I'm fortunate, says Ramakrishna

'Sobhanbabu Smaraka Kala Puraskaram' presented Visakhapatnam: "I am fortunate enough to get the 'Sobhanbabu Smaraka Kala Puraskaram' instituted by the Sobhanbabu Seva Sangham," said playback singer V Ramakrishna. Mr Ramakrishna, who was here on Wednesday to receive the award, attended a programme organised by Ghantasala Sports and Cultural Association. He told reporters that he would be grateful to Sobhanbabu Seva Sangham for presenting the award. "Responding to my songs in my first picture 'Jeevitam', the great actor Sobhanbabu had asked my maternal aunt P Suseela to send me to Chennai and since then, the latter used to tell all the producers that he would act only if Ramakrishna sings," he recalled. Paying rich tributes to Sobhanbabu, Mr Ramakrishna described him as a man of action, man of good manners, man with human values, and handsome. He assured all local cultural associations of his cooperation in their endeavour to promote cultural activities. Later, Mr Ramakrishna introduced the new body elected to the Ghantasala Sports and Cultural Association, which comprises M Nageswara Rao (honorary president), SNK Mohanthi (president), CV Rajeswari (vice-president), B Satyanarayana (general secretary), Chenna Tirumala Rao (founder secretary), K Victoria Rani (assistant secretary), KS Prakasa Rao (treasurer), Nanduri Ramakrishna, P Chiranjeevi Rao Gupta and B Rama Rao (chief advisors) and six others as executive committee members. He called upon the members to organise good programmes encouraging local talent.