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{{Infobox Person
{{short description|Indian actor and Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh}}
| name       = Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao
{{About|the 20th-century actor and politician|his grandson and the currently active actor with the same name|N. T. Rama Rao Jr.}}
| image       = NTR in 1952.jpg
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
| image_size  =  
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
| caption    = NTR in 1952
<!-- PLEASE CITE RELIABLE SOURCES. UNREFERENCED POORLY WRITTEN MATERIAL WILL BE REMOVED. -->
| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|5|28|mf=y}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_place = [[Nimmakuru]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]
| name               = N. T. Rama Rao
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|1|18|1923|5|28|mf=y}}
| image               = N. T. Rama Rao in Shavukaru (1950).jpg
| death_place = [[Hyderabad (India)|Hyderabad]], Andhra Pradesh, India
| caption            = Rama Rao in the film ''[[Shavukaru]]'' (1950)
| death_cause = [[Heart Attack]]
| office              = [[List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh|10th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh]]
| other_names = NTR
| term_start1        = 9 January 1983
| known_for   = [[Movie|Cinema]], [[Politics]]
| term_end1          = 16 August 1984
| successor  = [[Chandrababu Naidu]]
| governor1          = [[K. C. Abraham]]<br />[[Thakur Ram Lal]]
| party      = Telugu Desam Party
| predecessor1        = [[Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy]]
| spouse      = Basavarama Taraka Rama Rao, Lakshmi Parvathi (Married in 1994)
| successor1          = [[Nadendla Bhaskara Rao]]
| children    = sons Jayakrishna, Saikrishna, Harikrishna, Mohankrishna, Balakrishna, Ramakrishna,  Jayasankarkrishna, and daughters Lokeswari, Purandeshwari, Bhuvaneswari, Umamaheswari
| term_start2        = 16 September 1984
| Son-in-law  = Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao
| term_end2          = 2 December 1989
| governor2          = [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]]
| predecessor2        = [[Nadendla Bhaskara Rao]]
| successor2          = [[Marri Chenna Reddy]]
| term_start3        = 12 December 1994
| term_end3          = 1 September 1995
| governor3          = [[Krishan Kant]]
| predecessor3        = [[Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy]]
| successor3          = [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|df=yes|1923|5|28}}
| birth_place         = [[Nimmakuru]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now in [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]])
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1996|1|18|1923|3|29|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Hyderabad]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]<br/>(now in [[Telangana]])
| death_cause         = Cardiac arrest
| party              = {{Colorsample|Yellow}} [[Telugu Desam Party]]<br /> <small>(1982–1996)</small>
| otherparty          = [[National Front (India)|National Front]] (1989–1996)
| spouse              = {{ubl
  | {{marriage| Basavatarakam|1942|1985|end=died}}
  | {{marriage|[[Lakshmi Parvathi]]<br>|1993<!--|18 January 1996-->}}
   }}
| children            = 12, including {{hlist|[[Nandamuri Harikrishna|Harikrishna]]|[[Nandamuri Balakrishna|Balakrishna]]|[[Daggubati Purandeswari|Purandeswari]]}}
| alma_mater          = [[Andhra Christian College]]
| blank1              = Awards
| data1              = [[Padma Shri]] (1968)<br />[[National Film Awards]]
| occupation          = {{Hlist|Actor|producer|director|film editor|politician}}
| signature          = Nadamuri taraka rama rao signature.jpg
| signature_alt      = Rama Rao's signature
}}
}}
'''Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao''' (28 May 1923&nbsp;– 18 January 1996),<ref name="TheHindu DOB" /> popularly known as '''NTR''', was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as [[List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh|Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh]] for seven years over three terms. He starred in over 300 films, predominantly in [[Telugu cinema]], and was referred to as ''Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarwa Bhouma'' ({{trans}} World's famous emperor of acting).{{by whom|date=July 2021}}<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-18|title=Remembering Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao on his 24th death anniversary: The life and legacy of Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/remembering-nandamuri-taraka-rama-rao-on-his-24th-death-anniversary-the-life-and-legacy-of-viswa-vikhyatha-nata-sarvabhouma/photostory/73353193.cms|access-date=2021-07-12|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> Rao received three [[National Film Awards]] for co-producing ''[[Thodu Dongalu (1954 film)|Thodu Dongalu]]'' (1954) and ''[[Seeta Rama Kalyanam (1960 film)|Seetharama Kalyanam]]'' (1960) under National Art Theater, Madras,<ref>[[Eenadu]] Daily, Eenadu cinema&nbsp;– 17 July 2013, National art theater, Page 10</ref> and for directing ''[[Varakatnam]]'' (1970).<ref name="2ndawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/2nd_nff_1955.pdf|title=2nd National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref> He has received the erstwhile [[Rashtrapati Award]]s for his performance in the ''[[Raju Peda]]'' (1954) and the ''[[Lava Kusa]]'' (1963).<ref name="Times of India Press">{{cite book|title=The Times of India directory and year book including who's who|year=1984|publisher=Times of India Press}}</ref><ref name="RAJU-PEDA 1954">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/rajupeda-1954/article6013503.ece|title=RAJU-PEDA (1954)|work=The Hindu|date=16 May 2014|last1=Narasimham|first1=M. L.}}</ref><ref name="Ramachandran 1973">{{cite book|last=Ramachandran|first=T.M.|title=Film world|year=1973|volume=9}}</ref> He garnered the [[Nandi Award for Best Actor]] for ''[[Kodalu Diddina Kapuram]]'' in 1970, and the Inaugural [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]] in 1972 for ''[[Badi Panthulu]]''.<ref name="Times of India Press"/><ref name="Ramachandran 1973"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://awardsandwinners.com/category/nandi-awards/1970/|title=Nandi Awards – 1970 – Winners & Nominees}}</ref>


'''Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao''' ([[Telugu language|Telugu]]:నందమూరి తారక రామా రావు)([[28 May]] [[1923]]–[[18 January]] [[1996]]), more commonly known as '''N.T. Rama Rao''', '''NTR''' by his [[wikt:fan|fans]], or '''Anna garu''', was an [[India]]n [[movie]] [[actor]], [[movie director|director]], [[movie producer|producer]], and [[politician]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901160200.htm|title= N.T. Rama Rao (1923 - 1995): A messiah of the masses|publisher=The Hindu|work=www.hindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004417/|title=Profile and Filmography|publisher=www.imdb.com}}</ref> He founded the Telugu Desam Party and served three times as [[Chief Minister]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. His movies included [[mythology|mythological]], [[social]], and folk [[wikt:theme|theme]]s. He was awarded the Padma Shri by the [[Government]] of India in the 1960s for his work in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] cinema. After acting, Rao became a political [[activist]] and [[political party|party]] leader.
Rao made his debut as an actor in a [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] social film ''[[Mana Desam]]'', directed by [[L. V. Prasad]] in 1949. He gained popularity in the 1950s when he became well known for his portrayals of [[Hindu]] deities, especially [[Krishna]] and [[Rama]],<ref name="I96" /> roles which have made him a "messiah of the masses".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/19/world/n-t-rama-rao-72-is-dead-star-status-infused-his-politics.html|title=N. T. Rama Rao, 72, Is Dead; Star Status Infused His Politics|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=22 September 2015|first=John F.|last=Burns|date=19 January 1996}}</ref> He later became known for portraying antagonistic characters and [[Robin Hood]]-esque hero characters in films. He is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Telugu cinema.<ref name=autogenerated3 /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901160200.htm|title=N.T. Rama Rao (1923–1995): A messiah of the masses|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=9 December 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030314034454/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901160200.htm|archive-date=14 March 2003|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="Sashidhar AS, TNN 13 Aug 2012, 04.15PM IST">{{cite press release|author=Sashidhar AS |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-13/did-you-know-/33181554_1_ftii-film-and-television-institute-magnum-opus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504205627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-13/did-you-know-/33181554_1_ftii-film-and-television-institute-magnum-opus |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2013 |title=Donga Ramudu was included in FTII |date=13 August 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |title=Nostalgia – Pathala Bhairavi |publisher=CineGoer.com |access-date=27 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928162055/http://www.cinegoer.com/pathalabhairavi.htm |archive-date=28 September 2012  }}</ref> He was voted "Greatest Indian Actor of All Time" in a [[CNN-IBN]] national poll conducted in 2013 on the occasion of the Centenary of Indian Cinema.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=CNN-IBN|title=NTR greatest actor in India|date=9 March 2013|url=http://www.news18.com/news/india/ntr-greatest-actor-in-india-cnn-ibn-poll-survey-595559.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/NTR-is-the-greatest-Indian-actor/articleshow/18860418.cms|title=NTR is the greatest Indian actor – Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=8 March 2013|title=NTR, the Greatest Indian Actor of All Time|url=http://www.greatandhra.com/movies/movie-news/ntr-the-greatest-indian-actor-of-all-time-44656.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917020053/http://www.greatandhra.com/movies/movie-news/ntr-the-greatest-indian-actor-of-all-time-44656.html|archive-date=17 September 2016|access-date=2 September 2016|website=greatandhra.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 March 2013|title=NTR and Sridevi greatest @ 20th century actors|url=https://www.telugumirchi.com/en/movies/ntr-and-sridevi-greatest-20th-century-actors.html|website=Telugu Mirchi}}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline
|date=July 2021}}


== References ==
He starred in such films as ''[[Patala Bhairavi]]'' (1951), which premiered at the first [[India International Film Festival]], held in [[Mumbai]] on 24 January 1952,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dff.nic.in/iffi.asp |title=::Directorate Of Film Festivals |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528092902/http://www.dff.nic.in/iffi.asp |archive-date=28 May 2015 }}</ref><ref name="4thawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/4th_Nff.pdf|title=4th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> ''[[Malliswari (1951 film)|Malliswari]]'' (1951), premiered at [[Asia Pacific Film Festival]],<ref>[[Eenadu]] Daily, Eenadu Sunday – 28 April 2013, 100 years of Indian Cinema, Early Tollywood, Page 9</ref> the enduring classics ''[[Mayabazar]]'' (1957) and ''[[Nartanasala]]'' (1963), featured at an Afro-Asian film festival that was held in [[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=6IIFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=25 August 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170502124953/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm6IIFAAward.aspx?PdfName=6IIFA.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> All the four films were included in [[CNN-IBN]]'s list of "Hundred greatest Indian films of all time".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424003536/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/13200.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-04-24|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News, Current News Headlines|website=News18}}</ref>
{{reflist}}


He co-produced ''[[Ummadi Kutumbam]]'', nominated by [[Film Federation of India]] as one of its entries to the 1968 [[Moscow Film Festival]].<ref name=autogenerated3>[[Eenadu]] Daily, Eenadu cinema – 17 July 2013, National art theater, Page 10</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/27325.html|title=Cinema News – Movie Reviews – Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz}}</ref> Besides Telugu, he has also acted in a few [[Kollywood|Tamil]] films.<ref>[http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/1997.pdf Democratic Process and Electoral Politics in Andhra Pradesh, India] (1997)</ref> Widely recognised for his portrayal of mythological characters, Rao was one of the leading [[method actor]]s of [[Indian cinema]],<ref name="I96"/> He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]] by the [[Government of India]] in 1968, recognizing his contribution to Indian cinema.


{{actor-stub}}
After his career in films, Rao entered politics. He founded the [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) in 1982 and served three tumultuous terms as [[Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh]] between 1983 and 1995. He was known as an advocate of Andhra Pradesh's distinct cultural identity, distinguishing it from the erstwhile [[Madras State]] with which it was often associated. At the national level, he was instrumental in the formation of the [[National Front (India)|National Front]], a coalition of non-[[Indian National Congress|Congress]] parties which governed India from 1989 until 1990.<ref name="ntr national front">{{cite web|url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2108/stories/20040423008101400.htm |title=In-depth analysis of issues and events in India and around the world |publisher=Frontlineonnet.com |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rama Rao, N. T.}}
==Early life==
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao was born on 28 May 1923<ref name="TheHindu DOB">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/nt-rama-rao-a-timeline/article18594639.ece|title=N.T. Rama Rao: A timeline|work=The Hindu|date=28 May 2017}}</ref> in [[Nimmakuru]], a small village in [[Gudivada]] taluk of [[Krishna district]], which was a part of the erstwhile [[Madras Presidency]] of [[British India]]. He was born to a farming couple, Nandamuri Lakshmayya Chowdary and Nandamuri Venkata Ramamma, but was given in adoption to his paternal uncle because his uncle and aunt were childless.<ref>https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/71255/6/06_chapter%201.pdf p. 12</ref> He attended school at first in his village, and later in [[Vijayawada]]. After his matriculation in 1940, he studied at SRR & CVR College in [[Vijayawada]] and at the [[Andhra Christian College]] in [[Guntur]]. In 1947, he joined the [[Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission|Madras Service Commission]] as a sub-registrar at [[Prathipadu, Guntur district|Prathipadu]] of Guntur district, a much-coveted job that he nevertheless quit within three weeks to devote himself to acting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901160200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030611160814/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901160200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2003 |title=N.T. Rama Rao (1923–1995): A messiah of the masses |date=9 December 2002 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date= 24 September 2015}}</ref> He developed a [[baritone]] singing voice as a young man.<ref name="I96">{{cite news|author=McGirk, Tim|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-n-t-rama-rao-1324748.html|title=Obituary: N. T. Rama Rao |work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=31 May 2010|location=London|date=19 January 1996}}</ref>
 
==Film career==
{{Further|N. T. Rama Rao filmography}}
 
[[File:NTR as Girisam in Kanyasulkam.png|thumb|left|Rao portraying Girisam character in [[Kanyasulkam (film)|''Kanyasulkam'']] (1955) ]]
Rama Rao started his film career with a walk-on role as a policeman in ''[[Mana Desam]]'' (1949).<ref name="I96" /> Following this, he appeared in ''[[Palletoori Pilla]]'', directed by [[B. A. Subba Rao]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiancinemas.com/News-21/History+of+Telugu+Cinema.html?newsid=149&linkid=21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713025001/http://www.indiancinemas.com/News-21/History+of+Telugu+Cinema.html?newsid=149&linkid=21|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 July 2011|title=History of Telugu Cinema|publisher=Indian cinemas|access-date=31 May 2010}}</ref> His first [[Hindu mythology|mythological film]] was in 1957, where he portrayed Krishna in the blockbuster film ''[[Maya Bazaar]]''.<ref name="ntr krishna">{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/bio-data/bio-ntr.html |title=Telugu cinema megastar&nbsp;– Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's Bio-data |publisher=Idlebrain.com |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> He played Krishna in 17 films,<ref name="ntr krishna"/> including some landmark films such as ''[[Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham]]'' (1962), the Tamil film ''[[Karnan (1964 film)|Karnan]]'' (1964) and ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' (1977). He was also known for his portrayal of Lord Rama, essaying that role in films such as ''[[Lava Kusha]]'' (1963) and ''[[Shri Ramanjaneya Yuddham]]'' (1974) to name a few. He has also portrayed other characters from the [[Ramayana]], such as [[Ravana]] in ''[[Bhookailas (1958 Telugu film)|Bhookailas]]'' (1958) and ''[[Seeta Rama Kalyanam (1960 film)|Seetharama Kalyanam]]'' (1961) among others. He portrayed [[Vishnu|Lord Vishnu]] in films such as ''[[Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam]]'' (1960) among others and [[Shiva|Lord Shiva]] in ''[[Dakshayagnam (1962 film)|Dakshayagnam]]'' (1962). He has also enacted the roles of [[Mahabharatha]] characters, such as [[Bheeshma]], [[Arjuna]], [[Karna]] and [[Duryodhana]].
 
Later in his career, he stopped playing 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 film)|Devudu Chesina Manushulu]]'' (1973), ''[[Adavi Ramudu (1977 film)|Adavi Ramudu]]'' (1977), ''[[Driver Ramudu]]'' (1979), ''Vetagadu'' (1979), ''[[Sardar Papa Rayudu]]'' (1980), ''[[Kondaveeti Simham]]'' (1981), ''[[Justice Chowdary]]'' (1982) and ''[[Bobbili Puli]]'' (1982). He also portrayed [[fantasy film|fantasy]] roles, his notable film in that genre being ''[[Yamagola]]'' (1977).{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} His film ''[[Lava Kusa]]'', in which he starred as Rama, collected 10 million rupees in 1963. He directed and acted in the [[hagiography|hagiographical film]] ''[[Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra]]'' (1984). He also acted in films such as ''Brahmasri Viswamitra'' (1991) and ''[[Major Chandrakanth (1993 film)|Major Chandrakanth]]'' (1993). His last film was ''[[Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhowmudu]]'', a [[biopic]] on the [[Telugu literature|Telugu poet]] [[Srinatha]], which released in 1993.
 
In the later half of his career, Rao became a [[screenwriter]]. Despite having no formal training in scriptwriting, he authored several screenplays for his own movies as well as for other producers. He also produced many of his films as well as other actor's films through his film production house National Art Theater Private Limited, Madras and later [[Ramakrishna Studios]], Hyderabad. He actively campaigned for the construction of a large number of cinemas through this production house.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=46NFA.pdf |title=Directorate of Film Festival |publisher=Iffi.nic.in |access-date=3 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928071859/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx?PdfName=46NFA.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> He was influential in designing and implementing a financial system that funded the production and distribution of movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/nt-rama-rao-237184|title=N.T. Rama Rao – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chaitanya.bhaavana.net/ghantasala/0196.html |title=The ghantasa list-archive: Part-II: Remembering NTR, Actor, Director, Producer |publisher=Chaitanya.bhaavana.net |date=20 January 1997 |access-date=4 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115423/http://chaitanya.bhaavana.net/ghantasala/0196.html |archive-date=4 March 2016  }}</ref>
 
==Political career==
Naadendla Bhaskara Rao,a veteran politician joined [[Telugu Desam Party]] (TDP) founded by Rama Rao, on 29 March 1982 in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. He said that this decision was based on a historic need to rid Andhra Pradesh of the corrupt and inept rule of the [[Indian National Congress]], which had governed the state since its formation in 1956 and whose leadership had changed the Chief Minister five times in five years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_telugu-desam-party-turns-29-nt-rama-rao-remembered_1364859|title=Telugu Desam Party turns 29, NT Rama Rao remembered|newspaper=DNA India|access-date=31 May 2010}}</ref>
 
===First term as Chief Minister, 1983===
{{main|Chief Ministership of N. T. Rama Rao}}
In the elections, the TDP allied with the Sanjaya Vichara Manch party and decided to field educated candidates who had a good name in the society{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} and were not indulging in corruption, which was an innovative political concept at the time. Rao himself decided to contest from two assembly constituencies, Gudivada and [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupati]]. He used many innovative ways of campaigning, such as being the first politician in India to use rath yatras for campaigning. However, it was [[M. G. Ramachandran|MGR]] who had started the open top van campaigning for elections, as it was felt that he can address the roadshows as an alternative to the mammoth meetings, which involves large amount of money as well as manpower.<ref name="ntr campaigns">{{cite web |url=http://www.andhraheadlines.com/special/ntr-the-legend-13-98352.html |title=NTR&nbsp;... the legend |publisher=Andhraheadlines.com |access-date=4 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331161632/http://www.andhraheadlines.com/special/ntr-the-legend-13-98352.html |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For this, he used a modified [[Chevrolet]] van which was given the name of ''Chaitanya Ratham''. In this, Rao travelled across the state of Andhra Pradesh, crisscrossing all the districts. With his son [[Nandamuri Harikrishna]], also a film actor, driving the van, Rao notched up over 75,000 kilometres during his campaign, a distinctive sight with the van's yellow party flags and banners and Rao sitting on top of the vehicle hailing the crowds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/17/stories/2009041755071300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421195117/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/17/stories/2009041755071300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2009|title=The original ratham |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=17 April 2009|access-date=31 May 2010|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> He campaigned for restoring the dignity of the Telugu people and advocated forming a closer bond between the government and the common people, going into the elections with the slogan, ''Telugu Vari Atma Gauravam'' (lit. ''Telugu people's self-respect'').<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/02/stories/2009040259030300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406005629/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/02/stories/2009040259030300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2009|title=Pavan Kalyan does a star turn |newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 April 2009|access-date=31 May 2010|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
 
In the [[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election]], TDP won by an absolute majority winning 202 out of the 294 seats in the state assembly, with Rao himself winning both the seats he contested.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Their alliance with the Sanjaya Vichara Manch fetched 202 seats.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} Rao was sworn in as the 10th and the first non-Congress Chief Minister of the state on 9 January 1983 with ten cabinet ministers and five ministers of State.<ref>{{cite book|author=S. Nagendra Ambedkar |title=Political elite|publisher=Printwell, with special arrangement from Rupa Books|year=1992|isbn=8170443415}}</ref>
 
===Loss of power, 1984===
On 15 August 1984, Rao was removed from office by the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh [[Thakur Ram Lal]], while Rao was in the US to undergo [[open heart surgery]].<ref name="Murty p.48">{{cite book|author=Murty, K. R.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x7pD5oTDw0IC&pg=PA48|title=Parties, elections, and mobilisation|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.|year=2001|pages=48–49|isbn=978-81-261-0979-1}}</ref> His finance minister, [[Nadendla Bhaskara Rao]], a former Congressman who was the chief architect of the TDP during its inception, was made the Chief Minister by the Governor [[Thakur Ram Lal]]. Bhaskar Rao purportedly had the support of majority of the TDP MLAs which was never the case.{{Citation needed|date= January 2020}}
 
===Return to power, 1984===
Rama Rao returned to India immediately after his surgery, disputed the claims by Bhaskara Rao and demonstrated his strength by bringing all the MLAs supporting him, which was a majority in the 294 member assembly, to the Raj Bhavan (Governor's Office).<ref name="Murty p.48"/> Ramlal did not relent, as a result of which Rama Rao relaunched his ''Chaitanya Ratham'' campaign, this time campaigning for the restoration of democracy by mobilizing the support of people and various anti-Congress political parties in the country including the [[Janata Party]] (JP), the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]], the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK), and the [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]] (NC). During the one-month crisis, the MLAs supporting Rama Rao were secured in a secret place to avoid [[horse-trading]]. This was achieved with the support of Ramakrishna Hegde, Chief Minister of Karnataka. Ramakrishna Hegde moved all the TDP MLAs to a Budget Hotel, Das Prakash, in Mysuru (Mysore). As Congress (I) was known for poaching MLAs regularly and was felt necessitated. This was the first time in Indian Politics that MLAs were secured at a safe place from poaching. Also, due to mobilization of several political parties and the people and due to press, the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unwillingly removed Governor Ramlal and appointed a Congress veteran, [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]], as the governor of Andhra Pradesh to pave the way for restoring Rao.<ref name="Murty p.48"/>
 
===Campaigning in Tamil Nadu, 1984===
In 1984, when the then [[List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]] and fellow actor [[M. G. Ramachandran]] (MGR) was unable to campaign in the [[1984 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election|state elections]] due to his being hospitalised in the USA. Rao, who was a close friend of MGR<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141205085103/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/01/stories/2004040100991200.htm The mother of all rath yatras]. The Hindu (1 April 2004). Retrieved on 21 November 2018.</ref> and R.M.Veerappan who was handling the party affairs, campaigned for the [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK),{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} despite the fact that party was an ally of the Congress at the time. As leader of the National Front, he campaigned extensively for the constituent parties when they faced elections, again using his ''Chaitanya Ratham'' campaigning concept.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/01/stories/2004040100991200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414000554/http://www.hindu.com/2004/04/01/stories/2004040100991200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 April 2004 |title=The mother of all rath yatras |date=1 April 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>
 
===General elections, 1984===
{{main|1984 Indian general election}}
[[File:NT Rama Rao statue at NTR Circle, Anantapur.jpg|thumb|200 px|upright|right|Statue of Rao in [[Anantapur]]]]
A month later, [[Indira Gandhi]] was [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|assassinated]] and was succeeded as prime minister by her son, [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. In the ensuing national elections to the [[Lok Sabha]], the Congress, riding on the sympathy wave caused by Gandhi's assassination, won convincingly all over the country except in Andhra Pradesh where the TDP secured a landslide victory. TDP became the first regional party to serve as the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha.{{Citation needed|date=April 2020}}
 
===Second term as Chief Minister, 1985===
Meanwhile, in the state, Rao recommended dissolution of the Assembly and called for fresh elections the following year in the state to ensure that the people had a fresh choice to elect their representatives. The TDP again won with a massive majority in those elections, with Rao winning from 3 seats; [[Hindupur]],<ref name="ntr hindupur">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp164.htm |title=State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 164-Hindupur Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH |publisher=Eci.nic.in |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> [[Nalgonda]]<ref name="ntr nalgonda">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp289.htm |title=State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 289-Nalgonda Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH |publisher=Eci.nic.in |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> and Gudivada,<ref name="ntr gudivada">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp85.htm |title=State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 85-Gudivada Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH |publisher=Eci.nic.in |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> thus marking the beginning of his second term as Chief Minister. Senior Leaders of the Congress in the state including former Chief Ministers [[Kasu Brahmananda Reddy]] and [[Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy]] lost in their constituencies of [[Narasaraopet]] and [[Kurnool]] respectively to the TDP. Rao completed his five-year term as Chief Minister.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
 
===Leader of opposition, 1989===
In the December 1989 assembly elections however, he was voted out of power due to a wave of anti-incumbency sweeping the state as a result of which the Congress returned to power. Rao himself lost from [[Kalwakurthy]] by a narrow margin to the Congress,<ref name="ntr kalvakurthy">{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp190.htm |title=State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 190-Kalwakurthi Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH |publisher=Eci.nic.in |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> but retained the Hindupur assembly seat.<ref name="ntr hindupur"/> During this time, he suffered a mild [[Cardiac arrest|stroke]], as a result of which he was unable to campaign, which, according to some political analysts and TDP supporters, was the reason for the TDP's loss.{{Citation needed|date= January 2020}}
 
===National politics, 1989===
During 1989, he established himself in national politics, forming a coalition of non-Congress parties opposed to the Congress known as the National Front. It included parties, besides the TDP, such as the [[Janata Dal]], the DMK, the [[Asom Gana Parishad]] (AGP) and the [[Indian Congress (Socialist)]]. This alliance governed India between 1989 and 1990 with support from the Left Front and the BJP. Meanwhile, Rao assumed the position as the Leader of Opposition in the state. His National Front government at the centre led by [[Vishwanath Pratap Singh|V. P. Singh]] was at the forefront of social justice by implementing the provisions in the ''[[Mandal Commission]]'' for providing 27% reservation for [[Other Backward Class]]es (OBC's).{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
 
===Third term as Chief Minister, 1994===
Rao returned to power for a third and final time in the December 1994 state assembly elections with his party in alliance with the Left Front. This alliance won 269 seats in the 294 seat Assembly, with the TDP alone winning 226. The Congress, which once again had multiple Chief Ministers in the state during its five-year rule between 1989 and 1994, won only 26 seats. Rao contested again from Hindupur and won the seat for the third consecutive time,<ref name="ntr hindupur"/> achieving a rare hat-trick of wins from the same assembly constituency. He also won from another assembly constituency, [[Tekkali]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S01/partycomp03.htm |title=State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 3-Tekkali Constituency of Andhra Pradesh |publisher=Eci.nic.in |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> [[Chandra Babu Naidu]] led a revolt in the party against Rao, showing his 2nd wife [[Lakshmi Parvathi]]'s interference in the administration as a reason and that led to his becoming the CM on 1 September 1995 replacing Rao.<ref>{{cite web |title=A legacy under siege |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-legacy-under-siege/200715 |publisher=Outlook |access-date=29 March 2019}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
In May 1943, at the age of 20, while still pursuing his Intermediate, Rao married Basava Rama Tarakam, the daughter of his maternal uncle. The couple had eight sons and four daughters.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article2814013.ece |title=Cities / Vijayawada : Rich tributes paid to N.T. Rama Rao |newspaper=The Hindu |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=3 August 2012}}</ref>
 
His eldest son, Nandamuri Ramakrishna Sr., died in 1962, soon after Rao completed shooting of the film ''[[Irugu Porugu]]''.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}} Rao founded the film studios ''[[Ramakrishna Studios]]'' in [[Nacharam]] in his memory. His third son, Nandamuri Saikrishna, who was a theatre owner, died in 2004 following [[Complications of diabetes mellitus|diabetic complications]].<ref>{{cite news|author=TNN |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-05/india/27163000_1_ntr-family-lakshmi-parvathi-hyderabad-hospital |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024064101/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-06-05/india/27163000_1_ntr-family-lakshmi-parvathi-hyderabad-hospital |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2012 |title=NTR family drama: shots, death, revenge|date=5 June 2004 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> His fourth son, [[Nandamuri Harikrishna]], who died in a car accident on 29 August 2018, was a child actor-turned-politician elected to the [[Rajya Sabha]], representing the TDP. Harikrishna's sons [[Nandamuri Kalyan Ram]] and [[N. T. Rama Rao Jr.]] are also actors in the Telugu film industry (Tollywood).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/03/stories/2008110353320500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106063404/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/03/stories/2008110353320500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2008 |title=Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Nandamuri family fully supports Naidu, says Harikrishna |date=3 November 2008 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=3 August 2012}}</ref> His sixth son, [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] is one of the leading actors in Tollywood from the mid-1980s. He also started his career as a child artist. Balakrishna has contested 2014 assembly elections as a TDP candidate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vishwasnews.com/index.php/local/1-local/1240-balakrishna-set-to-fight-2014-poll |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130927203300/http://www.vishwasnews.com/index.php/local/1-local/1240-balakrishna-set-to-fight-2014-poll |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2013 |title=BalaKrishna set to fight 2014 Elections |publisher=Telugu News |date=12 September 2011 |access-date=4 August 2013 }}</ref> He won the Hindupur Assembly Constituency. His seventh son, Nandamuri Ramakrishna Jr. is a film producer.
 
Rao's second daughter, [[Daggubati Purandeswari]] has represented the Indian National Congress in the [[Lok Sabha]] and was a Union Minister. She shifted her allegiance to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref>[http://www.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=4022] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807190819/http://www.india.gov.in/govt/loksabhampdetail.php?mpcode=4022|date=7 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=ARUN KUMAR, TNN 29 October 2012, 12.42AM IST |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/hyderabad/34799737_1_daggubati-purandeswari-anand-sharma-high-command |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103081841/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-10-29/hyderabad/34799737_1_daggubati-purandeswari-anand-sharma-high-command |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Caste tangle hits Purandeswari's elevation|date=29 October 2012 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>
 
Basava Tarakam died of [[cancer]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://induscancer.com/about-us/|title=About Us|website=Induscancer|language=en-US|access-date=21 March 2019}}</ref> in 1985. In her memory, Rao established the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.andhraheadlines.com/state/i-need-people%E2%80%99s-blessings-balayya-4-94939.html |title=I need people's blessings: Balayya |publisher=Andhraheadlines.com |access-date=4 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118144016/http://www.andhraheadlines.com/state/i-need-people%E2%80%99s-blessings-balayya-4-94939.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1993, he married [[Lakshmi Parvathi]], a Telugu writer.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ch |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-21/hyderabad/27198251_1_lakshmi-parvathi-film-ntr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520215835/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-07-21/hyderabad/27198251_1_lakshmi-parvathi-film-ntr |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 May 2013 |title=Lakshmi Parvathi to don greasepaint|date=21 July 2003 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref> She was the author of his two-volume biography of Rao, published in 2004. The first volume, ''Eduruleni Manishi'' ({{Translation|Irresistible person}}) deals from his childhood to his entry into films. The second volume, ''Telugu Tejam'' ({{Translation|The radiance of Telugu}}) deals with his political career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2004/02/25/stories/2004022504200400.htm |title=NTR biography release tomorrow |date=25 February 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/02/stories/2004020204390600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040224201833/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/02/stories/2004020204390600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2004 |title=NTR biography ready |date=2 February 2004 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>
 
==Awards and honors==
 
=== Civilian honours ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Award
! style="width:35%;" |Honouring body
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |1968
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Padma Shri]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Government of India]]
|{{won}}
|
|}
 
=== Other honours ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Award
! style="width:35%;" |Honouring body
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |1978
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Honorary Doctorate]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Andhra University]]
|{{won}}
|
|}
 
=== Filmfare Awards South ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Category
! style="width:35%;" |Film
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |[[20th Filmfare Awards South|1972]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu|Best Actor – Telugu]]
| style="text-align:center;" |''[[Badi Panthulu]]''
|{{won}}
|
|}
 
=== Nandi Awards ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Category
! style="width:35%;" |Film
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |1974
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Nandi Award for Best Story Writer|Best Story Writer]]
| style="text-align:center;" |''[[Tatamma Kala]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020}}(in [[Telugu language|Telugu]])</ref>
|}
 
=== National Film Awards ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Category
! style="width:35%;" |Film
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |[[2nd National Film Awards|1954]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] (producer&nbsp;— National Art Theater)
| style="text-align:center;" |''[[Thodu Dongalu (1954 film)|Thodu Dongalu]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref name="2ndawardPDF" />
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |[[8th National Film Awards|1960]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] (producer&nbsp;— National Art Theater)
| style="text-align:center;" |[[Sita Rama Kalyanam (1961 film)|''Sita Rama Kalyanam'']]
|{{won}}
|
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |[[16th National Film Awards|1968]]
| style="text-align:center;" |[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] (director&nbsp;— National Art Theater)
| style="text-align:center;" |''[[Varakatnam]]''
|{{won}}
|<ref name="National Film Awards - 1969">{{cite web|title=National Film Awards – 1969|url=http://www.hindilyrics.net/awards/national-film-awards-1969.html|access-date=3 August 2012|publisher=Hindilyrics.net}}</ref>
|}
 
=== Rashtrapati Awards ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
! width="5%" |Year
! style="width:45%;" |Award
! style="width:35%;" |Honouring body
! style="width:10%;" |Outcome
! style="width:5%;" |Ref
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |1954
| style="text-align:center;" |Best Acting for ''[[Raju Peda]]''
| style="text-align:center;" |[[President of India]]
|{{won}}
|<ref name="RAJU-PEDA 1954" />
|-
| style="text-align:center;" |1963
| style="text-align:center;" |Best Acting for ''[[Lava Kusa]]''
| style="text-align:center;" |[[President of India]]
|{{won}}
|<ref name="Times of India Press" />
|}
 
==Legacy==
[[File:NTR Memorial.jpg|thumb|Rao's memorial at [[NTR Gardens]], [[Hyderabad]]]]The [[NTR National Award]] is a national award in honour of Rao. It was instituted in 1996 by the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] to recognise notable film personalities for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the [[Cinema of India|Indian film industry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ntr-national-literary-award-for-ashokamitran/article3384822.ece |title=Ilayaraja, Ambarish, Krishna get NTR award |publisher=The Hindu, Business Line |location=Hyderabad |date=30 August 2007 |access-date=4 January 2012}}</ref> The NTR National Literary Award was instituted by the NTR Vignan Trust, as an annual award to recognise people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to Indian [[literature]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ntr-national-literary-award-for-ashokamitran/article3384822.ece |title=NTR literary Award for Ashoka Mitran |newspaper=The Hindu |publisher=The Hindu, Business Line |location=Hyderabad |date=4 May 2012 |access-date=23 September 2012 }}</ref> [[Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences|Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada]] was established as University of Health Sciences by the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]] and was inaugurated on 9 April by N. T. Rama Rao, the then [[Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh]] in the city of [[Vijayawada]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]]. It started functioning on 1 November 1986.<ref>{{cite press release|author=J. Venkatesan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article3801208.ece |title=NATIONAL / ANDHRA PRADESH : Supreme Court issues notice to State government on medical admissions |work=The Hindu |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> After the death of Rama Rao, it was decided to rename the university after him, and this was carried out on 2 February 1998.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3699547.ece |title=Cities / Vijayawada : Active lifestyle keeps diabetes at bay, says health varsity V-C |work=The Hindu |date=29 July 2012 |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> The university celebrated its silver jubilee from 1–3 November 2011.
 
His life and acting career, and later life and political career, are showcased in the films ''[[N.T.R: Kathanayakudu]]'' and ''[[N.T.R: Mahanayakudu]]'', respectively, with his son [[Nandamuri Balakrishna]] playing the title character.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/article3794755.ece |title=Cities / Vijayawada : NTR University admissions open |work=The Hindu |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref> His later life after his wife Nandamuri Basavatarakam's death and his marriage with [[Lakshmi Parvathi]] is showcased in [[Ram Gopal Varma|Ram Gopal Varma's]] film ''[[Lakshmi's NTR]]'' with [[P. Vijay Kumar]] playing the his role.
 
==Legislative career==
[[File:NT_Rama_Rao_2000_stamp_of_India.jpg|thumb|Rao on Indian postal stamp, 2000]]
 
===As Assembly member===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Legislative election !! Constituency !! Result
|-
| rowspan="2"|1983
| rowspan="2"|[[1983 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|7th Assembly]]
| [[Gudivada (Assembly constituency)|Gudivada]] || rowspan="5" style="text-align:center; background:#98fb98; textcolor:#000;" |Won
|-
| [[Tirupati (Assembly constituency)|Tirupati]]
|-
| rowspan="3"|1985
| rowspan="3"|[[1985 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|8th Assembly]]
| [[Gudivada (Assembly constituency)|Gudivada]]
|-
| [[Hindupur (Assembly constituency)|Hindupur]]
|-
| [[Nalgonda (Assembly constituency)|Nalgonda]]
|-
| rowspan="2" |1989
| rowspan="2" |[[1989 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|9th Assembly]]
| [[Hindupur (Assembly constituency)|Hindupur]] || rowspan="1" style="text-align:center; background:#98fb98; textcolor:#000;" |Won
|-
|[[Kalwakurthy (Assembly constituency)|Kalwakurthy]] || rowspan="1" style="text-align:center; background:#FF0000; textcolor:#000;" |Lost
|-
| rowspan="2" |1994
| rowspan="2" |[[1994 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election|10th Assembly]]
|[[Hindupur (Assembly constituency)|Hindupur]] || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; background:#98fb98; textcolor:#000;" |Won
|-
| [[Tekkali (Assembly constituency)|Tekkali]]
|}
 
==Death==
Rao died of a [[heart attack]] on 18 January 1996 at his residence in [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]], aged 72.<ref name="ntr death">{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-legacy-under-siege/200715|title=A Legacy Under Siege|work=Outlook India|date=31 January 1996|access-date=22 October 2019|author=Rahman, Sheikh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329150255/http://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/a-legacy-under-siege/200715|archive-date=29 March 2019|url-status=live|quote=When news of NTR's untimely death due to a massive heart attack in the early hours of January 18 broke ...}}</ref> He was cremated and his ashes were immersed at [[Srirangapatna]] by his second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, eight years later, in May 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/17/stories/2004051704921200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040621124642/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/17/stories/2004051704921200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2004 |title=National : Lakshmi Parvati immerses NTR's ashes in Cauvery |date=17 May 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 August 2013}}</ref>
 
==See also==
* [[List of chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Elections in Andhra Pradesh]]
* [[Politics of Andhra Pradesh]]
* ''[[Maverick Messiah]]'', a 2021 book about Rao
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
{{commons category|N. T. Rama Rao}}
* {{IMDb name|0004417}}
* [https://www.bbc.com/telugu/india-44277727 Article on NTR in BBC Telugu]
 
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{{Nandi Award for Best Actor}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rama Rao, Nandamuri Taraka}}
[[Category:1923 births]]
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[[Category:Indian actors]]
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[[Category:Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian politicians]]
[[Category:V. P. Singh administration]]
[[Category:People from Krishna district]]
[[Category:Telugu male actors]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rashtrapati Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
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[[Category:Telugu Desam Party politicians]]
[[Category:Indian socialists]]
[[Category:Indian political party founders]]
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[[Category:Leaders of the Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:State funerals in India]]
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