In India, there have been countless great actors who made a mark in the Cine Field. But only few can be remembered not as the actors but with the characters they played. Out of the very few of this category, there is one man who tops this chart, who has taken Telugu Cinema to new heights, where people from all around the world started noticing Telugu films. He is none other than our 'Viswavikhyata Natasarvabhouma' late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (Popularly known as NTR). Here is a small presentation of a lesser known face of this legendary actor.
NTR also known as “Meesala Nagamma”
NTR was born in Nimmakooru, Krishna district on May 28th 1923. It was during his intermediate studies in Vijayawada, NTR developed a keen interest in Telugu Literature and mythological epics- Especially Vishwanatha Satyanarayana garu’s works. He even happened to act in a drama penned by Viswanatha Satyanarayana garu named “Rachamalluni Dauthyam”.
For that drama to be staged one fine day, despite the author requesting NTR to remove the moustache for the ‘Nagamma’ character he was supposed to enact, NTR acted in the female role with moustache! After this incident many of his friends started calling him “Meesala Nagamma” (‘Nagamma’ with moustache!).
NTR before Cinema
He established a Drama troupe along with a noted actor Telugu Cinema saw later, Mukkamala and his brother Trivikra Jaggayya and performed regularly on stage. He acted as Saleem- the lead character in the popular stage play Anarkali as well. Due to early marriage and academic struggles, NTR had to stay away from acting interest for some years and it was when he started venturing into business field as well. When people around him started taunting him that he cannot be a good student, NTR showed his determination in completing Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in A.C College, Guntur. It was when NTR acted in college play again with veteran actor of Black and White Era- Jaggayya garu.
NTR’s Hardwork
NTR is such great personality who firmly believed in hard work. Though he is married very young during his intermediate only, NTR did not give up his passion for dramas and in the due course; he failed to pass intermediate twice!
In the resultant gap, NTR even ran an ‘Andhra Mess’ in Bombay and even worked as a Milk-boy for a short while too. When he was humiliated of his failure to pass intermediate, undeterred NTR graduated in B.A from A.C College, Guntur. Jaggayya and Mukkamala’s association was known from then onwards.
NTR’s determination
Starting off career in small roles, he quickly rose to prominence with films like Shavukar (1950) as an actor with substance. It would be interesting to note that he played the role of a Sub-Inspector in his first ever silver screen appearance- Mana Desam (1949). Eventually, his natural instinct drew him towards historic and mythological characters and he always wanted to venture into them. He first acted as Lord Krishna in Ghantasala Venkateshwara Rao’s production Sontha Ooru (1956). But the audience could not receive his attire or acting skills in the first go. But NTR was very determined to find out what went wrong with his acting and wanted to improve in all those aspects which were mocked by the viewers!
Very soon from then, NTR totally transformed as the ideal Lord Krishna in Mayabazar (1957) under the supervision of Art Director Gokhale. People started seeing Lord Krishna in NTR’s performance and some admirers even went ahead and stationed NTR pictures in their prayer halls. Kudos to his determination!
Viewers not only started seeing NTR as the mere characters he played but also admired him like they never did. People even started believing that if mythological characters like Lord Rama or Krishna came back to life- they would look, act and behave exactly like how NTR did!
NTR’s detailing and discipline
NTR used to take meticulous care in showing the subtle differences between the characters he adorned. For example both Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are blue skinned and look somewhat alike. But NTR is such a devoted actor that he showed the difference in speech, diction, expressions and body language! He gave a standardized performance in mythological roles for generations to come by.
It is said that NTR used to observe strict fasting during the filming of mythological themed characters. An early riser, NTR used to get ready by 5AM in the morning for the makeup and until the filming was totally satisfactory, he never used to show a bit of tiresomeness irrespective of the time. He used to follow a life of an ascetic during the shooting schedules by sleeping only on a simple mat on the floor. In short, NTR used to get the feel of character not only when the camera was rolling but also in his lifestyle.
“Mr. Perfect” NTR
One interesting incident happened when NTR was filming for the film Sri Krishnavataram (1967). NTR was playing the lead role of Lord Krishna in it. There was one final scene for the day where Lord Krishna has a poem to recite addressing Pandavas and the scene came out very well. By the time it was declared “pack-up”, NTR went to change his outfit and then suddenly called one of his close associate Pundareekakshayya and asked “Is everyone satisfied with my poem recital scene?” (“Ippudu nenu cheppina padyam mee andariki trupthi ga undha?”). And even though he said it was totally satisfactory, NTR requested the director that he would give another take with a different variation. As the scene involved 300 people in the set, they had to call everybody again for the shot. This time NTR acted without any rehearsal and after recital of the poem, he put up a mannerism by hitting his thigh with the flute in his hand. Once the scene was okay, the set burst into tumultuous applause. Incidents like these are just a drop in the oceanic acting career of NTR’s life.
This scene in 1965 can be the heights of paradoxical coincidence. In the sets of Veerabhimanyu, when his fellow artists were discussing about politics in the leisure hours, NTR in the Lord Krishna’s getup happened to witness the conversation and said – “Brother! Why do we need politics? Why should something happening in some Malaysia or Indonesia bother us? We are artists and we are here to earn our bread through acting! This is just a tip of an iceberg about the great Legend!!
CUT…
- In 1982, NTR founded Telugu Desam Party and went on to become the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in no time.
- The rest is all a well-known history!We are in a way fortunate to have born in the era of this iconic being who once lived amongst us to uplift our Telugu race and create that identity we boast about today!
- This is a honorable tribute by iQlikmovies to commemorate to the 90th birth anniversary of this Man of the Millennium!
