Hyderabad: In a powerful demonstration of community and compassion, young filmmakers came together to launch a large-scale Blood Donation Drive – ‘For TFI, By TFI’ – in collaboration with Chiranjeevi Eye & Blood Bank on Saturday. To proactively strengthen the health security of the TFI workforce, around 100 actors, directors, writers, musicians, singers & other film technicians from the Telugu film industry showed up at Chiranjeevi Eye & Blood Bank, Jubilee Hills. The ‘For TFI, By TFI’ initiative was able to raise 75 units of blood ensuring that the lives 225 members of TFI or their immediate families can be saved.
This noble cause was organized by Santo Mohan Veeranki (Writer & Director of “Stand Up Rahul”), and the campaign was led by a team comprising of Filmmaker Sesha Sindhu Rao, Filmmaker Vasant Jurru, Film Distributor Dharmendra Chavatapalli (Owner of G3 Cinema Halls) and Soumya Sharma (Creative Head at Arka Media Works). By creating this reserve of 75 units of blood on Saturday, these young filmmakers pledged their profound commitment to the well-being and security of all individuals who contribute to the industry’s success, ensuring that help is immediately available during medical emergencies.
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The event was graced by actor & politician Shri Nagendra Babu Konidela, who extended his full support to maximize the impact of this essential initiative. He further congratulated the organizers for their conscientious efforts towards becoming socially responsible citizens. He encouraged the young filmmakers to keep continue these efforts by drawing parallels with his brother Padma Vibhushan “Megastar” Chiranjeevi’s journey when he started the Chiranjeevi Eye & Blood Bank as a conscious movement with his own money & blessings from Former President of India Late Shri APJ Abdul Kalam. He said, “people like you are the oxygen that’s keeping the blood bank running. All the best to the young filmmakers who’ve put this together.”
The ’For TFI, By TFI’ Blood Donation Drive was joined in person by many film technicians including filmmakers – Anand Ranga, Nandakishore Emani, Praveen Kandregula, Surya Manoj Vangala, Uday Gurrala, Pradeep Maddali, Writer Vasant Mariganti, and actors Mohan Bhagat, Venkatesh Kakumanu & Sai Tej among many others.
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“Each donation takes less than ten minutes and can save up to three lives,” said filmmaker Santo Mohan Veeranki – the organizer of the initiative. “We’ve all seen the panic and helplessness that arise when someone urgently needs blood. This drive is our way of transforming that experience into one of preparedness, community, and hope. I am hoping to inspire filmmakers to not only donate blood but also (hopefully) their art imitates this life experience. I hope that filmmakers whose lives were touched today will create content or tell stories that will further spread this social message to the masses.”
The organizers said that this initiative is more than a one-day event; it marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to ensure no family in the film fraternity ever struggles for blood in times of need. They declared that their goal is to collect 5,000 units of blood over the next five years, building a sustainable pool of donors ready to respond during emergencies. With continued drives planned twice a year, this initiative aims to make voluntary blood donation a lasting culture within the Telugu film community.
The primary focus of the initiative is to support the industry’s invaluable technicians and crew members—the unsung heroes who form the backbone of film production but often lack institutional safety nets when it comes to the accessibility & affordability of healthcare. For future blood needs or to join upcoming donation drives, contact Writer & Director Santo Mohan Veeranki on 9030327192.
