalist and writer Bhagiratha. Chandrababu Naidu, who attended the Ugadi Awards ceremony held at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada on March 30 as the chief guest, presented the Kala Ratna Award to Bhagiratha and congratulated him.
Bhagiratha, who has 45 years of experience in journalism, received the Nandi Award twice in the then united Andhra Pradesh in 1997 and 2001, the NTR Committee Best Journalist Award in 2011, the Telugu University Keerthi Puraskar in 2020, and 20 awards from organizations such as Delhi Telugu Academy, Vamsi, Kinnera, Yuvakala Vahini, Srutilaya, Kamalakara Kala Bharati, and Bellary Telugu Samskruti.
Bhagiratha worked as a member of the Nandi Awards Committee, the National Film Awards Committee, and the Oscar Awards Committee. Two books, "Shakapurushudu" and "Tarakaramam," were released under Bhagiratha's editorship by the committee formed on the occasion of NTR's centenary. Bhagiratha has written books like Nagaladevi, Manavatha, Bharathamerica, Dasarabulodu, Jamunathiram, Nitya Nutana Kathanayakudu, Mettinti Gadapa, Saveri, Bhagiratha Patham, Aksharanjali, Telugu Cinema Pragati, and Maharjathakudu.
A committee headed by Mandali Buddha Prasad selected senior journalist, writer, and poet Bhagiratha for the Kala Ratna Award.
Devadaya Minister Anam Ram Narayana Reddy, Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh, Cultural Committee Chairman Tejaswi Podapati, and Drama Academy Chairman Gummadi Gopalakrishna were present at the event. Speaking on the occasion, Bhagiratha expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Awards Committee Chairman Mandali Buddha Prasad, NTR Centenary Committee Chairman TD Janardhan, and Drama Academy Chairman Gummadi Gopalakrishna for recognizing his work in journalism and selecting him for the prestigious Kala Ratna Award.
