Actor Suman to Receive the 2026 ‘Kathi Kantha Rao National Award’
The prestigious honour will be presented in Hyderabad on November 16, marking the birth anniversary of legendary actor Kathi Kantha Rao.
The Telugu Film Television Welfare Forum and Bharat Cultural Academy have jointly selected renowned actor and hero Suman for the prestigious 2026 Kathi Kantha Rao National Award, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema. For the past 24 years, the two organisations have been honouring distinguished personalities from the film industry with national awards instituted in the name of Kala Prapoorna Kathi Kantha Rao, commemorating the legendary actor’s birth anniversary.Actor Suman, who has acted in more than 300 films across Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada cinema, has earned a special place in the hearts of audiences through his versatility and screen presence. Over the course of his illustrious career, he has excelled in a wide range of roles, including revered mythological characters such as Lord Venkateswara, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. He has also won acclaim for portraying young and dynamic police officers, action heroes and karate experts.Recognising his extensive body of work, versatility and invaluable contribution to the film industry, the honorary members of the Telugu Film Television Welfare Forum and Bharat Cultural Academy have unanimously resolved to confer the Kathi Kantha Rao National Award on Suman for 2026.According to an official announcement, the award will be presented at a ceremony in Hyderabad on November 16, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Kathi Kantha Rao.The announcement was made by Award Committee Chairman K. V. Ramana Chary, IAS, along with Co-Chairmen C. Parthasarathi, IAS (Retd.), and Nagabala D. Suresh Kumar.The honour recognises Suman’s enduring contribution to Indian cinema and his ability to leave a lasting impression on audiences through a diverse range of memorable performances.
