A Legend of Indian Film Industry Akkineni Nageswara Rao (A Tribute) P
A Legend of Indian Film Industry Akkineni Nageswara Rao (A tribute) P. J. Sudhakar
Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao mesmerized the audiences with memorable performances in hit films like Batasari, Devadasu and Tenali Ramkrishna . Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao was of the black and white era known for his strong will power and positive attitude. The death of the 91 year old legendary figure in Indian Cinema due to cancer on 22 January, 2014, is indeed an irreparable loss. Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao popularly known as "Ever Green Hero ANR" is survived by three daughters and two sons including film actor Nagarjuna and several grand children. His grandchild Naga Chaitanya is also a film artiste.
ANR was the youngest of five brothers, born into a poor family on September 20, 1923 at Raghavapuram in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh. His parents, Akkineni Venkataratnam and Akkineni Punnamma, were from the farming community. His formal education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic condition.
Entry into Film World It was in 1941, at the age of 17, that he made his entry into the Telugu film, Dharmapatni , in which he played the role of the protagonist's friend. ANR, was discovered by chance at the Vijayawada railway station by the noted film producer, Ghantasala Balaramaiah , a popular film producer of that time, and was immediately offered the lead role of Lord Rama in his upcoming movie Seeta Rama Jananam. He predominantly acted in theatre , many times donning female roles since women weren't allowed on stage at that time. He has since acted in over 256 films, spanning the Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages to become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Telugu cinema. Majority of his films were both commercial successes as well as won critical acclaim. Extraordinary Performance in Prominent Films ANR played a variety of roles ranging from a charming prince to a frustrated alcoholic lover, from a valiant soldier to a holy saint, and from a college student to a composed government official. He excelled in mytholog ical roles too as Abhimanyu in Maya Bazaar , as Lord Vishnu in Chenchu Lakshm i; as Narada in Bhookailasa; and Arjuna in Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddham . In rural oriented films like Balaraju, Rojulu Maraayi , and Namminabantu , he attained the status of Telugu cinema's first superstar. He also made a striking mark in comedy films like Missamma, Chakrapani , and Preminchi Choodu . ANR was also called the ‘tragedy king’ of Telugu cinema, through his milestone performances in romantic dramas such as Laila Majn u, Anarkali, Batasari, Prem Nagar, Premabhishekam , and Meghasandesham. Film Premabhishekam directed by Dasari Narayana Rao is one of the biggest hits in Tollywood (Telugu film industry). It had an amazing 533 days run in Hyderabad, which is still the highest run in a city for any Telugu movie. He was the first to perform a double role in Telugu films, and even played nine roles in the film Navarath ri. ANR's portrayal of an alcoholic jilted lover in Devadasu by eminent writer Sarath Chandra's was reprised by many in later years in several different languages, the famous Hindi actor Dilip Kumar once said "there is only one Devadasu , and that is Nageswara Rao."
Most of ANR's social films like Samsaram, Bratuku Teruvu, Aradhana, Donga Ramudu, Dr.Chakravarthi, Ardhaangi, Mangalya Balam, Illarikam,Shantinivasam, Velugu Needalu, Dasara Bullodu, Bharya Bhartalu, Dharmadata, Batasari , and College Bullodu were commercially successful films. 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 newer and younger stars.
A unique feature that won ANR acclaim from critics and art lovers was that he enacted the roles of literary and cultural icons of different regions in India, thereby making them instruments of national integration - as the great Sanskrit poet, Mahakavi Kalidas of Ujjain; as the celebrated musician saint, Bhakta Jayadeva of Odisha; as the temple sculptor, Amarasi lpi Jakkanna of Karnataka; as the devotee saint, Vipranarayana of Tamil Nadu; and as the singer Bhakta Tukaram of Maharashtra. Manam was the last film of ANR , where he shared screen space with his son Nagarjuna and grandson Naga Chaitanya.
Contributions to Society Akkineni Nageswara Rao , among other things, he is also credited for influencing Telugu film producers and creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad. The Telugu film industry, in its early days, was based in Madras (now Chennai). When Andhra Pradesh became the first state to be established on linguistic basis, ANR was among the first actors of that period who insisted on moving the Telugu film center from Madras to Hyderabad. He established his own 22 acre production studio/house, named Annapurna Studios after his wife, in the heart of Hyderabad, to facilitate this. In 1957, he donated a considerable sum of money to the Andhra University. He was the Chief Donor and President of a College at Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh, which was subsequently named after him. Being a strong advocate of education, he created scholarships in the Universities of Andhra, Madras, Sri Venkateswara, and Osmania Universities. Apart from being a movie star, ANR was a prolific writer. Some of his prominent books being are his autobiographical work, Nenu Na Jeevitham , the memoirs of his first visit to the USA, Nenu Choosina America , and the expression of his thoughts in his book, A Aalu . His most recent, contemplative, self-reflective work is the book Manasuloni Maata. He was awarded honorary doctorates from several Indian universities. National- International Awards ANR’s contribution to Indian Film Industry was recognized by the Government of India and he was conferred Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for Life Time Achievement.
Cultural Ambassador of India ANR was invited as a guest of the State by USA, Russia, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Malaysia, and Japan. He toured all these countries as a cultural ambassador representing India. He visited Australia in 1967, leading a delegation representing the Indian film, Anthasthulu . A farmer’s son , who never imagined that he would cross the borders of his village or district, toured all over the world as an Indian ambassador of art and culture. And what an ambassador he was. R.I.P.
(PIB Features.) * * * * *
Dr. P J Sudhakar is Addl.Director General, PIB Bhopal.