Akkineni Nageswara Rao

Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Born Akkineni Nageswara Rao
(1924-09-20)20 September 1924
Ramapuram, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh
Died 22 January 2014 (89 Years 4 Months)
Occupation Film Actor
Film Director
Businessman
Height 5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Children 5, including Nagarjuna Akkineni
Relatives See Daggubati-Akkineni Family
Awards

Padma Vibhushan (2011)
Padma Bhushan (1988)

Dada Saheb Phalke award (1991)

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1924 – 22 January 2014), widely known as ANR, was an Indian film actor and producer, known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. His Best friend is Penumadi Ayyanna (lingavaram) .He starred in a variety of roles in his seventy five-year career as a matinee idol, while becoming one of the most prominent figures in the history of Telugu cinema.[1] He was one of the instrumental figures in moving the Telugu cinema industry from Madras to Hyderabad in the early 1960s, alongside D. V. S. Raju.[2] He founded Annapurna Studios in the year 1975 to provide infrastructural support to the new film industry in Hyderabad. He later started the Annapurna International School of Film and Media within Annapurna Studios in 2011.[3]

ANR is known for his path-breaking works in biographical films; Rao essayed as Tamil saint Thondaradippodi Alvar in the 1954 film Vipra Narayana; as Tenali Rama in the 1956 film Tenali Ramakrishna which received the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film; as Kalidas (the Sanskrit poet of Ujjain) in the 1960 film Mahakavi Kalidasu; as 12th Century Sanskrit poet Jayadeva of Odisha in the 1961 film Bhakta Jayadeva; as Kannada sculptor Amarashilpi Jakanachari in the 1964 film Amara Shilpi Jakkanna; as Marathi saint Tukaram in the 1971 film Bhakta Tukaram; as Kabir in the 2006 film Sri Ramadasu; and as Valmiki in the 2009 film Sri Rama Rajyam. Similarly, Rao essayed mythological figures such as Abhimanyu in Mayabazar, which was screened at the 1957 International Film Festival of India and the Indonesian Film Festival; as Lord Vishnu in Chenchu Lakshmi; as Narada in Bhookailas; and as Arjuna in Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu.

Rao is best remembered for his performances in romantic tales such as Laila Majnu (1949), Devadasu (1953), Anarkali (1955), Batasari (1961), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Prem Nagar (1971), Premabhishekam (1981) and Meghasandesham (1982), which was featured at the 9th International Film Festival of India, the 1983 Cannes Film Festival and the Moscow film festival.[4][5] During this time, Rao has appeared in super-hits such as Ardhangi (1955), Bhale Ramudu (1956), Mangalya Balam (1958), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Dharma Daata (1970) and Dussehra Bullodu (1971).[6]

Rao received seven state Nandi Awards, and five Filmfare Awards South. He is a recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honorary award for achievement in Indian cinema. He was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, for his contribution towards Indian cinema.[7][8][9][10] Manam (2014) was the last film of ANR, who died on 22 January 2014 during the film's production phase. The film was a "befitting send off" and a tribute from his son, Nagarjuna. The film was screened at the 45th International Film Festival of India in the Homage to ANR section on 29 November 2014.[10]

Early life and background

Akkineni Nageswara Rao was born into a poor family on 20 September 1924, the youngest of five brothers, at Ramapuram, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. His parents, Akkineni Venkatratnam and Akkineni Punnamma [11], were from the farming community. His formal education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic condition.

From the paddy fields, he strode into the field of fine arts through theatre at the age of 10.[12]He was a famous stage artiste, specialising, surprisingly, in playing female characters, because women at that time were prohibited from acting. He became a rage on the stage as a heroine in some of the famous dramas of the day: Harishchandra, Kanakatara, Vipranarayana, Telugu Talli, Aasajyoti and Satyanveshanam. He became the "Glamour Queen" and from there made a quick jump to another extreme – playing hero on-screen. The turning point of his film career came when Ghantasala Balaramaiah, who was a prominent film producer during that time, discovered him by chance at the Vijayawada railway station and he subsequently made his debut, as a seventeen-year-old boy in the film Dharmapatni.

Mainstream

In 1941, at the age of 17, he made his debut in the Telugu film, Dharmapatni, in which he played the role of the protagonist's friend.[13] Subsequently, ANR was noticed by chance at the Vijayawada railway station by film producer, Ghantasala Balaramaiah, who cast him as Lord Rama in his movie Seeta Rama Jananam.[13] Before that, ANR predominantly acted in theatre, frequently donning female roles, since women weren't allowed on stage at that time.[13][14] From those humble beginnings, he went on to star in over 255 films, spanning Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages.[15] A majority of his films were both commercial and critical successes.[7][8][9][10][16] He was a good singer, who could recite "slokas" with a flourish, and had acted in theatre when he just about 10. Also he had a way with languages. His turning point in cinema came in 1955 when he essayed a good-hearted thief in Donga Ramudu - and it was no surprise that the year 1955 alone saw seven of his movies being released. One of them was Missamma (with Savithri), where he portrays a lonely, unemployed young man.

Akkineni Nageswara Rao played a range of characters from a charming prince to a frustrated alcoholic lover, to a valiant soldier to a holy saint, from a rich man to a pauper, from a lovelorn man to a saint to a college student to a bureaucrat; he travelled the entire gamut of emotions with aplomb. His movie, Premabhishekam is one of the biggest hits in Tollywood, with an amazing 533 days run in Hyderabad, which is still the highest run in a city for any Telugu movie. The movie, directed by Dasari Narayana Rao, is also the only Telugu film to have run for more than a year.

He was the first to play a double role in Telugu films and he also played nine roles in Navarathri. ANR's portrayal of the alcoholic lover in Devadasu (the tragic tale of a jilted lover written by Bengal's Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay), remains a classic portrayal of the character that has been adapted on-screen several times and is one of his most memorable films. Even though many versions of the plot were filmed in many languages (in Hindi with Dilip Kumar, and later with Shah Rukh Khan), critics aver that his portrayal of the alcoholic lover was by far the best. Even Dilip Kumar once famously remarked that it was ANR's performance that outshone the rest.

Though he did the role of mythological figures such as Rama, Krishna and many others, his fame emerged from the man-on-the-street kind of roles that he did with remarkable excellence. His last movie, Manam, is set in various time periods, over the course of a hundred years up until 2013, and deals with the concepts of rebirth and eternal love. Manam was the last film of Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who died on 22 January 2014 during the film's production phase. The film was promoted as a "befitting send off" and a tribute from his son, Nagarjuna. The film was released worldwide on 23 May 2014 to positive reviews from critics and was commercially successful. The film was screened at the 45th International Film Festival of India in the Homage to ANR section on 29 November 2014. The film garnered the Filmfare Award for Best Film - Telugu.

He is fondly called Natasamrat by his fans and some of his commercially successful films are Maya Bazaar, Samsaram, Bratuku Teruvu, Aradhana, Donga Ramudu, Dr. Chakravarthi, Ardhaangi, Mangalya Balam, Illarikam, Shantinivasam, Velugu Needalu, Dasara Bullodu, Bharya Bhartalu, Dharmadata, Batasari and College Bullodu. Sitaramayyagari Manavaralu was released in 1991, exactly 50 years after his debut, and was a huge success at the box office, despite the influx of young stars.

Death

On 19 October 2013 Rao announced that he was diagnosed with colon cancer.[17] He continued shooting for his final film Manam, two weeks after a major laparoscopic surgery, surprising many.[18] He had often said that he wished to act till his death, and Manam proved that. His last public appearance was befittingly at the foundation day celebrations of Annapurna Studios on 14 January 2014. Akkineni died a week later, on 22 January 2014.[19] He was cremated on 23 January 2014, at Annapurna Studios with full state honours amid a 21-gun salute. Thousands were present to pay their last respects.[20][21][21]

Literary works

Apart from being a movie star, ANR was a prolific writer. Most of his books were autobiographical works, the most famous of which are Nenu Na Jeevitham, the memories of his first visit to the USA, Nenu Choosina America, and a poetic rendition of his personal thoughts, A Aa lu - Akkineni Alochanalu. Other books he wrote were Manasuloni Maata and Akkineni Alochanalu.

Charity

ANR was very active in social service. Pointing toward the sky, he once famously said, "If there's a presence there, I'm sure he'll want us to perform our earthly duties well and be a good human being rather than blindly worship him".[22]

He set up the Akkineni Janmabhoomi trust in order to foster development in his home town, Ramapuram. He strove hard to realise it under the Janmabhoomi programme during the TDP regime. He was instrumental in the construction of the Akkineni Varadhi (Akkineni bridge, named after him), which improved his village's economy by facilitating easy connectivity. In Ramapuram, even safe drinking water was something which was unheard of until Akkineni contributed to the construction of a water filtration plant.[23]

He instituted the Akkineni International Foundation in 2005 to honour those who contributed to the Film Industry.[24] The Annapurna International School of Film and Media, founded by his family in 2011, was set up as a non-profit entity. Rao was generous towards educational institutions since the beginning of his career. Even though he didn't have the opportunity to go to school, he understood the importance of education. He created scholarships in various state universities such as GITAM University (Vizag).[25] He was the Chief Donor and President of the College at Gudivada, which was subsequently named after him as Akkineni Nageswara Rao College.[26] Apart from being a Life Member of the Senate of Andhra University, he was also Adviser to its Department of Dramatics and Theatre Arts. He instituted Gold Medals for students who excelled in Acting and Direction.[27] In 2012, he instituted the Akkineni Annapurna Educational Trust in memory of his wife Annapurna.[28]

Filmography

Awards and honours

Civilian honors
National Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Nandi Awards
Nandi Award for Best Actor
Other state honours
Books Written on ANR
  • Manishilo Maneeshi by Dr.K.V. Krishnakumari
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao Oka Spoorthi Santhakam by Surepalli Vijaya
  • Mahanatudu Akkineni by Dr.K.V. Krishnakumari
  • Akkineni Abhinaya Vedam
  • Mahannatudu Akkineni Natinchina Maruvaleni Pathralu by Rasamayi
  • Kathanayakudi Katha by Mullapudi Venkataramana
  • Living Legend Dr.Akkineni by Rasamayi
  • Akkineni Sahasra Chandra Darshanam by Sripada Jyothi Prakash
  • Akkineni Kathanayikalu by S.V.Rama Rao
  • Akkineni Chitrallo Sookthulu by S.V.Rama Rao
  • Akkineni Nageswara Rao Jeevithame Vyaktitwa Vikasam by Govindraju Chakradhar
  • Natasamrat Dr. Akkineni Diary by Shaik Ibrahim

References

  1. ↑ Shankar Dayal Sharma (1997). President Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma: January 1995-July 1997. Publication Divisions, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, AGovernment of India,. p. 74. ISBN 9788123006147.
  2. ↑ Sengupta, Pallavi. "Telugu filmstar Akkineni Nageswara Rao no more – News Oneindia". News.oneindia.in. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "About Us". Annapurna Studios. 13 August 1975. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Ranjana Dave (2011-06-30). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  6. ↑ "ANR - Telugu cinema stars". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  7. 1 2 "Akkineni Nageswara Rao lived and breathed cinema". Rediff.com. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 Jan 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Nagarjuna about God". MyFirstShow.com. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  9. 1 2 "ANR, Actor Par Excellence, Student and Humanist". Indian Express. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  10. 1 2 3 "Romance Is All". Outlook India. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  11. ↑ India Who's who. INFA Publications. 2000.
  12. ↑ Narasimham, M. L. (2014-01-25). "Irreplaceable icon". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  13. 1 2 3 Video on YouTube
  14. ↑ Raja-Harishchandra – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes – NYTimes.com
  15. ↑ "Legendary telugu actor ANR passes away at 91". Eenadu. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  16. ↑ Interview with A. Nageswara Rao – Celebrity Inews, Tollywood Interviews, Telugu Movie Reviews, Telugu Actress Photo Galleries, Movie Galleries, Tollywood Gossip
  17. ↑ "ANR Struck by Cancer of intestine". thehindu.com.
  18. ↑ "ANR dubbed for his film from his death bed". Times of India.
  19. ↑ "Evergreen actor ANR has cancer". Times of India.
  20. ↑ "Thousands bid tearful farewell to Akkineni Nageswara Rao". thehindu.com.
  21. 1 2 "Film personalities pay last respects to ANR". Hindustan times. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "ANR Always". theHindu.com. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  23. ↑ "Akkineni Varadhi". thehindu.com.
  24. ↑ "Entertainment Hyderabad : Such a long journey". The Hindu. 20 January 2006. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "2013 Merit Fellowships, GITAM University". Education in India. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "ANR College History". ANR College. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "Andhra University - Department of Theatre Arts". Andhra University. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "ANR @ Akkineni Annapurna Education Trust Press Meet". Bharath Movies. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Akkineni Nageswara Rao passes away". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Legendary Telugu Actor Nageswara Rao Passes Away". New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Telugu legend Akkineni Nageswara Rao dies aged 91". ibnlive.in.
  32. ↑ "Legendary Telugu Actor Nageswara Rao Passes Away". One India Entertainment.
  33. ↑ K Rajnikanth. "Doyen of Telugu cinema ANR dies at 91". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Collections". 1991.
  35. ↑ Reed, Sir Stanley (1969). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who".
  36. ↑ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. Bennett, Coleman. 1980. p. 308.
  37. ↑ https://archive.is/20170205141932/https://archive.org/details/35thAnnualFilmfareAwardsSouthWinners
  38. ↑ http://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html
  39. ↑ https://archive.is/20170207133748/https://archive.org/details/39thAnnualFilmfareBestActorDirectorTeluguWinners
  40. ↑ Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces, Volume 40. Government of India. 1993. p. 30.
  41. ↑ "Nandi Awards - 1964 - Winners & Nominees".
  42. ↑ "Nandi Awards - 1965 - Winners & Nominees".
  43. ↑ "Nandi Awards - 1967 - Winners & Nominees".
  44. ↑ "Akkineni Nageswara Rao Passed Away". AEG India. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  45. ↑ Who's who. Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Indian Parliament. 2000. p. 496.
  46. 1 2 ANR – Telugu cinema stars
  47. ↑ Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award
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