N.T. Rama Rao
Born: 1923-05-28 in Nimmakuru, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died: 1996-01-18
Known For: Acting
Biography
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (born Nimmakuru, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh; 28 May 1923–18 January 1996), also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician. Rama Rao made his debut as an actor in Mana Desam, a Telugu social film directed by L. V. Prasad in 1949. He first gained popularity in the 1950s when he became well-known for his portrayals of Hindu deities, especially Lord Krishna and Lord Rama, roles which have made him a mythic figure among the Telugu-speaking people of Andhra Pradesh. He later became known for portraying antagonistic characters and cementing leading roles in films. In total he starred in over 320 Telugu films and has become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Telugu cinema. After his career in movies, Rama Rao became a political activist and a political party leader. Rao founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 and served three tumultuous terms as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh between 1983 and 1994. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1968, recognizing his contribution to Telugu cinema. He is known as an advocate of Andhra Pradesh's distinct cultural identity, distinguishing it from Madras State with which it was often associated. Besides Telugu, he has also acted in a few Tamil and Kannada films.
Filmography
1993
- Major Chandrakanth as Major Chandrakanth
- Srinatha Kavi Saarvabhoumudu as Srinatha
1992
- Samrat Ashoka as Ashoka / Chanakya
1991
- Brahmarshi Vishwamitra as Vishwamitra / Ravana
1984
- Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra as Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy, Gautama Buddha, Aadi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya & Yogi Vemana
1983
- Chandashasanudu as Harichandra Prasad / Raja
- Simham Navvindi! as Narasimham
1982
- Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu as Peddababu Prabhakar
- Bobbili Puli as Major Chakradhar
- Justice Chowdhary as Justice Chowdhary
1981
- Kondaveeti Simham as Inspector Ranjit Kumar & Raju
- Gaja Donga as Gaja Donga / Raja
- Tiruguleni Manishi as Raja
- Aggi Ravva as Ramu
1980
- Sardar Papa Rayudu as Sardar Paparayudu & Ram Mohan"Ramu" (dual role)
- Superman as Superman / Raja
- Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu as Ramu
- Aatagadu as Gopi
1979
- Yugandhar as Yugandhar / Vijay
- Vetagadu as Raja
- Tiger as Tiger Raja
- Driver Ramudu as Ramu
- Maavaari Manchithanam
- Srimadhvirata Parvamu as Lord Krishna/ Arjun/ Duryodhana/ Kichaka/ Brihannala
- Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam as Lord Venkateswara
1978
- KD No:1
- Sati Savithri
- Sri Rama Pattabhishekam as Lord Rama / Ravana
- Yugapurushudu as Rajesh / Kalyan
- Akbar Saleem Anarkali as Akbar
- Simha Baludu
- Lawyer Vishwanath
1977
- Chanakya Chandragupta as Chandragupta Maurya
- Daana Veera Soora Karna as Karna / Duryodhana / Krishna
- Yamagola as Satyam
- Adavi Ramudu as Ramu
- Flowing Against as Madhu
1975
- Annadammula Anubandham as Vijay
- Sri Ramaanjaneya Yuddham as Lord Rama
- Eduruleni Manishi as Raja Shekar
- Maya Maschindra as Lord Vishnu / Maya Machhindra
1974
- Nippulanti Manishi as Inspector Vijay
- Thathamma Kala as Ramaiah / Musalaiah
- Bidaai ... (Story)
1973
- Errakota Veerudu
- Desa Drohulu as Ramu
1972
- Badi Panthulu as Head Master Raghava Rao
- Kula Gowravam as Raja Ramachandra Prasad / Raghunath Prasad / Shankar
1971
- Kannan Karunai as Lord Krishna
- Life Cycle as Raja
1970
- Ali Baba 40 Dongalu as Ali Baba
- Maayani Mamata as Madhu
- Thalla? Pellama as Sudhakar
1969
- Nindu Hrudayalu as Gopi
- Bhale Thammudu as Shyam Prasad (Paul), Shayam Prasad
- Varakatnam as Devasimha
- Kathanayakudu as Saradhi
- Ekaveera as Puttan Sethupathi
1968
- Ramu as Raja
- Niluvu Dopidi as Ramu
- Baghdad Gaja Donga
1967
- Punyavathi as Prakash
- Sri Krishnavataram as Lord Krishna / Lord Vishnu
- Ummadi Kutumbam as Ramu
- Chikkadu Dorakadu as Chikkadu
- Nirdoshi as Ananda Rao / Sundaram
- Bhama Vijayam as Jaya Chandra
- Stree Janma as Shekar
1966
- Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha as Nandivardhana Maharaju
- Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam as Lord Krishna / Duryodhana
- Aggi Barata as Raja
- Sri Krishna Tulabharam
- Palnati Yudham as Brahmanaidu
1965
- Pandava Vanavasamu as Bheema
- Mangamma Sapatham as Raja / Vijay
- Veerabhimanyu as Lord Krishna
- Satya Harishchandra as Harishchandra
- Dorikithe Dongalu as Nandan Rao
1964
- Ramudu Bheemudu as Ramudu & Bheemudu
- Desa Drohulu as Ramu
- Karnan as Krishna
- Bobbili Yuddham as Rangarayadu
- Gudi Gantalu as Vasu
- Aggi Pidugu as Raja / Madhav
- Marmayogi as Prabhakar
- Vivaha Bandham as Chandrasekhar (as Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri)
- Babruvahana as Arjuna
1963
- Aaptha Mithrulu as Prakash
- Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham
- Bandipotu as Narasimham
- Narthanasala as Arjuna /Brihannala
- Paruvu-Prathishtta as Raghu
- Lava Kusa as Lord Rama
1962
- Gulebakavali Katha as Vijay
- Mahamantri Thimmarusu as Krishnadevaraya
- Gundamma Katha as Anji
- Aathma Bandhuvu as Ranga
- Dakshayagnam as Lord Shiva
- Bhishma as Bhishma
1961
- Seetha Rama Kalyanam as Ravana
- Jagadeka Veeruni Katha as Pratap
- Sati Sulochana (Indrajeet) as Indrajeet/Meghanadhudu
- Kalasi Unte Kaladu Sukham as Kishtayya
1960
- Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam as Lord Venkateswara (Balaji)
- Bhatti Vikramarka as Vikramaditya / Vikramarka Maharaju
1959
- Daiva Balam as Chandrasenudu
- Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu as Raja Rao
- Banda Ramudu as Banda Ramudu
- Bala Nagamma as Karyavardhi
- Raja Makutam as Prince Pratapa Simha
1958
- Intiguttu as Gopal
- Bhookailas as Ravanudu
- Sampoorna Ramayanam as Raman
- Karthavarayani Katha as Karthavaraya
1957
- Mayabazar as Krishna
- Panduranga Mahatyam as Pundarika
- Saarangadhara as Sarangadhara
- Bhagyarekha as Ravi
- Vinayaka Chavithi as Lord Krishna
1956
- Chintamani as Bilwamangaludu
- Charana Daasi as Dr. Chandra Sekhar
- Jayam Manade as Pratap
- Tenali Ramakrishna as Krishnadevaraya
1955
- Kanyasulkam as Gireesham
- Missamma as M. T. Rao
- Jayasimha as Jayasimha/Bhavani
- Santosham as Anand / Paramanand
- Cherapakura Chedevu as Mohan
- Rechukka as Kumarayalu / Kannaiah
1954
- Sangham as Raja
- Vaddante Dabbu as Syam
- Chandraharam as Prince Chandan
- Parivartana as Ananda Rao
1953
- Pichi Pullaiah as Pullaiah
- Chandirani as Kishore
1952
- Palletooru as Chandram
- Pelli Chesi Choodu as Venkata Ramana
- Kalyanam Panni Paar
1951
- Pathala Bhairavi as Thota Ramudu
- Malliswari as Nagaraju
1950
- Shavukaru as Satyam
- Palletoori Pilla as Jayanth
- Maaya Rambha as Nalakubharudu
- Samsaram as Raghu
1949
- Mana Desam as British Inspector