Actors - Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao

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	Actors - Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996), more commonly known as N.T. Rama Rao, NTR, or Anna garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer and a Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. His repertoire of films included mythological, social and folk themes. He was awarded the Padma Sree by the government of India in the 1960s, recognizing his contribution to the Telugu cinema. After his film career, N.T. Ramarao became a political activist and party leader.

He was born in Nimmakuru, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Andhra-Christian College of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He later received an honorary doctorate from Andhra University.

Many believe Ramarao highlighted Andhra Pradesh's distinct cultural identity, distinguishing it from Madras state, with which it was so often associated.

Filmmaking

Though widely recognised for his mythological characters, Ramarao is considered one of the greatest actors in Telugu film, and in South Indian film generally. His portrayal of avatars of Vishnu, especially Rama and Krishna, mesmerised an entire generation who saw the face of NTR when the Lord Krishna/Rama was mentioned, this even transcending even into non-Telugu speaking states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

NTR had a major contribution to what can be considered "The Golden Age of Telugu Film Making" especially between the 1950 and 1965. Though there is little commentary available, analysts believe that the Telugu film industry produced some of the best mythological movies in the entire India movie making history, while the Tamil and Hindi movie industry produced better socially oriented films. This is mainly to do with the availability of capable actors, producers, directors, personnel and audience required for such movie making.

NTR was naturally talented and extremely disciplined with various aspects of acting like preparation, punctuality, dialogue delivery etc. The single most important factor that makes him a great actor was his ability to deliver dialogues which were extremely lengthy that were original verses from Ramayana and Mahabharatha, with a fervour and command very few unlike his contemporaries, with certain exceptions like S. V. Ranga Rao. This despite the fact that he generally used to play multiple roles in the same movie, hence increasing the amount of the dialogues and preparation required, which only increased his determination.

The greatness of Rama rao was that he was very versatile. Down south, in Tamilnadu, Shivaji Ganesan was much more known for his acting skill and talent. Whereas MGR was much more known for his commercial movies. NTR struck a balance between both kinds of cinema. He used to perform roles in mythological movies like those only Shivaji could perform and even do commercial 'Janapadham'(where the adventurous prince saves the damsel in distress)films which were MGR's forte. But he did not get as many awards from the government of India because of his conflict with the central government on his polical ideas. He was neglected.

One of his greatest 'janapadams' was "Jagadekaveeruni katha" (the story of the universal hero) where he plays the role of Pratap the prince of Ujjain. He dreams of celestial damsels as his wives. On revealing the dream to his father (the king), he gets banished. But the heroic prince does the impossible - win the celestial damsels, pass the various tests put on him and bring his ladies to the kingdom. Another one of his 'janapadams' was "Gulebakavali katha" (the story of Gulebakavali) where he plays the role of a prince who sets out to the heavens to bring the flower named - "Gulebakavali" inorder to cure his poisoned father and even win Indra's daughter.

As time passed by, NTR stopped playing the role of the prince in films. Instead he played the role of a poor yet heroic young man in the kingdom who is against the system in his kingdom.To the lakhs of the denizens in andhra pradesh, he became 'one of them' who assures the poor that he is there to rescue them from the wicked traitors in the kingdom.

One criticism levelled by the upper-classes of society was that NTR over-acted in his social roles. This was primarily in comparison with his contemporary Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR). This aspect was never rectified but rather used as a strength in what can be called his second stint where NTR acted in a wide range of movies especially in the 1970s where he captivated the minds of an entire new generation of audience.

The most notable movies acted by NTR in mythological characters are Maya Bazaar (Sri Krishna), Lava Kusa (Lord Rama), Sri Krishnaarjuna Yuddham (Sri Krishna), Bheeshma (Bheeshma), Bhookailas(Raavana),Nartanasala (Arjuna also as Bruhannala), Panadava-vanavsam (Bheema), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (Lord Venkateswara), Maha Mantri Thimmarusu (Sri Krishna Devaralyalu) and Dana Veera Sura Karna (Duryodhana, Sri Krishna, Karna). Apart from these he played a variety of roles in folklore characters like Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, Pathala Bhairavi etc. On the social front he played roles in the movies Malliswari, Kanyasulkam, Gundamma Katha, Missamma, Raktha Sambandham, Ramudu Bheemudu, Adavi Ramudu, Vetagadu, Gajadonga, Driver Ramudu, Sardar Paparayudu, Kondaveeti Simham, Justice Chaudhary, Bobbili Puli etc. He acted in over two hundred and eighty movies in the lead role.

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