Oscars tribute honours Kota Srinivasa Rao, Indian cinema legends
HYDERABAD: The 98th Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday evening, corresponding to Monday morning in India. Conan O’Brien hosted the event, which is among the most prestigious in global cinema.
During his opening remarks, the host made witty observations about artificial intelligence, drawing amusement from the audience. Last year, he had greeted viewers in Hindi with the phrase “Have you eaten.”
Several films, actors and technical teams competed across categories. One Battle After Another won six Oscars, while Sinners secured four awards and Frankenstein received three.
Tribute segment remembers global and Indian cinema stalwarts
The ceremony began with a special “In Memoriam” segment honouring prominent film personalities who died last year. The tribute included Hollywood stars as well as noted figures from Indian cinema.
Indian icons remembered during the segment included Dharmendra, Manoj Kumar, B. Saroja Devi and Telugu actor Kota Srinivasa Rao. The tribute video featured selected personalities, while organisers said all names were listed on the official Oscars website because of time constraints.
Kota Srinivasa Rao’s legacy highlighted during tribute segment
Kota Srinivasa Rao received special recognition, with his photograph and career contributions showcased on stage. He died on July 13, 2025, after a career spanning more than 40 years.
He appeared in over 700 films across Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Kannada languages. Known for roles ranging from comedy to villainy and character parts, he received nine Nandi Awards and the Padma Shri.
Fans react to absence of some tributes in video
Alongside Kota Srinivasa Rao, Bollywood veteran Dharmendra, who died on November 24, 2025, aged 89, was also honoured. Some fans expressed disappointment on social media after his clips were not shown in the main tribute video.
The Academy clarified that only selected footage was screened due to time limits, while complete acknowledgements were published online.
The ceremony reflected the global reach of cinema and recognised contributions from artists across countries. For Telugu cinema, the tribute to Kota Srinivasa Rao was seen as a moment of pride among fans and industry observers.
