Hyderabad: Naik B Venkata Ramana who was martyred in a fidayeen attack in Jammu and Kashmir was honoured with the Sakshi Excellence Award here on Sunday. The award was received by the soldier's brother Koteshwara Rao.

The annual Sakshi Excellence awards function was held at the JRC Convention Center. Noted journalist Barkha Dutt was the chief guest at the event presided by Sakshi Group chairperson YS Bharati Reddy and Sakshi editorial director Ramachandra Murthy. The awards instituted over two years ago and presented annually honours ordinary people with exceptional achievements in their chosen field. Yakub Bi of Sahrudaya Ashram (Warangal) was presented with the Excellence in Social Service award. The award was given away by GHMC commissioner Janardhan Reddy.

The Sakshi Excellence Awards honoured legendary Telugu film director Dasari Narayana Rao with the “Telugu Shikharam” award and yesteryear villain and character actor Kaikala Satyanarayana with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Meanwhile, the Young Achiever (Sports) Award was presented to Mohammed Siraj for being selected to the Hyderabad Sunrisers team in the ongoing IPL cricket tourney. The award was received by Siraj's brother on his behalf. In academics, the Young Achiever award was given to JEE examination topper Mohan Abhyas.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Additional DGP Anjani Kumar, Rainbow Hospitals director Pranathi Reddy and Telangana State IT secretary Jayesh Ranjan among others.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Kaikala Satyanarayana Rao
Telugu Shikharam Award – Dasari Narayana Rao
Young Achiever (Sports) Award – Mohammed Siraj
Most popular sport person (female) – Harika
Excellence in service – K Bhaskar Rao
Excellence in Healthcare – Bunny Health seva samithi
Most popular sport person (male) – Saketh
Business person of the year – Ravindra Aggarwal
Excellence in Education – Vandemataram
Telugu person of the year – PV sindhu
Jury special recognition Award – Nayak
Excellence in farming – Jagadeshwar Reddy
Telugu NRI of the year – T Chitti
Most Popular hero – Allu Arjun for Sarrainodu
Best Singer Award – Sargar For Nannaku Prematho Title song
Best Debut Director – Kalyan Krishna for Soggade Chinni Nayana
Most Popular Film – Sarrainodu
Most Popular Director – Boyapati Srinu
Best Hero Jury Award – Vijay Devarakonda for Pelli Choopulu
Pruthviraj – best comedian award