Silver Screen To Andhra CM's Chair: The Life & Journey Of NT Rama Rao On His Birth Anniversary

NTR joined the film industry to pursue his passion for acting. He made his debut in 1949 with the Telugu film Mana Desam.

NTR Birth Anniversary: Actor Junior NTR and film producer Kalyanram Nandamurikalyan visited NTR Ghat in Hyderabad earlier today to pay tributes to former Andhra Pradesh CM and Telugu film actor NT Rama Rao (NTR) on his 101st birth anniversary. 

Born on May 28, 1923, in Nimmakuru, a small village in present-day Andhra Pradesh, NTR aspired to become a lawyer and pursued law studies, according to a report in money control. He qualified for the civil services in the then Madras Presidency under British India, as per The Print. However, NTR joined the film industry to pursue his passion for acting. He made his debut in 1949 with the Telugu film Mana Desam.

With time, NTR gained popularity, saw a meteoric rise, and went on to become a prominent actor in the Telugu film industry. His success on the silver screen earned him a dedicated fan base. He had a unique dialogue delivery and portrayal of mythological and historical characters.

The veteran actor acted in 302 films and played various roles. The list of films also includes some Tamil and Hindi movies. After facing some career reversals in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he made a return in the late 1970s with some crucial hits like Adavi Ramudu, Yamagola, and Vetagadu.

NTR's Political Journey

The actor made a bold move in 1982 when he stepped into the field of politics and founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a regional political party in Andhra Pradesh, with the aim of fighting for the rights of the Telugu-speaking people. The TDP garnered massive popularity and support from the public due to NTR's charisma following his success in movies and his commitment to social justice.

A year after the formation of the TDP, NTR led his party to a massive victory in the state elections, becoming the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. According to the money control report, his tenure as chief minister from 1983 to 1989 was marked by various crucial reforms and welfare programmes, including the establishment of Anna Canteens, which provided subsidised meals to the poor, and the implementation of several pro-poor policies.

The journey of the veteran actor and politician from a common man to a superstar and, eventually, to the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh speaks about his tremendous achievements and the impact he made on the lives of people. NTR passed away in 1996.