Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), popularly known as N. T. Rama Rao or as NTR, was an Indian film actor, writer, director, producer, and politician who also ruled as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for three terms.

Early life: 


                 N. T. Rama Rao (NTR) was born on 28 May 1923 in Nimmakuru, a small village in Andhra for a farming couple, Nandamuri Lakshmaih Chowdary and Venkata Ramamma. He finished his studies and worked as Sub-Registrar in Madras service Commission but he resigned his job within three weeks to enter the cine field!


Acting Career:


                          NTR made his debut as an actor in a Telugu social film Mana Desam playing a policman role directed by L. V. Prasad in 1949. His first mythological film was in 1957, where he portrayed Krishna in the blockbuster film Maya Bazaar. He essayed the role of Krishna in 17 films including some landmark films like Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (1962) and Tamil film Karnan (1964). He essayed a lot of lord roles in his films like Lord Shiva, Rama etc.. In later 1970's he started playing young poor heroic roles fighting for the existing system! Then he started writing story, screenplay and also to direct his films and succeeded in it!

Family life:


                   In May 1943, at the age of 20, NTR married Basava Tarakam, the daughter of his maternal uncle. The couple had eight sons and four daughters. Among them Nandamuri Harikrishna entered cine field and sons Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Jr. NTR are also actors in the Telugu film industry and 2nd one being one of the top actors in the industry today. His sixth son, Nandamuri Balakrishna is one of the leading actors in Tollywood from the mid-1980s and acting till now. In 1993, at the age of 70, NTR married again, this time to Lakshmi Parvathi, a Telugu writer.

Political career:


                            NTR entered politics when he founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on 29 March 1982 in Hyderabad. The main motive of him is to replace the corrupt rule of Indian National Congress and bring a change! He brought many innovative ideas in his campaign and he became as 10th chief minister of AP and 1st Non congress CM on Jan 9 1983. His Political life was filled with mysteries as his family members dominated him in his party!

Filmography:

He had acted in over 74 films in his career in which 16 films he has worked as story and screenplay writer of movie and some was directed by him too!

Awards and honours:

1968 Padma Shri award from the Government of India
National Film Awards
1954 - Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer - National Art Theater) for Thodu Dongalu
1960 - Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer - National Art Theater) for Seetharama Kalyanam
1968 - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director) for Varakatnam
Rashtrapati Awards
1954 - Best Acting for Raju Peda
1963 - Best Acting for Lava Kusa
Filmfare Awards South
1972 - Best Telugu Actor for Badi Panthulu

Filmfare Awards

1974 - Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Story for Bidaai (1974 film)

Death:

            NTR died of a heart attack on 18 January 1996 at his residence in Hyderabad, aged 72. He was cremated and his ashes were immersed at Srirangapatna by his second wife eight years later in 2004!


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Sekar Chandra

28/05/2016 09:25 AM