N. T. Rama Rao - Acting Career

Acting Career

NTR started his film career playing a small role as a police sub-inspector in the movie Mana Desam (1949). The role was offered by director L. V. Prasad. Following this, he appeared in Palletoori Pilla, directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It marked the first occasion that Rama Rao and his contemporary Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) acted together for the first time. The title role was played by Anjali Devi and the story was loosely based on the English play, Pizaro by Richard Sherton. The film was a commercial hit and ran for more than 100 days in 6 centres. His got his major breakthrough with the film Paathala Bhairavi directed by K. V. Reddy, releasing in 1951, where he played the role of a prince. He soon became famous for his commercial roles, usually depicting an adventurous prince saving a damsel in distress.

His first mythological film was in 1957, where he portrayed Lord Krishna in the film Maya Bazaar, which went on to become a blockbuster. He essayed the role of Lord Krishna in 17 films, including some landmark films like Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (1962), the Tamil film Karnan (1964) and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977). He was also famous for his portrayal of Lord Rama, essaying that role in films like Lava Kusha (1963), Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1974) and Shri Rama Pattabhishekham (1978) to name a few. He has also portrayed other characters from the Ramayana, such as Ravana in Bhookailas (1958) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1961) among others. He portrayed Lord Vishnu in films like Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960) to name some and Lord Shiva in Dakshayagnam (1962). He has also enacted the roles of Mahabharatha characters, such as Bheeshma, Arjuna, Karna and Duryodhana. Overall, NTR acted in 42 mythological films. These mythological roles catapulted him to the top of Telugu film stardom and he soon achieved a demigod status in Andhra Pradesh.

Later in his career, he stopped playing the role of a prince in his commercial films and began to play roles of a poor yet heroic young man fighting against the existing system. These films appealed to the sentiments of the common man. Some of these films are Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973), Adavi Ramudu (1977), Sardar Paparayudu (1980), Justice Chowdhary (1982) and Bobbili Puli (1982). He also portrayed fantasy roles, his notable films in that genre being Yamagola (1977) and Superman (1980).

Even after his entry into politics, NTR continued to act in films. He directed and acted in the hagiographical film Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra (1984) while he was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. He also acted in films like Brahmasri Viswamitra (1991) and Major Chandrakanth (1993) while he was the Leader of Opposition in the assembly. His last film was Srinadha Kavi Sarvabhowma which released in 1993.

In the later half of his career, NTR became a screenwriter. He received no formal academic training in movie script writing. Yet he authored several screen plays for his own movies as well as for other producer's movies. He also produced many of his films as well as other actor's films through his film production house National Art Theater Private Limited in T. Nagar, Madras (now Chennai). He actively campaigned for the construction of a large number of cinemas through this production house. He was influential in designing and implementing a financial system that funded the production and distribution of movies. He was so dedicated to his profession that he would often learn new things in order to portray a particular character on-screen perfectly and realistically. At the age of 40, he learnt dance from the renowned Kuchipudi dancer Vempati Chinna Satyam for his role in the film Nartanasala (1963).

Despite his stellar contribution to South Indian cinema, NTR only received three awards in his lifetime, with only one awarded for his success as an actor, a Filmfare South Award for Best Telugu Actor in 1972 for the film Badi Panthulu. He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for the film Varakatnam as a director in 1968. Though he won the Padma Shri that year for his contribution to Indian cinema, he never won a Nandi Award, the film awards which are given annually by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. He also never won a Dadasaheb Phalke Award. However, his achievements in films was honoured with the institution of the NTR National Award in 1996, which is awarded as part of the Nandi Awards ceremony to a prominent film personality for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.