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
- Simham Navvindi! as Narasimham
- Chandashasanudu as Harichandra Prasad / Raja
1982
- Bobbili Puli as Major Chakradhar
- Justice Chowdhary as Justice Chowdhary
- Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu as Peddababu Prabhakar
1981
- Kondaveeti Simham as Inspector Ranjit Kumar & Raju
- Aggi Ravva as Ramu
- Gaja Donga as Gaja Donga / Raja
- Tiruguleni Manishi as Raja
1980
- Circus Ramudu as Ramu / Raja
- Superman as Superman / Raja
- Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu as Ramu
- Aatagadu as Gopi
- Sardar Papa Rayudu as Sardar Paparayudu & Ram Mohan"Ramu" (dual role)
1979
- Maavaari Manchithanam
- Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam as Lord Venkateswara
- Driver Ramudu as Ramu
- Tiger as Tiger Raja
- Vetagadu as Raja
- Yugandhar as Yugandhar / Vijay
- Srimadhvirata Parvamu as Lord Krishna/ Arjun/ Duryodhana/ Kichaka/ Brihannala
1978
- Yugapurushudu as Rajesh / Kalyan
- Akbar Saleem Anarkali as Akbar
- Simha Baludu
- Sri Rama Pattabhishekam as Lord Rama / Ravana
- Lawyer Vishwanath
- KD No:1
- Sati Savithri
1977
- Daana Veera Soora Karna as Karna / Duryodhana / Krishna
- Chanakya Chandragupta as Chandragupta Maurya
- Adavi Ramudu as Ramu
- Yamagola as Satyam
- Flowing Against as Madhu
1975
- Maya Maschindra as Lord Vishnu / Maya Machhindra
- Sri Ramaanjaneya Yuddham as Lord Rama
- Eduruleni Manishi as Raja Shekar
- Annadammula Anubandham as Vijay
1974
- Bidaai ... (Writer)
- Nippulanti Manishi as Inspector Vijay
- Thathamma Kala as Ramaiah / Musalaiah
1973
- Desa Drohulu as Ramu
- Errakota Veerudu
1972
- Badi Panthulu as Head Master Raghava Rao
- Kula Gowravam as Raja Ramachandra Prasad / Raghunath Prasad / Shankar
1971
- Life Cycle as Raja
- Kannan Karunai as Lord Krishna
1970
- Chitti Chellelu as Raja
- Ali Baba 40 Dongalu as Ali Baba
- Maayani Mamata as Madhu
- Thalla? Pellama as Sudhakar
1969
- Kathanayakudu as Saradhi
- Varakatnam as Devasimha
- Nindu Hrudayalu as Gopi
- Ekaveera as Puttan Sethupathi
- Bhale Thammudu as Shyam Prasad (Paul), Shayam Prasad
1968
- Niluvu Dopidi as Ramu
- Kalisochina Adrushtam as Prakash
- Ramu as Raja
- Baghdad Gaja Donga
1967
- Stree Janma as Shekar
- Nirdoshi as Ananda Rao / Sundaram
- Sri Krishnavataram as Lord Krishna / Lord Vishnu
- Punyavathi as Prakash
- Ummadi Kutumbam as Ramu
- Chikkadu Dorakadu as Chikkadu
- Bhama Vijayam as Jaya Chandra
1966
- Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam as Lord Krishna / Duryodhana
- Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha as Nandivardhana Maharaju
- Sri Krishna Tulabharam
- Palnati Yudham as Brahmanaidu
- Aggi Barata as Raja
1965
- Satya Harishchandra as Harishchandra
- Pandava Vanavasamu as Bheema
- Veerabhimanyu as Lord Krishna
- Dorikithe Dongalu as Nandan Rao
- Mangamma Sapatham as Raja / Vijay
1964
- Karnan as Krishna
- Ramudu Bheemudu as Ramudu & Bheemudu
- Aggi Pidugu as Raja / Madhav
- Vivaha Bandham as Chandrasekhar (as Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri)
- Babruvahana as Arjuna
- Marmayogi as Prabhakar
- Desa Drohulu as Ramu
- Bobbili Yuddham as Rangarayadu
- Gudi Gantalu as Vasu
1963
- Lava Kusa as Lord Rama
- Lakshadhikari as Prasad
- Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham
- Bandipotu as Narasimham
- Narthanasala as Arjuna / Brihannala
- Aaptha Mithrulu as Prakash
- Paruvu-Prathishtta as Raghu
1962
- Gundamma Katha as Anji
- Dakshayagnam as Lord Shiva
- Bhishma as Bhishma
- Gulebakavali Katha as Vijay
- Mahamantri Thimmarusu as Krishnadevaraya
- Aathma Bandhuvu as Ranga
1961
- Wife is the light of the house as Raja Sekhar
- 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
- Banda Ramudu as Banda Ramudu
- Raja Makutam as Prince Pratapa Simha
- Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu as Raja Rao
- Bala Nagamma as Karyavardhi
- Daiva Balam as Chandrasenudu
1958
- Sampoorna Ramayanam as Raman
- Bhookailas as Ravanudu
- Intiguttu as Gopal
- Karthavarayani Katha as Karthavaraya
1957
- Mayabazar as Krishna
- Saarangadhara as Sarangadhara
- Panduranga Mahatyam as Pundarika
- Bhagyarekha as Ravi
- Vinayaka Chavithi as Lord Krishna
1956
- Tenali Raman as Krishnadevaraya
- Tenali Ramakrishna as Krishnadevaraya
- Charana Daasi as Dr. Chandra Sekhar
- Chintamani as Bilwamangaludu
- Jayam Manade as Pratap
1955
- Kanyasulkam as Gireesham
- Jayasimha as Jayasimha/Bhavani
- Missamma as M. T. Rao
- Santosham as Anand / Paramanand
- Cherapakura Chedevu as Mohan
- Rechukka as Kumarayalu / Kannaiah
1954
- Chandraharam as Prince Chandan
- Vaddante Dabbu as Syam
- Sangham as Raja
- Parivartana as Ananda Rao
1953
- Chandirani as Kishore
- Pichi Pullaiah as Pullaiah
1952
- Pelli Chesi Choodu as Venkata Ramana
- Palletooru as Chandram
- Kalyanam Panni Paar
1951
- Pathala Bhairavi as Thota Ramudu
- Malliswari as Nagaraju
1950
- Maaya Rambha as Nalakubharudu
- Samsaram as Raghu
- Palletoori Pilla as Jayanth
- Shavukaru as Satyam
1949
- Mana Desam as British Inspector