Popular as NTR, Rama Rao was an actor, director and politician, who served as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister for seven years. NTR was born on 28 May 1923, to a farming couple, Nandamuri Lakshmaih and Venkata Ramamma, but was given in adoption to his paternal uncle. In May 1943, at the age of 20, while still pursuing his Intermediate, NTR married Basava Rama Tarakam, the daughter of his maternal uncle. The couple had eight sons and four daughters. NT Rama Rao died of a heart attack at the age of 72
Here are a few interesting facts to know about great actor, director and leader Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao:
NTR made his debut in a Telugu social film Mana Desam in 1949. Since then, he starred in about 300 films. His filmography includes several hits, including Seetarama Kalyanam, Mayabazar, Missamma and Daana Veera Soora Karna, to name a few.
NTR has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including three National Film Awards, Nandi Award for Best Actor, Rashtrapati Awards and Filmfare Award for acting and directing movies.
After a successful filmy career, NTR founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982. Later in 1989, he also founded a national political coalition of non-Congress parties called The National Front and was elected its founding president.
Rao campaigned for Andhra’s diverse cultural identity, distinguishing it from Madras State with which it was often associated.
He shifted the Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad, giving it a distinct identity from Tamil cinema and benefiting Telugu film producers and distributors and theater owners in Andhra Pradesh.
He brought UPA Lok Pal Bill in state within first year of becoming CM in 1983. The Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Act 11 of 1983 came into force with effect on November 1, 1983.
NTR did tremendous contribution for empower woman in state. He introduced subsidized clothing scheme for women with household incomes less than Rs 500/month and procured the needed clothing. He also founded the Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam in Tirupati with the charter of expanding primary education for women in the state.
Rao introduced Rs 2/kg rice for agricultural labourers with Rs 500 income per month. Furthermore, he guaranteed one light bulb per household to give educational opportunities to the lowest economic class of rural Andhra Pradesh.
NTR abolished the legislative council calling it an un-productive expense to the exchequer, an un-elected un-representative body used to distribute political favors to out-of-work politicians. This was revived back in 2004 by the Congress party.
