Viswa Vikyatha Nata Sarvabhoumudu

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 boy 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 Chowdhary 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. NTR 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 NTR the nickname Meesala Nagamma (Mustached Nagamma)!

During Intermediate, NTR 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 NTR 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 prove himself as a king of TFI

Even today, every Telugu worships NTR and idolizes him. He will live forever in our hearts.