•A Legend’s Journey from Mana Desam to Telugu Desam
• Diamond Jubilee function in Vijayawada on December 14
Patibandla Srinivas ([email protected])
Amaravati: India’s most famous and legendary actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR)’s debut (first) movie ‘Mana Desam’ is celebrating 75 years after its first release on 24 November 1949. It is a golden moment for the fans of NTR and Telugu Desam Party (TDP). NTR is still an all-time hero for Indian cinema though his first movie was released 75 years ago.
Popular director LV Prasad directed Mana Desam produced by Mirzapur Zamindar under Sobhanachala pictures. Actor Krishnaveni who is wife of Zamindar played main lead role and she presented the movie along with her husband. Stars like V Nagayya, Ch Narayana Rao and Krishnaveni acted in the movie. Bengali novel Vipradas written by Sarat Chandra is the base to the movie’s storyline in the backdrop of Indian Independence struggle.
NT Rama Rao received Rs 2000 remuneration from actor Krishnaveni for this movie which is his first income in cinema industry. Rama Rao who used to act in dramas before entering the cinema industry during his college days reached Madras from his native Nimmakuru of Krishna district after resigning his sub registrar in Mangalagiri. Later, he emerged as one of the top actors in the country by acting in over 300 movies.
He also directed and produced movies establishing National Art Theaters and Ramakrishna Cine Studios along with script writing. He created new era in his name especially in Telugu and South Indian cinema. He entertained the audience in all formats like socio-drama, fantacy, folk and Mythology.
There is no need reiterate that the late NT Rama Rao is still applauded and eulogised across the globe from different political parties and sections. He got a reputation as a legendary actor and created wonders in politics also. He is also voted as the greatest Indian actor of all time by the public in 2013 in a national poll conducted by the CNN-IBN.
At the national politics, he was instrumental in the formation of the National Front, a coalition of non-Congress parties which governed India from 1989 to 1990. After he launched a political party in 1982, he was elected Chief Minister in a span of just nine months. His movies Maya Bazaar, Pathala Bhairavi, Sr Krishna Pandaveeyam, Dana Veera Sura Karna and others are still classics for this generation too. In politics also he started a new era in the country.
The formation of a coalition government against the Congress became reality under his leadership. At one point of time, he even decided the candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Similarly, he was also instrumental for various reforms in India. He introduced several new welfare schemes with an aim to uplift the poorer sections.
The Rs 2-a-kg rice was a boon for the people below the poverty line. Apart from this he had given saree and dhoti for families at Rs 100 and also pucca houses for poor people in the place of previous governments’ temporary hut type houses. He introduced equal share of right for women in family property which was historical, abolished patel-patwari and also known as Munsab-Karanam feudal system in the Revenue administration and created mandal revenue system.
NT Rama Rao had given corruption-free government to the public. He stood for values and defined politics are meant for social service. As a result, he is still alive in the minds of Telugu people. Not only TDP, several leaders of BJP, Congress, Jana Sena and erstwhile Prajarajyam have made appeals to the Central Government to confer Bharata Ratna to NTR.
His statues were installed at various locations from Andhra Pradesh to America. Now his son Nandamuri Balakrishna and other grandsons are moving forward as successors in film industry and his son-in- law Nara Chandrababu Naidu, grandson Nara Lokesh and daughter Daggubati Purandeswari are carry forwarding the legacy of actor turned politician in politics also.
On this occasion, former MLC and senior TDP leader TD Janardan who grandly organised the NTR centenary celebrations recently has finalised a programme to conduct a celebrations meeting in Vijayawada in bigway on December 14.
Actually the programme is supposed to held on November 24 but has been postponed due to the demise of the Chief Minister's brother Nara Rammurthy Naidu. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and former vice president of India M Venkaiah Naidu will attend the meeting and TD Janardan is making all arrangements in this regard.
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