Why inviting Jr.NTR to Balakrishna’s event is crucial for TDP
The recent recognition of Nandamuri Balakrishna with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in India has led to a surge of congratulatory messages from people across various fields. However, one of the messages that stood out was from Junior NTR who addressed Balakrishna as ‘Bala Babai’ on social media, following the announcement. Kalyan Ram who has recently been closely aligned with NTR also expressed similar wishes. Despite the warm wishes, it is no secret that there have been tensions between the two families for several years.
Although Junior NTR has consistently shown no ill-will in public, even distancing himself from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Nandamuri family, Balakrishna, on the other hand, has not been as restrained with his feelings. Their last public interaction was at the funeral of Taraka Ratna where a viral video showed Balakrishna walking away without acknowledging NTR and Kalyan Ram’s greetings.
Recently, there was also controversy when NTR’s movie Jai Lava Kusa was omitted while discussing Director Bobby’s filmography on the Unstoppable show. While the reasons behind these incidents remain unclear, the public perception of the situation is less than favorable for both the Nandamuri family and the TDP.
As the industry plans to celebrate Balakrishna’s Padma Bhushan recognition with a major event, it is hoped that there will be no exclusions in the guest list. Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram, despite the strained relations, should be invited and given the respect they deserve. Balakrishna, now honored with one of the highest awards in the country, is also a prominent political figure and philanthropist due to his Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital. This event presents an opportunity for Balakrishna to rise above the personal issues with his family members and focus on his newfound stature.
Inviting Junior NTR to the event would not only help heal the wounds between the families but also help mend the emotions of their fans and well-wishers. This gesture could also help the TDP by eliminating a significant point of contention. At this stage in his life, Balakrishna’s legacy and the recognition he has received should not be defined by old family disputes. Instead, this celebration of his achievement should focus on his contributions to the arts, politics and society.
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