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NT Rama Rao Death Anniversary: Here Are 7 Lesser Known Facts About The Legendary Actor

The superstar has acted in over 300 films!

Updated: January 18, 2018 11:07 AM IST

By India.com Buzz Desk

NT Rama Rao Death Anniversary: Here Are 7 Lesser Known Facts About The Legendary Actor

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, was an actor, director and politician who served as Chief Minister of (united) Andhra Pradesh for seven years over three terms. Born on 28 May 1923, the legendary actor made his debut in a Telugu social film Mana Desam in 1949. Since then, he starred in about 300 films. Almost all his films left a deep impact on the audience. His filmography includes several hits, including Seetarama Kalyanam, Mayabazar, Missamma and Daana Veera Soora Karna, to name a few. NTR has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including three National Film Awards, Nandi Award for Best Actor, Rashtrapati Awards and Filmfare Award for acting and directing movies. And while a lot has been said, written and documented, there are still some facts which are lesser known about NTR.

NTR, in the initial years, became well-known for his portrayals of Hindu deities, especially Krishna and Rama. These roles made him a “messiah of the masses”. Later, he became known for portraying antagonistic characters and Robin Hood-esque hero characters in films. Some of his films have premiered at international film festivals. After a successful career in films, NTR founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982. NTR was a strong advocate of Andhra Pradesh’s distinct cultural identity and aimed at distinguishing it from the erstwhile Madras State with which it was often associated. He was also instrumental in the formation of the National Front, a coalition of non-Congress parties which governed India from 1989 until 1990.

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Seven lesser-known facts about NT Rama Rao:

  1. NTR was born to a farming couple, Nandamuri Lakshmaih and Venkata Ramamma, but was given in adoption to his paternal uncle.
  2. While studying in Vijayawada in the early 1940s, NTR had to supply milk to hotels in order to supplement his family’s income.
  3. NTR played the part of a woman in his first ever acting experience. This was for a play staged by his fellow students in SRR and CVR college in Vijayawada.
  4. NTR learnt to dance at the age of 40 from renowned Kuchipudi dancer Vempati Chinna Satyam. This was for his role in the film Nartanasala (1963).
  5. NTR has reportedly played the role of Lord Krishna in as many as 17 films.
  6. Despite having no formal training in script-writing, NT Rama Rao authored several screenplays for his own movies as well as for other producers.
  7. His wife, Lakshmi, is the author of his 2-volume biography published in 2004. The first volume, “Eduruleni Manishi” deals with his younger days and the film career. The second volume, “Telugu Tejam” deals with his political career.

NT Rama Rao died of a heart attack at the age of 72. Reportedly, a coup led by his son-in-law and Cabinet colleague N. Chandrababu Naidu dislodged NTR from the government and party, nine months after his comeback in 1994. His efforts to regain the support of the TDP cadre went in vain despite his whirlwind tour around the State with Lakshmi Parvathi. His ashes were immersed in Srirangapatna by his wife, only after the defeat of Chandrababu Naidu in the Assembly elections in 2004.

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