N. T. Rama Rao

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia


N. T. Rama Rao
NT Rama Rao 2000 stamp of India.jpg
N. T. Rama Rao commemorative stamp
10th Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh
In office
9 January 1983 – 16 August 1984
GovernorK. C. Abraham
Thakur Ram Lal
Preceded byKotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy
Succeeded byNadendla Bhaskara Rao
In office
16 September 1984 – 2 December 1989
GovernorShankar Dayal Sharma
Preceded byNadendla Bhaskara Rao
Succeeded byMarri Chenna Reddy
In office
12 December 1994 – 1 September 1995
GovernorKrishan Kant
Preceded byKotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy
Succeeded byN. Chandrababu Naidu
Founder-President of Telugu Desam Party
In office
29 March 1982 – 1 September 1995
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byN. Chandrababu Naidu
Personal details
Born(1923-05-28)28 May 1923
Nimmakuru, Madras Presidency, British India
(now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died18 January 1996(1996-01-18) (aged 72)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
(now in Telangana)
Cause of deathCardiac arrest
Political party Telugu Desam Party
(1982–1996)
Other political
affiliations
National Front (1989–1996)
Spouse(s)
Children12, including
RelativesSee Nandamuri–Nara family
Alma materSRR & CVR College, Andhra Christian College
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
  • director
  • film editor
  • politician
AwardsPadma Shri (1968)
National Film Awards

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (28 May 1923 – 18 January 1996),[1] often referred to by his initials NTR, was an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for seven years over three terms. He starred in over 300 films, predominantly in Telugu cinema, and was referred by the media as Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma (transl. Universally-renowned star of acting).[2] Rao received three National Film Awards for co-producing Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1960) under National Art Theater, Madras,[3] and for directing Varakatnam (1970).[4] Known for his breakthrough performances in Raju Peda (1954) and Lava Kusa (1963),[5][6][7] Rao 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.[5][7]

Rama Rao made his debut as an actor in a 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, Shiva and Rama,[8] roles which have made him a "messiah of the masses", and a prominent figure in the history of cinema.[8][9] He later became known for portraying antagonistic characters and Robin Hood-esque hero characters in films.[10][11][12][13] N. T. R. 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.[14][15][16]

He starred in such films as Pathala Bhairavi (1951), the only south Indian film screened at the first International Film Festival of India,[17][18] Malliswari (1951), featured at Peking Film Festival, Beijing, China,[19] the enduring classics Mayabazar (1957) and Nartanasala (1963), featured at the Afro-Asian Film Festival that was held in Jakarta, Indonesia.[20] All the four films were included in CNN-IBN's list of "100 greatest Indian films of all time".[21] He co-produced Ummadi Kutumbam, nominated by Film Federation of India as one of its entries to the 1968 Moscow Film Festival.[10][22] Besides Telugu, he has also acted in a few Tamil films.[23] Widely recognised for his portrayal of mythological characters, Rao was one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema.[8]

Rao was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1968, recognizing his contribution to Indian cinema. 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, a coalition of non-Congress parties which governed India from 1989 until 1990.[24]

Early life[edit]

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao was born in a Hindu agrarian family on 28 May 1923[1] 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 given in adoption to his paternal uncle because his uncle and aunt were childless.[25] He was first educated by a teacher who came from a nearby village, whom he would attribute his command of Telugu to, as well as his father, an aspiring thespian and patron of the arts.[26] Although children were normally pulled out of school after completing their primary education, on account of being the first male child in the family, his father sent him to Vijayawada, where he continued his education, matriculating in 1940 before studying at SRR & CVR College and at the Andhra Christian College in Guntur.[27] In 1947, he joined the Madras Service Commission as a sub-registrar at Prathipadu of Guntur district, a much-coveted job that he nevertheless quit within three weeks to devote himself to acting.[28] He developed a baritone singing voice as a young man.[8]

Personal life[edit]

In May 1943, at the age of 20, while still pursuing his Intermediate, Rao was married to Smt. Basava Rama Tarakam, the daughter of his maternal uncle. The marriage was blessed with twelve children; including eight sons and four daughters, namely: Ramakrishna Sr., Jayakrishna, Saikrishna, Harikrishna, Mohanakrishna, Balakrishna, Ramakrishna Jr., Jayashankarakrishna, Garapati Lokeswari (daughter), Daggubati Purandeswari (daughter), Nara Bhuvaneswari (daughter), and Kantamaneni Umamaheswari (daughter).[29]

Smt. Basava Tarakam died of cancer[30] in 1985. In her memory, Rao established the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad in 1986.[31] In 1993, NTR married Lakshmi Parvathi, a Telugu writer.[32] The marriage was childless and lasted until NTR's death less than three years later. Lakshmi Parvati was the author of NTR's two-volume biography published in 2004. The first volume, Eduruleni Manishi (transl. Unstoppable person), covers his childhood and his entry into films. The second volume, Telugu Tejam (transl. The radiance of Telugu), deals with his political career.[33][34]

NTR's eldest son, Nandamuri Ramakrishna Sr., died in 1962, soon after Rao completed shooting of the film Irugu Porugu.[35] Rao founded the film studios Ramakrishna Studios in Nacharam in his memory. NTR's third son, Nandamuri Saikrishna, who was a theatre owner, died in 2004 following diabetic complications.[36] 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 cinema.[37] NTR's sixth son, Nandamuri Balakrishna, has been one of the leading actors in Tollywood since the mid-1980s. He also started his career as a child artist. Balakrishna contested 2014 assembly elections as a TDP candidate.[38] He won the Hindupur Assembly Constituency. His seventh son, Nandamuri Ramakrishna Jr. is a film producer.

NTR's third daughter, Bhuvaneshwari, is the wife of former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. NTR's second daughter, Daggubati Purandeswari, is a widely respected politician, who has represented the Indian National Congress in the Lok Sabha and served as a Union Minister. She later shifted her allegiance to the Bharatiya Janata Party.[39][40] NTR's fourth and youngest daughter, Uma Maheswari, was found dead at her home in Hyderabad's Jubilee hills on 1 August 2022. According to Police, her death appears to be an instance of suicide, but no suicide note was found.

Film career[edit]

Rao portraying Girisam character in Kanyasulkam (1955)

Rama Rao started his film career with a walk-on role as a policeman in Mana Desam (1949).[8] Following this, he appeared in Palletoori Pilla (1950), directed by B. A. Subba Rao.[41] His first mythological film was in 1957, where he portrayed the Hindu god Krishna in the blockbuster film Maya Bazaar.[42] He played Krishna in 17 films,[42] including some landmark films such as Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham (1962), the Tamil film Karnan (1964) and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977). He was also known for his portrayal of the god Rama, essaying that role in films such as Lava Kusa (1963) and Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1974) to name a few. He has also portrayed other characters from the Ramayana, such as Ravana in Bhookailas (1958) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1961) among others. He portrayed the god Vishnu in films such as Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960) among others and the god Shiva in Dakshayagnam (1962). He has also enacted the roles of Mahabharata characters, such as Bheeshma, Arjuna, Karna and Duryodhana.

Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao in Pathala Bhairavi (1951)


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), 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 roles, his notable film in that genre being Yamagola (1977).[citation needed] His film Lava Kusa, in which he starred as Rama, collected 1 crore in 1963. He directed and acted in the hagiographical film Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra (1984). He also acted in films such as Brahmashi Viswamitra (1991) and Major Chandrakanth (1993). His last film was Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhowmudu, a biopic on the 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.[43] He was influential in designing and implementing a financial system that funded the production and distribution of movies.[44] 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).[45]

Political career[edit]

Naadendla Bhaskara Rao,a veteran politician joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founded by Rama Rao, on 29 March 1982 in 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.[46]

First term as Chief Minister, 1983[edit]

File:NT Rama Rao Campaign.jpg
NTR on Chaithanya Ratham.

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] 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. He used many innovative ways of campaigning, such as being the first politician in India to use rath yatras for campaigning. However, it was 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.[47] 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.[48] 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).[49]

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.[50] Their alliance with the Sanjaya Vichara Manch fetched 202 seats.[51] 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.[52]

Loss of power, 1984[edit]

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.[53] His finance minister, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, a former Congressman, 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]

Return to power, 1984[edit]

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).[53] 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, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and the 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.[53]

Campaigning in Tamil Nadu, 1984[edit]

In 1984, when the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and fellow actor M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.) was unable to campaign in the state assembly election due to his being hospitalized in the US. N.T.R., who was a close friend of M.G.R.[54] and R. M. Veerappan who was handling the party affairs, campaigned for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK),[citation needed] 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.[55]

General elections, 1984[edit]

Statue of Rao in Anantapur

A month later, Indira Gandhi was 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.[56]

Second term as Chief Minister, 1985[edit]

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,[57] Nalgonda[58] and Gudivada,[59] 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.[60]

Leader of opposition, 1989[edit]

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,[61] but retained the Hindupur assembly seat.[57] During this time, he suffered a mild 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]

National politics, 1989[edit]

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 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 Classes (OBC's).[citation needed]

Third term as Chief Minister, 1994[edit]

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,[57] achieving a rare hat-trick of wins from the same assembly constituency. He also won from another assembly constituency, Tekkali.[62] In 1995, N. Chandrababu 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.[63]

Awards and honors[edit]

Civilian honours[edit]

Year Award Honouring body Outcome Ref
1968 Padma Shri Government of India Won

Other honours[edit]

Year Award Honouring body Outcome Ref
1978 Honorary Doctorate Andhra University Won

Filmfare Awards South[edit]

Year Category Film Outcome Ref
1972 Best Actor – Telugu Badi Panthulu Won

Nandi Awards[edit]

Year Category Film Outcome Ref
1974 Best Story Writer Tatamma Kala Won [64]

National Film Awards[edit]

Year Category Film Outcome Ref
1954 Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer — National Art Theater) Thodu Dongalu Won [4]
1960 Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer — National Art Theater) Sita Rama Kalyanam Won
1968 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (director — National Art Theater) Varakatnam Won [65]

Legacy[edit]

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 Indian film industry.[66] 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.[67] 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.[68] After the death of Rama Rao, it was decided to rename the university after him, and this was carried out on 2 February 1998.[69] 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.[70] His later life after his wife Nandamuri Basavatarakam's death and his marriage to Lakshmi Parvathi is showcased in Ram Gopal Varma's film Lakshmi's NTR with P. Vijay Kumar playing his role.

Legislative career[edit]

As Assembly member[edit]

Year Legislative election Constituency Result
1983 7th Assembly Gudivada Won
Tirupati
1985 8th Assembly Gudivada
Hindupur
Nalgonda
1989 9th Assembly Hindupur Won
Kalwakurthy Lost
1994 10th Assembly Hindupur Won
Tekkali

Death[edit]

N T Rama Rao died of a heart attack on 18 January 1996 at his residence in Hyderabad, aged 72.[71] He was cremated and his ashes were immersed at Srirangapatna by his second wife Lakshmi Parvathi, eight years later, in May 2004.[72]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "N.T. Rama Rao: A timeline". The Hindu. 28 May 2017.
  2. "Remembering Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao on his 24th death anniversary: The life and legacy of Doctor Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma". The Times of India. 18 January 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  3. Eenadu Daily, Eenadu cinema – 17 July 2013, National art theater, Page 10
  4. 4.0 4.1 "2nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  5. 5.0 5.1 The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Times of India Press. 1984.
  6. Narasimham, M. L. (16 May 2014). "RAJU-PEDA (1954)". The Hindu.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ramachandran, T.M. (1973). Film world. Vol. 9.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 McGirk, Tim (19 January 1996). "Obituary: N. T. Rama Rao". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  9. Burns, John F. (19 January 1996). "N. T. Rama Rao, 72, Is Dead; Star Status Infused His Politics". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Eenadu Daily, Eenadu cinema – 17 July 2013, National art theater, Page 10
  11. "N.T. Rama Rao (1923–1995): A messiah of the masses". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 March 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2002.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. Sashidhar AS (13 August 2012). "Donga Ramudu was included in FTII". The Times of India (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  13. "Nostalgia – Pathala Bhairavi". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  14. "NTR greatest actor in India". CNN-IBN. 9 March 2013.
  15. "NTR is the greatest Indian actor – Times of India". The Times of India.
  16. "NTR, the Greatest Indian Actor of All Time". greatandhra.com. 8 March 2013. Archived from the original on 17 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  17. "::Directorate Of Film Festivals". Archived from the original on 28 May 2015.
  18. "4th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  19. Eenadu Daily, Eenadu Sunday – 28 April 2013, 100 years of Indian Cinema, Early Tollywood, Page 9
  20. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Iffi.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  21. "News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News, Current News Headlines". News18. Archived from the original on 24 April 2013.
  22. "Cinema News – Movie Reviews – Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  23. Democratic Process and Electoral Politics in Andhra Pradesh, India (1997)
  24. "Regionalism and sub-regionalism". frontline.thehindu.com. 22 April 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  25. Narayan 1983, pp. 54-55.
  26. Narayan 1983, pp. 55-56.
  27. Narayan 1983, pp. 56-57.
  28. "N.T. Rama Rao (1923–1995): A messiah of the masses". The Hindu. 9 December 2002. Archived from the original on 11 June 2003. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  29. "Cities / Vijayawada : Rich tributes paid to N.T. Rama Rao". The Hindu. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  30. "About Us". Induscancer. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  31. "I need people's blessings: Balayya". Andhraheadlines.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  32. Ch (21 July 2003). "Lakshmi Parvathi to don greasepaint". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  33. "NTR biography release tomorrow". The Hindu. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2013.[dead link]
  34. "NTR biography ready". The Hindu. 2 February 2004. Archived from the original on 24 February 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  35. "Vidya Balan Says She Is 'Very Excited' About NTR Biopic". NDTV.com. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  36. TNN (5 June 2004). "NTR family drama: shots, death, revenge". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  37. "Andhra Pradesh / Vijayawada News : Nandamuri family fully supports Naidu, says Harikrishna". The Hindu. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  38. "BalaKrishna set to fight 2014 Elections". Telugu News. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  39. [1] Archived 7 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ARUN KUMAR (29 October 2012). "Caste tangle hits Purandeswari's elevation". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  41. "History of Telugu Cinema". Indian cinemas. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  42. 42.0 42.1 "Telugu cinema megastar – Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao's Bio-data". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  43. "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Iffi.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  44. "N.T. Rama Rao – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie". AllMovie.
  45. "The ghantasa list-archive: Part-II: Remembering NTR, Actor, Director, Producer". Chaitanya.bhaavana.net. 20 January 1997. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  46. "Telugu Desam Party turns 29, NT Rama Rao remembered". DNA India. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  47. "NTR ... the legend". Andhraheadlines.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  48. "The original ratham". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 17 April 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  49. "Pavan Kalyan does a star turn". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 April 2009. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  50. "Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election Results in 1983". Elections in India. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  51. "Andhra Pradesh Assembly Election Results in 1983". Elections in India. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  52. S. Nagendra Ambedkar (1992). Political elite. Printwell, with special arrangement from Rupa Books. ISBN 8170443415.
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 Murty, K. R. (2001). Parties, elections, and mobilisation. Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. pp. 48–49. ISBN 978-81-261-0979-1.
  54. The mother of all rath yatras. The Hindu (1 April 2004). Retrieved on 21 November 2018.
  55. "The mother of all rath yatras". The Hindu. 1 April 2004. Archived from the original on 14 April 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  56. "INKredible India: The story of 1984 Lok Sabha election". Zee News. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  57. 57.0 57.1 57.2 "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 164-Hindupur Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH". Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  58. "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 289-Nalgonda Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH". Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  59. "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 85-Gudivada Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH". Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  60. "N.T. Rama Rao, the three-time CM of Andhra Pradesh who could serve one full term". ThePrint. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  61. "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 190-Kalwakurthi Constituency of ANDHRA PRADESH". Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  62. "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 3-Tekkali Constituency of Andhra Pradesh". Eci.nic.in. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  63. "A legacy under siege". Outlook. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  64. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
  65. "National Film Awards – 1969". Hindilyrics.net. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  66. "Ilayaraja, Ambarish, Krishna get NTR award". Hyderabad: The Hindu, Business Line. 30 August 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  67. "NTR literary Award for Ashoka Mitran". The Hindu. Hyderabad: The Hindu, Business Line. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  68. J. Venkatesan (30 April 2007). "NATIONAL / ANDHRA PRADESH : Supreme Court issues notice to State government on medical admissions". The Hindu (Press release). Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  69. "Cities / Vijayawada : Active lifestyle keeps diabetes at bay, says health varsity V-C". The Hindu (Press release). 29 July 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  70. "Cities / Vijayawada : NTR University admissions open". The Hindu (Press release). Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  71. Rahman, Sheikh (31 January 1996). "A Legacy Under Siege". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019. When news of NTR's untimely death due to a massive heart attack in the early hours of January 18 broke ...
  72. "National : Lakshmi Parvati immerses NTR's ashes in Cauvery". The Hindu. 17 May 2004. Archived from the original on 21 June 2004. Retrieved 4 August 2013.

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

Political offices
Preceded by
Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
1983–1984
Succeeded by
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao
Preceded by
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
1984–1989
Succeeded by
Marri Chenna Reddy
Preceded by
Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
1994–1995
Succeeded by
Nara Chandrababu Naidu

Template:Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh