Akkineni Nageswara Rao

Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Born Akkineni Nageswara Rao
September 20, 1924 (1924-09-20) (age 87)
Venkata Raghava Puram,
Krishna District,
Madras Presidency
Other names ANR, Natasamrat
Occupation Actor, producer, studio owner
Spouse Akkineni Annapurna (widowed)
Children Venkat Akkineni, Akkineni Nagarjuna
Signature

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (Telugu: అక్కినేని నాగేశ్వరరావు, born 20 September 1924 at Ramapuram,[1] Gudivada Taluk,[2] Krishna District), also known as ANR,[3] is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films. Nageswara Rao has been active in the Telugu film industry since 1941[3] and is the recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest award for films in India. He is also a recipient of Padmashri, Padmabhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards.[1]

Contents

Early life and background

Akkineni Nageswara Rao was born in a poor farmer's family on 20 September 1924 at Ramapuram, Krishna District.[1] He has stated on record in several interviews that his education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic conditions. Nageswara Rao took to acting at a very early age. He started acting in street plays at the age of nine.[1]

Indian plays in those days used to have all male casts and male leads often played female roles (as evidenced in the first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra).[4] In his early days as an actor, Nageswara Rao used to enact such female roles on stage.[1] He acted more than 260 movies in his career.

Film career

Nageswara Rao's first Telugu film was Dharmapatni, a 1941 Telugu film, wherein he played the role of one of the hero's childhood friends.[5] He later continued his career as a part time stage actor and acted in several Telugu plays such as Ashoka Jyothy, Sathyanveshana and Telugu Talli.[5] On one such occasion, when he was travelling back from a play in Tenali, he was spotted on the Vijayawada railway station by Ghantasala Balaramaiah, a Telugu filmmaker of those days, and was immediately offered a role in his upcoming movie Seeta Rama Jananam.[5] He was later cast in this movie in the role of Lord Rama.

In his career spanning 70 years in the Telugu film industry, he has played the lead role in over 256 Telugu films and 26 Tamil films. Several of these films turned out to be financial and critical successes.[1]

Among other things, Nageswara Rao is credited for influencing Telugu film producers and creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad.

The Telugu film industry in its early days worked out of Madras (now Chennai) in Tamil Nadu.[6] The new state of Andhra Pradesh was carved out from the Madras Presidency on 1 November 1956 and several leaders opined that in order to create a separate identity for the Telugu film industry, it had to be based out of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh. ANR was one of the actors of that period who insisted on creating a base for Telugu films in Hyderabad and established his own production studio, Annapurna Studios, to facilitate this.[7]

Prominent films

ANR has acted in several landmark Telugu films. Some of his prominent films that have been financial and critical successes are Tenali Rama Krishna, Kalidasu, Devadasu, Mayabazar, Missamma, Dr. Chakravarthi, Ardhangi, Muga Manasulu, Dasara Bullodu, Prem Nagar and Premabhishekam. The film Premabhishekam directed by Dasari Narayana Rao is one of the biggest hits in Tollywood. It had an amazing 533 days run in Hyderabad City, which is still the highest run in a city for any Telugu movie. Premabhishekam is the only Telugu film to have run for 365+ days continuously.[8][9][10] He is a good actor in most aspects being a talented actor, comedian, villain, advisor etc.

Awards and honors

Civilian honors
National Film Awards
Nandi Awards
Nandi Award for Best Actor
Filmfare Awards South
Other State Honors

Charity

The Akkineni International Foundation is the charitable arm of Annapurna Studios, which is involved in charity all over India, as part of the movie studios corporate social responsibility. The ANR National Award was instituted by the foundation in the honor of Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The award was given annually to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Indian film industry. [11][12]

Prominent films

S No Movie name Year of release
1 Seeta Rama Jannanam 1944
2 Ratnamala 1944
3 Mugguru Maratilu 1946
4 Palnati Yudham 1947
5 Mayalokam 1948
6 Balaraju 1948
7 Keelu Gurram 1949
8 Rakha Rekha 1949
9 Laila Majnu 1949
10 Palletoori Pilla 1950
11 Swapna Sundari 1950
12 Samsaram 1950
13 Mayalamarari 1951
15 Prema 1952
16 Paradesi 1953
17 Bratuku Theruvu 1953
18 Devadasu 1953
19 Chakrapani 1954
20 Vipranarayana 1954
21 Missamma 1955
22 Ardhangi 1955
23 Rojulu Marayee 1955
24 Ardhangi 1955
25 Anarkhali 1955
26 Santhaanam 1955
27 Vadina 1955
28 Donga Ramudu 1955
29 Bhale Ramudu 1956
30 Ilavelpu 1956
31 Thodi Kodallu 1957
32 Sati Savithri 1957
33 Mayabazar 1957
34 Allavuddin Adbhutadeepam 1957
35 Suvarna Sundari 1957
36 Dongallo Dora 1957
37 Chenchu Lakshmi 1958
38 Pellinati Pramanalu 1958
39 Mangalyabalam 1959
40 Pellisandadi 1959
41 Jayabheri 1959
42 Illarikam 1959
43 Namminabantu 1960
44 Santinivasam 1960
45 Mahakavi Kalidasu 1960
46 Pellikanuka 1960
47 Mahakavi Kalidasu 1960
48 Runanubandham 1960
49 Abhimanam 1961
50 Velugu Needalu 1961
51 Bharya Bharthalu 1961
52 Sabhash Raja 1961
53 Iddaru Mithrulu 1961
54 Aradhana 1962
55 Manchi Manasulu 1962
56 Gundamma Katha 1962
57 Kulagothralu 1962
58 Siri Sampadalu 1962
59 Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham 1963
60 Chaduvukunna Ammayilu 1963
61 Poojafalam 1964
62 Atmabalam 1964
63 Mooga Manasulu 1964
64 Muralikrishna 1964
65 Amarasilpi Jakkanna 1964
66 Doctor Chakravarti 1964
67 Antastulu 1965
68 Manushulu Mamatalu 1965
69 Sumangali 1965
70 Preminchi Choodu 1965
71 Aatma Gowravam 1966
72 Navarathri 1966
73 Aastiparulu 1966
74 Poola Rangadu 1967
75 Manchi Kutumbam 1968
76 Brahmachari 1968
77 Govula Gopanna 1968
78 Bangaru Gajulu 1968
79 Adrushtavanthulu 1969
80 Mooga Nomu 1969
81 Bandhipotu Dongalu 1969
82 Athmeeyulu 1969
83 Buddhimanthudu 1969
84 Sipayi Chinnayya 1969
85 Akkachellelu 1970
86 Iddaru Ammayilu 1970
87 Dasara Bullodu 1971
88 Pavithrabandham 1971
89 Prem Nagar 1971
90 Suputhrudu 1971
91 Amaayakuraalu 1971
92 Rithukutumbam 1972
93 Vichitrabandham 1972
94 Koduku Kodalu 1972
95 Manchi Rojulu Vachchaayi 1972
96 Datta Putrudu 1972
97 Bangaru Babu 1973
98 Bhakta Tukaram 1973
99 Palletoori Bava 1973
100 Andala Ramudu 1973
101 Manchivadu 1974
102 Bangarukalalu 1974
103 Dorababu 1974
104 Secretary 1976
105 Chakradhari 1977
106 Alumagalu 1977
107 Bangaru Bommalu 1977
108 Chanakya Chandragupta 1977
109 Chilipi Krishnudu 1978
110 Ramakrishnulu 1978
111 Devadaasu Mallee Puttaadu 1978
112 Muddula Koduku 1979
113 Yedanthastulameda 1980
114 Pilla Zameendaaru 1980
115 Buchhibabu 1980
116 Srivari Muchhatlu 1981
117 Premabhishekam 1981
118 Gurusishyulu 1981
119 Ramudu Kadhu Krushnudu 1983
120 Koteeswarudu 1983
121 Bahoodhurapu Baatasari 1983
122 Sriranganeetulu 1983
123 Anubandham 1984
124 Dampatyam 1985
125 Illale Devatha 1985
126 Guru Brahma 1986
127 Brahma Rudrulu 1986
128 Aadi Dampathulu 1986
129 Athma Bandhuvulu 1987
130 Collectorgari Abbai 1987
131 Agni Puthrudu 1987
132 Ravugarillu 1988
133 Bharyabhartala Bandam 1988
134 Bharya Barthalu 1988
135 Raajakeeya Chadarangam 1989
136 Bhale Dampathulu 1989
137 Adarshavanthudu 1989
138 Sutradharulu 1990
139 Iddaru Iddare 1990
140 Sitaramayyagari Manavaralu 1991
141 Pranadhaatha 1991
142 Raguluthunna Bhaaratham 1991
143 College Bullodu 1992
144 Raajeswari Kalyanam 1993
145 Ratha Saarathi 1993
146 Mechanic Alludu 1993
147 Gaandeevam 1994
148 Bangaru Kutumbam 1994
149 Theerpu 1994
150 Maaya Bazaar 1957
151 Annamayya 1997
152 Daddy Daddy 1998
153 Pandaga 1998
154 Sri Seetarama Kalyanam Chutamurarandi 1998
155 Raogarintlo Rowdi 1989
156 God Father 1992
157 Madhavaiah Gari Manavadu 1993
158 Mechanic Alludu 1993
159 Daddy Daddy 1999
160 Pelli Sambhandham 2000
161 Chukkallo Chandrudu 2006
162 Sri Ramadasu 2006
163 Sri Rama Rajyam 2011

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Interview with A. Nageswara Rao - Celebrity Interviews, , Tollywood Interviews, Telugu Movie Reviews, Telugu Actress Photo Galleries, Movie Galleries, Tollywood Gossip
  2. ^ Akkineni's Village Becomes Active
  3. ^ a b c d ANR - Telugu cinema stars
  4. ^ Raja-Harishchandra - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com
  5. ^ a b c http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Fytcbkha4
  6. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Andhra_Pradesh#Shift_of_industry_from_Madras_to_Hyderabad
  7. ^ http://www.annapurnastudios.in/anr_inner.php?anrcid=16
  8. ^ CineGoer.com - Box-Office Records And Collections - Premabhishekam's Unbeatable Records
  9. ^ Premabhishekam records list
  10. ^ 175-365 days centers list
  11. ^ http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/01/20/stories/2006012001380100.htm
  12. ^ http://www.annapurnastudios.in/akkinenifoundation.php

External links

1969–1980
1981–2000
2001–present