Lakshmi's NTR

Lakshmi's NTR
Directed by	Ram Gopal Varma<br />Agasthya Manju
Produced by	Rakesh Reddy<br />Deepthi Balagiri
Written by	Ram Gopal Varma<br />Narendra Chary
Starring	J.K.Vijay Kumar<br />Yagna Shetty<br />Sritej
Music by	Kalyani Malik
Cinematography	Rammy
Edited by	Ballu Saluja
Production company	GV Films
Distributed by	NH Studioz
Release date	29 March 2019 (2019-03-29)
Running time	152 minutes
Country	India
Language	Telugu
Budget	₹2.5 crore<ref name="sakshi" />
Box office	est. ₹7 crore<ref name="sakshi">"2019లో భారీ వసూళ్లు రాబట్టిన సినిమాలివే." Sakshi (in తెలుగు). 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2020.</ref>

Lakshmi's NTR is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language biographical drama film based on the life of former film actor and chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao<ref name="dh1">"RGV releases 'Lakshmi's NTR' poster in Tirumala". Deccan Herald. 20 October 2018.</ref><ref name="in1">"Vennupotu song: Ram Gopal Varma stirs up controversy with his Lakshmi's NTR". India Today. Retrieved 22 December 2018.</ref> from the perspective of his second wife, Lakshmi Parvati as well as Rao during his last days. It is co-directed by Ram Gopal Varma, and Agasthya Manju.<ref name="ht1">"Ram Gopal Varma finds a producer for Lakshmi's NTR, but his family members against film". Hindustan Times. 9 October 2017.</ref>

Cast

• P Vijay Kumar as N. T. Rama Rao
• Yagna Shetty as Lakshmi Parvathi
• Sritej as Nara Chandrababu Naidu
• Aningi Rajasekhar as Rama Subba Reddy
• Vj Balu as Balakrishna
• Swarnakanth as Devineni Nehru

Production

On 4 July 2017, RGV announced through his YouTube channel that he would be directing NTR's biopic with the title RGV's NTR, in which Nandamuri Balakrishna was to act. Due to differences they both did two different movies on NTR. The film's title was later changed to Lakshmi's NTR.

Casting

After various speculation and rumours as to who would be cast in the lead roles, it was revealed that P Vijay Kumar<ref>"RGV's clarification about who plays NTR in 'Lakshmi's NTR'". The Times of India.</ref> as N. T. Rama Rao, Sritej<ref>"RGV's Chandrababu Naidu Is Menacing". Mirchi9.</ref> as Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Yagna Shetty<ref>"Yagna Shetty to play Lakshmi Parvathi". Deccan Chronicle.</ref> as Lakshmi Parvathi would reprise their roles.<ref>"Pics: Lakshmi Parvathi & Chandrababu of 'Lakshmi's NTR'". Gulte.</ref>

Soundtrack

Lakshmi's NTR
Soundtrack album by Kalyani Malik
Released	2019
Recorded	2018
Genre	Soundtrack
Label	Mango Music
Producer	Kalyani Malik
Kalyani Malik chronology
Ammammagarillu (2018) Lakshmi's NTR (2019)

Music is composed by Kalyani Malik and released on Mango Music label.

Track list

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Vennupotu"	Sira Sri	Kalyani Malik	03:16
2.	"Endhuku"	Sira Sri	Kalyani Malik, Sri Krishna	04:54
3.	"Nee Uniki"	Sira Sri	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	02:12
4.	"Avasaram"	Sira Sri	Wilson Herald	02:06
5.	"Garjana"	Sira Sri	P. Ravi Shankar	02:29
6.	"Vijayam"	Sira Sri	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mohana Bhogaraju	01:36
7.	"Nenem chesano"	Sira Sri	Uma Neha	02:01
8.	"Gelupu Votami"	Sira Sri	Shweta Mohan	06:43
9.	"Sisiraniki"	Sira Sri	Kalyani Malik, Chinmayi	03:56

Release

Initially it was scheduled to release on 22 March 2019.<ref>"Ram Gopal Varma's Lakshmi's NTR to hit screens on March 22". Hindustan Times. 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.</ref><ref>"All eyes on Ram Gopal Varma's film Lakshmi's NTR". Deccan Chronicle.</ref><ref>"'Lakshmi's NTR': RGV's controversial film set to hit the theatres on March 22". The Times of India.</ref> There are many political pressures on Election Commission and Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to stop the release of the movie in the mode of the conduct basis. As RGV fought back against the EC and CBFC, the petitions against the release of the movie were filed in the Telangana High Court.<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR Release Can Not Be Stopped: HC". Sakshipost. Retrieved 20 March 2019.</ref> The HC after a thorough inquiry, directed that every individual has the right to express his feelings so the release of the movie cannot be stopped. Due to some Post production and Pre-release formalities it was rescheduled to release on 29 March 2019 in Telangana<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR Gets New Release Date". TheHansIndia.</ref><ref>"Ram Gopal Varma blames CBFC for refusing to certify Lakshmi's NTR, then calls it misunderstanding". India Today.</ref> and on 1 June in Andhra Pradesh. 'Weekend Cinema' released the movie overseas.

Marketing

First track ‘Vennupotu’(Backstabbing) was released on 21 December 2018, which went on to make controversies. A case was filed by TDP MLA from Pithapuram S V S N Varma saying that it was aiming at Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandra Babu Naidu. So the High Court issued notices to censor board and producer of Lakshmi's NTR.<ref>"After petition by TDP MLA, Telangana HC issues notice to makers of 'Lakshmi's NTR'". Thenewsminute.</ref><ref>"Notices to censor board, producer of NTR biopic". The Hindu.</ref>

The second track ‘Enduku’(Why?) was released on 8 January 2019, questioning why did NTR marry Lakshmi Parvathi.<ref>"RGV releases Enduku song". Telugucinema.</ref>

On 18 January 2019, A teaser was released which gives a brief glance into the characters.<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR teaser: Ram Gopal Varma's depiction of former Andhra Pradesh CM promises authenticity". Firstpost.</ref>

First official trailer was released on 14 February 2019, at 9:27 AM by Ram Gopal Varma on Valentine's Day signifying the love between NTR and Lakhsmi Parvathi.<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR Trailer: Controversial to the core!". The Times of India. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.</ref><ref>"Lakshmi's NTR Trailer: Ram Gopal Varma unveils 'most intense, dramatic love story ever' on Valentine's Day". IndiatvNews.</ref>

Home media

After the release of the trailer, a big Telugu channel acquired the satellite rights for ₹3 Crore.

Reception

Critical reception

Cinema Express gave 3 out of 5 stars stating "Lakshmi's NTR, which traverses the unexplored events that happened in the life of NTR, makes for an interesting watch".<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR Review: An untold story of emotions". CinemaExpress.</ref>

Firstpost gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating "Lakshmi's NTR ends up being yet another drama from RGV's factory which doesn't pack a punch despite its inherent drama".<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR movie review: RGV's political film fails to pack a punch despite its inherent drama". Firstpost.</ref>

The Times of India gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating "Lakshmi's NTR does tell the story of an important and less talked about phase in the legendary actor-politician's life. But a good story doesn't always make for a good film".<ref>"LAKSHMI'S NTR MOVIE REVIEW". The Times of India.</ref>

Sify gave 2.5 out of 5 stars stating "Lakshmi's NTR that focused on later life of legendary actor and politician late NT Rama Rao is fairly faithful to the political events of 1989 to 1996. While the film paints Chandrababu Naidu as a villain in NTR's life, it also goes extra length to show Lakshmi Parvathi as a woman sans blemishes. It is an okay political movie with slow narration".<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR review: An okay, fairly faithful political movie". Sify. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019.</ref>

The Indian Express gave 1 out of 5 stars stating "Ram Gopal Varma needs to cultivate new tricks of storytelling, should he ever aspire to make a decent film again".<ref>"Lakshmi's NTR movie review: RGV's inept exercise in propaganda". TheIndianExpress.</ref>

External links

• Lakshmi's NTR on IMDb