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NTR
iView Author:
SRINIVAS N
(Mumbai, India)
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May 28, 1923, 4.32 PM was a defining moment for the people of Andhra. No one has realized it that day but after a few years, everyone would feel the impact of the meteor that stuck them and their lives being changed forever. In a small village called Nimmakuru, Andhra Pradesh which was then a part of Madras state, a baby was born. The baby’s mother wished to name her son as Krishna but his uncle named him Taraka Ramudu, later changed to Taraka Rama Rao. Nandamuri Lakshmiah Chowdhury and Venkata Ramamma would never have dreamt even in their wildest dreams that on that day, they would be immortalized in the eyes of Telugu nation.
After finishing his school in Nimmakuru, Rama Rao’s uncle Ramaiah adopted him and took him to Vijaywada for his further studies. Right from that time, Rama Rao understood the value of hard work and to help his family, started selling milk with milk cans tied to his cycle. Later he even ran a provision store.
During those days, men used to play female roles in plays as no woman from any respectable family was allowed to be a part of stage dramas. When Rama Rao was studying Intermediate at SRR college, he was asked to play a female role of Nagamma. Well, Rama Rao was interested but there was a slight problem. Rama Rao had a moustache which he was unwilling to shave off. Finally it was decided that he would play the role keeping his moustache! That drama earned Rama Rao the nickname Meesala Nagamma (Mustached Nagamma)!
During Intermediate, RamaRao got married to his maternal uncle’s daughter Basavatarakam in May 1942. The beautiful Basavatarakam’s distraction caused Rama Rao to fail his final exams twice! But he finally managed to clear it and went on to finish B.A (Bachelor of Arts) at Andhra Christian College.
While at college, Rama Rao joined the National Arts Theatre Group and started performing and directing many stage plays.
After graduation, he got a job as a sub-registrar at Mangalagiri but he worked only for three weeks as the wonderful world of cinema beckoned.
B.A Subba Rao, the famous film producer signed Rama Rao’s photograph and signed him as a hero for his film “Palleturi Pilla” without any screen test. But the first film Rama Rao faced the camera was for “Mana Desam” where he played a small role as a sub inspector. Then came out his movie in lead role “Palleturi Pilla” and then L.V.Prasad’s “Shavukar”.
His career kick started with K.V.Reddy’s “Paathala Bhairavi” and then B.N.Reddy’s “Malleswari”, followed by “Pelli Cheesi Choodu” and “Chandra Haaram”.
All these movies were produced by the ever famous Vijaya Studios. Rama Rao was offered five hundred rupees monthly salary and five thousand rupees as the remuneration for each movie. (Authors Note: I get goose bumps when I remember that it was my great grand father, who was then the production controller at Vijaya, used to give NT.Rama Rao and other actors like Savithri their monthly salary)
In “Bhoo Kailas” NTR played the role of Ravana Brahma, the character that Rama Rao thought was the best legendary character ever.
After “Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam” Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao became NTR, the demigod of Telugus all around the world. Devotees used to throng NTR’s house for his darshan. From that time, people started keeping NTR’s photograph dressed as their favorite lord in their houses and started praying to him.
Many super hits followed in this golden era of Telugu cinema. He was mostly seen as Lord Krishna or Lord Rama in many of the mythological films produced that time.
In 1961, NTR became a director with the film “Sita Rama Kalyanam”. Then he directed another gem “Daana Veera Sura Karna” where he played a triple role.
Apart from mythology, NTR acted in many social movies like “Adavi Ramudu”, “Yamagola” etc., which were trend setters.
In his forties, he learnt Bharath Natyam to justify his role in the movie “Narthanasala”. In fact, he was so disciplined that he used to retire to bed every evening at 7.30 PM and get up by 3.30 AM and start practicing his dialogues.
In 1982, NTR entered politics with “Telugu Desham” party and within just nine months, managed to rout the ruling Congress Party and became the first non-congress chief minister in Andhra Pradesh.
In 1984, NTR had to go to the United States for surgery. Finding an opportunity, his aide and second in command Nadendla Bhaskar Rao revolted and managed to convince the governor to remove NTR from power and himself became the chief minister.
A massive public agitation followed and the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi dismissed the Nadendla Bhaskar Rao government and handed back the power to NTR.
During his tenure, NTR has brought in so many positive changes that took the state on the fast track to development and prosperity. He made Andhra Pradesh liquor Free State and banned Alcohol completely. He gave rice to the poor at two rupees a kg.
After the death of his wife Basavatarakam in 1986, NTR became a lonely man. In the late eighties, a woman called Lakshmi Parvathi entered his life to help him write his autobiography. During that time, NTR fell sick and Lakshmi Parvathi was besides him through out and took great care of him. This made NTR come closer to her and finally, he announced to a shocking Telugu nation and his family that he is marrying Lakshmi Parvathi. His family tried a lot to convince him to change his mind but NTR did not budge. After the wedding, they say Lakshmi Parvathi started interfering in the administration of the party and the government and totally sidelining the old members. In 1995, NTR’s son-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu revolted against NTR and got him ousted from power in an internal party coup.
Unable to bear this, NTR breathed his last six months later on 18th January 1996. NTR’s son Balakrishna is a superstar in Telugu films and his grandson, also called NTR is a very successful hero.
Even today, every Telugu worships NTR and idolizes him. He will live forever in our hearts.
25 Responses to “NTR”
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Srinivas
You managed to condense the Legend well into a few paras with some great pictures too!
It is definitely because of him, politically, that people outside AP know the word ‘Telugu’ esp NOV [ north of vindhyas ]
As for the mythological movies he acted in
[ which shld be mandatory viewing for everyone NOV ]: I cannot yet come to terms that Krishna and Rama probably spoke Sanskrit/Hindi and NOT Telugu and definitely did not look like NTR, what a blow to childhood fantasies….. :((
Also after hearing stories about how punctual he was on sets, what amazing memory he had, how he treated ‘acting’ as as ‘art’[kala]…makes one respect the ’star’ more.
K-3
Amazing write-up Srinivas…god atlast we have someone covering NTR on PFC…thank you so much…
My first brush with NTR was watching Daan Veera SHoora Karna..and the role he essayed of Suyaodhan( never knew untill then that Duryodhan’s real name was Suyaodhan..and Dushshana’s was Su-Shashan..how convient..but we never realised)….priceless..throw in any actor past present future..noone i mean NOONE, can essay it wit such arrogance, aplha-male qualities as NTR did…Puneet Issar did come close, but that close was still light years apart…after watching this role, did i become very interested in Suyodhan..even now i am a big fan of Suyodhan…thanks to NTR…If one day i make movies..i will surely make one on Suyodhan…all because this legendary actor changed my whole perception of Duryodhan….
Also, during those times when castism was so prevalent, he was said to one utterly against it, on and off screen. He used to respect junior artists, when that was unheard of during those times….
NTR the actor is un-paralleded in Telugu Industry and its a pity that not many know of this truly great actor and immensely nice human being ( apart from politics)
PS: i guess Machchar bhai has a few tales about the great NTR….waiting on em dude
If there is no NTR no one from andhra would know how rama or krishna would look like. For me his best role was of ravana in Bhukailas (Which is still shown on DD on shivratri)…..too good…
After he passed away we rarely do mythological films except few daily serials. Lot of you guys will agree that 50’s and 60’s was golden era for indian films bombay was making good social pictures and people in madras were involved in mythogical movies….
NTR amar rahe……
@Machhar….
Yamaina kathalu unte cheppa radu…(Any stories do tell…)
OM & Varun: You guys are really cheeky ;) hehe
Well, Srinivas, I was waiting to read something about my god here. Thank you so much!!
I could say that there is no other actor in India, including MGR or Sivaji Ganesan who could hypnotize the audience and literally take them to a different yug. When I was a kid and when there was only the doordarshan channel, I discovered the magic of NTR. My grandmother used to love ANR (Akkineni Nageswar Rao - was quite a ladies man! hehe) but the rest of the family was NTR fans!
My first brush with NTR personally was in an airport when I was a kid. My grandfather took me to the airport to the airport to drop me there as I was going to my parents home for holidays (And I used to travel alone from the age of 5).
Well, there was NTR with all his fans around and my grandfather took me to him and introduced me as his grandson! He tapped me on the head, smiled and gave me a guava fruit! hehe! I came to know that its his trade mark to give fruits to kids who come to visit him!
I was a staunch supporter of Telugu Desam party and when he introduced a complete ban on Alcohol, my uncles and father cribbed a lot that they had to take special permits and could get only limited quantity liquor. I fought with them asking them to see the over all good. In fact, husbands started going back homes earlier, spent more on their family and the state actually progressed! Okay, a few bootleggers make a lot of money but overall, even if we manage to reach out to 50% of the population, the job is done!
As I had some connections, I knew all what was happening in the party which no one knows even today. When the Lakshmi Parvathi episode began and NTR was ousted, I was heart broken…ONLY if he had lived, the people of Andhra would have brought him back to power definitely. I still cannot forgive his son-in-law Chandrababu for that day even though he did a lot of good to the state.
Andhra people would have eaten grass for the next 1000 years if that meant keeping their god alive!
Ahhhhh finally machcharji .. ur back to do wat ur best at .. sharing memories of stalwarts :-)
Arre kartik ji, thank Srinivas for giving us this post, I just put in my two cents :D
So I am not best at ranting and raving eh? ;)
By the way, do you know it was NTR’s son Balakrishna, the Telugu star who was in the news for recently shooting his Astrologer and a producer?
NTR believed a lot in our customs and rituals and was a great philosopher…But his son Balayya took it a step ahead with his superstitions.
Balayya had this close confidante, an astrologer who used to advise him on everything from what movies to sign and what color shirt to wear each day. Hehe…The same astrologer, without Balayya’s knowledge used to extort money from film makers that unless they paid him, he would not give a favorable report to Balayya to sign their movie.
There is this one story, unauthenticated but I believe is quite true. Balayya was in Europe for a song shoot and his astrologer was also there with him. The astrologer was pissed off with the producer for something (I guess the choice of room or some other service) and decided to do something about it.
All the unit reached the shooting spot, which was some remote mountain top and someone could reach there only thru choppers. Once they were there, the astrologer tells Balayya that the time does not look auspicious for him and until he takes the leafs of some plant and rotates it on his head and throws it away, he cannot shoot! Now the fuck up is, that plant is nowhere to be found in Europe! The unit packed up! No shoot for 2 days! The producer had to get one of his men take the next flight from Hyderabad with that plant and reach Europe! Only after Balayya did what his astrologer advised, the shooting resumed! After many years Balayya realized the astrologer was fucking him big time and in anger shot him! HAHA!!
Domagaru… em lopali kathalu andi. Meru eppudaina NY ki ravadam jarigi the, marichipokunda cheppandi. Meetho konni rojulu gadapaka pothe ee janma dhanaym ayyetattu ledu!
Keep em coming boss! Esp about TDP inside stuff and NTR legacy… he was much before my time but for some reason he still facinates me.
Apparently, whenever NTR garu used to go for lunches and dinner, the menu had to have a full chicken cooked only in puru ghee with the ghee dripping and it had to be served on this gold plate or some thing. And ater the meal, he would take the gold plate with him!!!
My dad used to tell tales about the budget meetings and stuff esp when favors were called in by industrialists and stuff. One of a kind huh???
And ohh yeah… GOD’s image for me has only been NTR!
Maharashtra had Shivaji, West Bengal had Subash Chandra Bose, Tamil Nadu had MGR, but for every Andhraite, NTR was Shivaji+MGR+Subash Chandra Bose all rolled into one.
Like Shivaji, he challenged the Congress hegemony in the Southern part of India. Till then the Congress considered South India as it’s own pocket borough, and Andhra leaders in particular were no better than servants. NTR broke the Congress hegemony, and inspired other leaders like Ramakrishna Hegde to come forward. Just as Shivaji gave sleepless nights to the Mughals, NTR gave sleepless nights to the Congress leaders. When they tried to unseat him, he took the people of the state into confidence with an unprecedented campaign, which had the Congress leaders and their cronies cowering in fear.
NTR was one of the few political leaders acceptable to all ends of the political spectrum, from the right to the left.I am sure had he been alive for some more time, he would have been the PM, and would have made a much better PM than Mr. Snoozy Deve Gowda or the non descript I.K.Gujral. People make fun of his gimmicks, but few remember he was the person who introduced a professional work culture into a hitherto notoriously inefficient State Govt service.
All the Andhraites in Silicon Valley should be thankful to this man, because he was the one who came up with a system of entrance tests for engg colleges, and applied quality standards, unlike other states which were pay money-become engineer kind of colleges. Today it is unfortunate that AP has also gone the same way, with an engg college in every galli.
As an actor, i can safely say that very few actors in India, possesed his range.
He could be a swashbuckling hero like MGR, and yet at the same time, be an intense dramatic actor like Shivaji. Which actor at the height of his career would play a role like that in Chiranjeevulu as a blind man? While Shivaji’s performance in Pasamallar was great, NTR’s in the Telugu version Rakthasambandham, was equally intense.
Which actor would play the role of a 60 plus retired head master who has to deal with his selfish sons in Badi Pantulu, at the peak stage of his career?
He could burn you with his intensity in movies like Rakhtasambandham, he could make you weep in movies like Chiranjeevulu and Badipantulu, he could be a swashbuckling folk hero in countless movies.
Many speak of his roles of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, his role as Krishnadeva Raya in Tenali Ramakrishna and Mahamantri Timmarasu, made us believe that this is how the great emperor must have looked like. Or his unforgettable performance as Brahmanaidu in Palnati Yuddham.
And yes in movies like Gundamma Katha, Misamma, Appu Chesi Pappu Kudu, he could make u chuckle with his brilliant comic timing.
In short NTR was Marlon Brando+Errol Flynn+ Charlton Heston+Spencer Tracy all rolled into one package. A Legend like never before.
After T.Anjaiah was publicly insulted by Rajiv Gandhi, Andhra’s pride was hurt tremendously, till NTR came and reclaimed it and how!
Indira Gandhi made many unsuccessful attempts to unseat him and even used the ex-congressman Nadendla Bhaskar rao but she realised that she finally is dealing with the “Sher” of Andhra.
I don’t believe Raptor’s story about he taking away golden plates after eating. That man had too much wealth to bother about such petty things. What he did for the poor, no other leader in this country did or imagine to do. Anyone who went to NTR’s house did not return back with an empty hand, including someone I know who worked as a technician in NTR’s films and had fallen on bad days and had no one to take care of him and his old wife, NTR promptly got him a job in the film corporation and in spite of he nearing the retirement age, NTR got it extended!
You can never take NTR out of Andhra or Andhra from NTR! He gave a new meaning for his war cry Jai Telugu Talli!
He was a great admirer of Gautama Buddha and he was the one responsible for the Buddha statue that is installed in Hussain Sagar!
The saddest thing was, NTR died while his own party was in power but not he. He was stabbed by his own family.
Et tu, Brute?
By the way, Chandrababu took the help of NTR’s other son-in-law, Daggubati Venkateswar rao in ousting NTR and even promised him Deputy Chief Ministership, but after Chandrababu got power, he cleverly sidelined Daggubati and got him removed from TDP. The irony of the situation is, Daggubati is now an MP with Congress and his wife and NTR’s second daughter, Purnadareswari Devi is a minister in the congress at the center.
well..politics and his role as a CM apart. To me he is a legend because:
1. As Kavita mentioned in comment 1, he truly treated cinema as art and used to respected other artisits and technicians calling them ‘brothers’.
2. One of the most disciplined artist in the industry which is a rare find in this profession especially even after people made him a demi-god.
3. When he is doing the mythological characters, he used to live that character in front of the camera and not just acting. There is this comedy sequence in telugu cinema where a lady refuses to acknowledge Lord Krishna because he does not look like NTR. I think it applies to most of the telugu people. Even though I watched 100s of episodes of Ramayana and Mahabhratha on DD, to me both Rama and Krishna are NTR :)
4. The respect for his mother tounge and traditions which played a major role in evolving as a great actor.
:)
NTR - three letters that can stir any telugu’s pride and imaginiation.
The 70s social movies by him have become like a joke, but black and white and mythologicals is a different league altogether.
I somehow remember the scene from Missama song with his reaction when he realises that there is a female voice coming from throat. Absolutely brilliant as an actor.
:D Listening to Maya Bazaar songs….”Laahiri Laahiri Laahiri Lo, Oohoo jagamee Ugenugaa, Tugenugaa…..”
Nice to see NTR here..politics apart, he was a great actor..until he hit that patch when he made some very silly social movies in which he wore atrocious multi coloured coats and spanked his heroines, hard :) those were really loud and crude. apprently he u really hit th haroinehard and not just act.. but the hapless heroine had to grin n bear cos he was d gr8 NTR! recently Ramyakrishna got Jayaprada and Jayasudha to spk abt this..
Another thing : I do not mean to hurt anyone here but I think only an extremely loyal fan wud say he was against casteism. Everybody knows his TDP was and is still a predominantly kamma party. so let accept the great man for hat he is.. a great artsist, fantabulously powerful leader, but certainly very human, very flawed. But yes, we luv NTR and are very very proud of him!
Macher,
u hv made me sooooo nostalgic for these golden oldies.
also love gundamma katha..nidra lechindi mahilalokam. with NTR in his comic shorts, coy savitri, and the cheeky lyrics, its still funny
mk, today I am on a trip down the memory lane! Right now listening to “Brindavana madi andaridi, Govindudu Andari vaadele…..”
Next planning on Pandanti Kapuram and Devatha. ;) I am telling you…this is better than sex!
By the way, do you know that I always wanted a wife like Savitri? ;) hehe…
What dhak dhak Madhuri is today for me…Savitri was for me when I was a kid…I didn’t know that by that time she had grown old….I felt very sad when I saw her acting in a mothers character…she became thin and weak…I wanted to reach out and turn her back into that beautiful Savitri….
Time…
you wanted gol matol savitri for a wife? he he but she really is the bestest ..ok.am now listening to manasunamallela maalloogene..in inimitable voice of Bhanumati…another legend who was srong enuf to defy all powerful bigigs of the industry.
where are such strong performers and personalities now? as for women in telugu current films, better not spk of them at all
She was beautiful! Well, Don’t you know we south indians like healthy people? ;)
Do you remember Jikki? I used to love her voice!
By the way? Oh my god! I never knew this but someone tell me quick!! Is Savitri, our Hindi heroine Rekha’s mother?? If it is so..Oh my fucking goodness!
Haha!! I just found out…It’s actually Pushpavalli who is Rekha’s mother! I realized Gemini Ganesan married Savitri and suddenly my brain went blank!
Domagaaru
you ought to meet my dad!
he loves Savithri too, and without respite listens to Jikki and other oldies.
while my mother is a huge Rekha fan.
am surprised u did not know their step-connection!!
i remember dancing for ‘ Brindavana madi andaridi ‘ as a kid………
K-3
Kavita garu :) I understand why he too loves Savithri…There are some eternal beauties! Well, I knew about pushpavalli connection but just at that moment, my mind went blank in the Savithri frenzy….
Naaku kooda oldies ante chaala ishtam…Maa china tatagaru chaala NTR cinemalaki music compose cheesaru and super hits iccharu…Ayana patalante naaku tega ishtam..
I started renting Telugu DVD’s a few years ago and discovered NTR Jr and from there I was told about NTR and watched some of his films. There was a few DVDs released of songs called “The Best of NTR” and most of them were from his earlier religious films where he was very somber, but then one of them from the 70’s came on and what a change. I can’t remember the name of the movie, but the movie was in B & W and the musical number was in color. It looked like something John Waters would make and it was all wild and out of control. NTR had black sunglasses on and a multicolored jacket and danced with a bunch of very large women wearing purple outfits and he played a saxaphone at one point. I know most of you don’t like his 70’s stuff, but I just love that wild number and it showed me he could have fun as well as being serious.
Thank you SRINIVAS for that interesting bit of biography. I learned a lot from it.