N.T. Rama Rao
Acting • Born 1923-05-28 – Died 1996-01-18
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
145 credits
Akbar Saleem Anarkali
Movie • 1978
Akbar
Desa Drohulu
Movie • 1973
Ramu
Rowdy Ramudu Konte Krishnudu
Movie • 1980
Ramu
Simham Navvindi!
Movie • 1983
Narasimham
Thalla? Pellama
Movie • 1970
Sudhakar
Srimadhvirata Parvamu
Movie • 1979
Lord Krishna/ Arjun/ Duryodhana/ Kichaka/ Brihannala
Shavukaru
Movie • 1950
Satyam
Chandraharam
Movie • 1954
Prince Chandan
Jagadeka Veeruni Katha
Movie • 1961
Pratap
Aggi Pidugu
Movie • 1964
Raja / Madhav
Punyavathi
Movie • 1967
Prakash
Samrat Ashoka
Movie • 1992
Ashoka / Chanakya
Ummadi Kutumbam
Movie • 1967
Ramu
Aathma Bandhuvu
Movie • 1962
Ranga
Adavi Ramudu
Movie • 1977
Ramu
Malliswari
Movie • 1951
Nagaraju
Kondaveeti Simham
Movie • 1981
Inspector Ranjit Kumar & Raju
Daana Veera Soora Karna
Movie • 1977
Karna / Duryodhana / Krishna
Gundamma Katha
Movie • 1962
Anji
Karnan
Movie • 1964
Krishna
Pathala Bhairavi
Movie • 1951
Thota Ramudu
Bhale Thammudu
Movie • 1969
Shyam Prasad (Paul), Shayam Prasad
Bhookailas
Movie • 1958
Ravanudu
Mayabazar
Movie • 1957
Krishna
Superman
Movie • 1980
Superman / Raja
Lava Kusa
Movie • 1963
Lord Rama
Kalasi Unte Kaladu Sukham
Movie • 1961
Kishtayya
Flowing Against
Movie • 1977
Madhu
Vinayaka Chavithi
Movie • 1957
Lord Krishna
Kalyanam Panni Paar
Movie • 1952
Vivaha Bandham
Movie • 1964
Chandrasekhar (as Taraka Rama Rao Nandamuri)
Driver Ramudu
Movie • 1979
Ramu
Charana Daasi
Movie • 1956
Dr. Chandra Sekhar
Bhama Vijayam
Movie • 1967
Jaya Chandra
Desa Drohulu
Movie • 1964
Ramu
Daiva Balam
Movie • 1959
Chandrasenudu
Errakota Veerudu
Movie • 1973
Karthavarayani Katha
Movie • 1958
Karthavaraya
Marmayogi
Movie • 1964
Prabhakar
Santosham
Movie • 1955
Anand / Paramanand
Tiruguleni Manishi
Movie • 1981
Raja
Sri Venkateswara Mahatmyam
Movie • 1960
Lord Venkateswara (Balaji)
Annadammula Anubandham
Movie • 1975
Vijay
Gulebakavali Katha
Movie • 1962
Vijay
Vaddante Dabbu
Movie • 1954
Syam
Tiger
Movie • 1979
Tiger Raja
Jayasimha
Movie • 1955
Jayasimha/Bhavani
Major Chandrakanth
Movie • 1993
Major Chandrakanth
Kanyasulkam
Movie • 1955
Gireesham
Seetha Rama Kalyanam
Movie • 1961
Ravana
Paruvu-Prathishtta
Movie • 1963
Raghu
Sri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam
Movie • 1979
Lord Venkateswara
Gaja Donga
Movie • 1981
Gaja Donga / Raja
Dakshayagnam
Movie • 1962
Lord Shiva
Veerabhimanyu
Movie • 1965
Lord Krishna
Chanakya Chandragupta
Movie • 1977
Chandragupta Maurya
Sri Rama Pattabhishekam
Movie • 1978
Lord Rama / Ravana
Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam
Movie • 1966
Lord Krishna / Duryodhana
Chandashasanudu
Movie • 1983
Harichandra Prasad / Raja
Thathamma Kala
Movie • 1974
Ramaiah / Musalaiah
Kula Gowravam
Movie • 1972
Raja Ramachandra Prasad / Raghunath Prasad / Shankar
Kannan Karunai
Movie • 1971
Lord Krishna
Mahamantri Thimmarusu
Movie • 1962
Krishnadevaraya
Maayani Mamata
Movie • 1970
Madhu
Mana Desam
Movie • 1949
British Inspector
Palletoori Pilla
Movie • 1950
Jayanth
Yugandhar
Movie • 1979
Yugandhar / Vijay
Magaadu
Movie • 1976
Vijay Varma
Maavaari Manchithanam
Movie • 1979
Nippulanti Manishi
Movie • 1974
Inspector Vijay
Panduranga Mahatyam
Movie • 1957
Pundarika
Srinatha Kavi Saarvabhoumudu
Movie • 1993
Srinatha
KD No:1
Movie • 1978
Simha Baludu
Movie • 1978
Lawyer Vishwanath
Movie • 1978
Sati Savithri
Movie • 1978
Bhatti Vikramarka
Movie • 1960
Vikramaditya / Vikramarka Maharaju
Chintamani
Movie • 1956
Bilwamangaludu
Palletooru
Movie • 1952
Chandram
Rechukka
Movie • 1955
Kumarayalu / Kannaiah
Pichi Pullaiah
Movie • 1953
Pullaiah
Cherapakura Chedevu
Movie • 1955
Mohan
Sati Sulochana (Indrajeet)
Movie • 1961
Indrajeet/Meghanadhudu
Justice Chowdhary
Movie • 1982
Justice Chowdhary
Bhagyarekha
Movie • 1957
Ravi
Varakatnam
Movie • 1969
Devasimha
Narthanasala
Movie • 1963
Arjuna /Brihannala
Ramudu Bheemudu
Movie • 1964
Ramudu & Bheemudu
Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha
Movie • 1966
Nandivardhana Maharaju
Missamma
Movie • 1955
M. T. Rao
Sri Krishnavataram
Movie • 1967
Lord Krishna / Lord Vishnu
Babruvahana
Movie • 1964
Arjuna
Nindu Hrudayalu
Movie • 1969
Gopi
Sri Ramaanjaneya Yuddham
Movie • 1975
Lord Rama
Bobbili Yuddham
Movie • 1964
Rangarayadu
Sampoorna Ramayanam
Movie • 1958
Raman
Ali Baba 40 Dongalu
Movie • 1970
Ali Baba
Parivartana
Movie • 1954
Ananda Rao
Aaptha Mithrulu
Movie • 1963
Prakash
Aaradhana
Movie • 1976
Gopi
Badi Panthulu
Movie • 1972
Head Master Raghava Rao
Bandipotu
Movie • 1963
Narasimham
Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
Movie • 1959
Raja Rao
Tenali Ramakrishna
Movie • 1956
Krishnadevaraya
Bhishma
Movie • 1962
Bhishma
Pandava Vanavasamu
Movie • 1965
Bheema
Yugapurushudu
Movie • 1978
Rajesh / Kalyan
Sardar Papa Rayudu
Movie • 1980
Sardar Paparayudu & Ram Mohan"Ramu" (dual role)
Intiguttu
Movie • 1958
Gopal
Eduruleni Manishi
Movie • 1975
Raja Shekar
Jayam Manade
Movie • 1956
Pratap
Chandirani
Movie • 1953
Kishore
Bobbili Puli
Movie • 1982
Major Chakradhar
Bala Nagamma
Movie • 1959
Karyavardhi
Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra
Movie • 1984
Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy, Gautama Buddha, Aadi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya & Yogi Vemana
Brahmarshi Vishwamitra
Movie • 1991
Vishwamitra / Ravana
Chikkadu Dorakadu
Movie • 1967
Chikkadu
Ramu
Movie • 1968
Raja
Palnati Yudham
Movie • 1966
Brahmanaidu
Banda Ramudu
Movie • 1959
Banda Ramudu
Sangham
Movie • 1954
Raja
Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu
Movie • 1982
Peddababu Prabhakar
Yamagola
Movie • 1977
Satyam
Vetagadu
Movie • 1979
Raja
Aatagadu
Movie • 1980
Gopi
Aggi Barata
Movie • 1966
Raja
Pelli Chesi Choodu
Movie • 1952
Venkata Ramana
Kathanayakudu
Movie • 1969
Saradhi
Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham
Movie • 1963
Sri Krishna Tulabharam
Movie • 1966
Gudi Gantalu
Movie • 1964
Vasu
Mangamma Sapatham
Movie • 1965
Raja / Vijay
Baghdad Gaja Donga
Movie • 1968
Ekaveera
Movie • 1969
Puttan Sethupathi
Samsaram
Movie • 1950
Raghu
Maaya Rambha
Movie • 1950
Nalakubharudu
Stree Janma
Movie • 1967
Shekar
Niluvu Dopidi
Movie • 1968
Ramu
Life Cycle
Movie • 1971
Raja
Maya Maschindra
Movie • 1975
Lord Vishnu / Maya Machhindra
Satya Harishchandra
Movie • 1965
Harishchandra
Raja Makutam
Movie • 1959
Prince Pratapa Simha
Dorikithe Dongalu
Movie • 1965
Nandan Rao
Nirdoshi
Movie • 1967
Ananda Rao / Sundaram
Saarangadhara
Movie • 1957
Sarangadhara