Highlights of Harikrishna interview in Eenadu

Harikrishna is the favorite son of Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao, the most famous artist of Telugu cinema field and founder president of Telugu Desam Party. NTR used to call him affectionately as ‘Hari.’’ Harikrishna was recently inducted into Telugu Desam Party Politbureau and felicitated with a doctorate by an American University.

Hari is very kind-hearted person and is very much interested in looking after animals like cows, and also in mythological stories. As Hari is not afraid of anybody since childhood, NTR used to take special care about him and kept Hari at his grand-father (father of NTR), in Nimmakuru village, (native place of NTR).

Image Courtesy: Nandamuri Fans.

In the beginning NTR was in Madras (Chennai), while acting in films and later on moved to Hyderabad, the State capital of Andhra Pradesh state and settled there.
NTR constructed Ramakrishna cinema studio at Hyderabad and made Hari in -charge for that studio.

NTR also purchased 250 acres of agricultural lands in Shamshabad (near Hyderabad). Hari and his grand-father are looking after these lands. While returning from Shamshabad, after seeing the lands, father of NTR, met with an accident and lost his life. There after NTR sold these lands, thinking that his father died due to these lands only (some sort of sentiment).

Hari could not able to adjust to city life and of the opinion that most of the people in towns/cities are not as honesty as the people living in the villages. He expressed his desire to go back to his native village, but NTR persuaded and convinced Hari to stay at Hyderabad, to look after the studio and their cinema production, etc.

Hari was the driver to that famous vehicle, ‘’Chianti Ratham’’( enlightened vehicle), in which NTR carried out his election campaign for 9 months in the year 1982-83, and defeated the ruling Congress government. Telugu Desam Party, founded by NTR came into power in Andhra Pradesh, in the year 1983. During the election campaign, Hari was the care-taker of NTR, and looked after NTR very well.

Hari says that farmers are the back-bones to the states as well to the country, but no political party evincing sufficient interest in welfare of the farmers. He is of the strong opinion that progress of the nation depends on the well-being of the farmers only.

Hari further says that he cannot tell lies, always keeps his promises given to others that are why he is facing much difficulty in containing politics in the present prevailing conditions. Every body (including my children) should strive hard to come up in life and never depend upon others for a lift.

Person, like my beloved father, is rarely born in this world. His personality was extraordinary (God given gift as somebody said).

NTR’S action in pictures, discipline in life, and perseverance in performing any work is all the extraordinary qualities rarely noticed in a single human being.

Hari and his father were behaved more like bosom friends rather than father and son.

‘’I wish to dedicate my further life to serve the people’’ (about entering into politics), NTR said these words first of all to Harikrishna.

Politics are prevailing in every field including cinema industry. Most of the cinemas are now without any meaningful stories and devoid of any social obligations and sentiments, as compared to old pictures.

Now I cannot simply act in cinemas, just for the sake of money. We should not deceive not only ourselves but also the public, by producing pictures without any moral values.

Finally I sincerely wish that the Telugu Desam Party should once again regain its old glory and fame, as in the days of NTR and dedicate itself to serve the poor and bring equality and social justice to all the ordinary human beings.

Then only the aim of the father to serve the poor will be fulfilled. The name and fame of the ‘’Telugu people’’ should be spread all over the world.

Source: Eenadu Sunday Magazine.

N.T. Rama Rao – brief life history

N.T. Ramarao, founder of Telugu Desam party, created a lasting impression over Telugu people especially poor. People affectionately called him –N.T.R. Nandamuri Taraka ramarao was born on 28th-may-1923, in ‘’Nimmakuru’’ village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. At the time of his birth, the population of that village was 500 only.

Peda Ramaswamy, the grandfather of NTR, Was a land lord and had 80 acres of land. The Land was divided among his four sons and the family was reduced to a middle class family. Ramaswamy’s eldest son’s name was Ramaiah. The second son’s name was Lakshmaiah Chowdary, who was the father of NTR. His mother’s name was Venkataravamma. As Ramaiah had no children, he adopted NTR as his son. NTR’s younger brother’s name is Trivikrama Rao

2. Education:

NTR studied up to 5th class in his native place and his teacher’s name was Valluru Subba Rao. NTR acted in dramas since his childhood. NTR left his native place to Vijayawada, for high-school studies and joined in Gandhi municipal high school of 1 town.

After passing the school –final examination, he joined in S.R.R and C.V.R. College to study intermediate course. At that time his family’s condition was not good and they sold out 10 acres of land to clear the debts. So NTR’s parents came to Vijayawada to look after him and his studies.

His father Laxmaiah set up the dairy farm for selling the milk. NTR also used to supply the milk to hotels, by riding on his Hercules bicycle. At the time of studying the intermediate course, two things happened in the life of NTR.

1. He began to take active part to act in the dramas (since his 20th year). He acted in a drama portraying a female role viz;’’ Nagamma’’.

2. He married “Basavatarakam’’ a nearest relative to him in 1942.

Whatever the cause may be NTR failed in the intermediate examination two times. He never got disappointed in spite of the relatives’ remarks against him and his education. The great thing about NTR was, he never accepted the defeat since his childhood. Leadership qualities were more in him. He is a born leader.

With the consent of his father, he had been to Bombay (Mumbai), to get training in sound recording system. He discarded the training as the conditions were not favorable. While he was in Bombay, he set up a meals hotel viz; ‘’Andhra Mess’’, there also he used to tell the customers about the greatness of the Telugu people. He returned to Vijayawada, at the call of his father. He did also tobacco business. At this time his foster father Ramaiah died due to ill health. Anyhow with the stint of hard work, he passed the intermediate examination.

Now he joined in BA course in AC College Guntur. At this time he got cinema offers but he refused to act in films. He passed BA in 1947 (in the same year India got independence). At this a son was born and his name was Ramakrishna.

In May 1947, NTR had been to Madras (Chennai) to act in cinemas but returned without acting. In the mean time he got a job in the military but his father did not permit him to join in that field.

3. Job opportunities: NTR appeared for the service commission exam. Out of thousands of candidates who appeared for the exam, only 12 members passed. NTR was one among them. He joined the post of sub- registrar in Guntur. The salary was Rs 190/ month.

Again he received offers from Madras to act in films. NTR was not in a firm position to take any decision. His younger brother ,Trivikrama Rao and another person viz; Chalapathi Rao (joint-registrar) encouraged NTR to go to Madras to act in films, as there is no sufficient income in government job to make both the ends meet. Moreover the circumstances in this job are not conducive to his mentality. He got bad experiences while discharging the duties, like bribes etc.
So NTR left for Madras to act in the films. NTR never worked against his consciousness. NTR continued in the job for 11 days only.

4. Cinema life:

In Madras, NTR met L.V. Prasad (actor and producer), who advised him to meet B.A. Subbarao who astonished after seeing NTR’S Personality. He was 5 feet 10 inches in height and 75 -80 kg in weight.

Immediately Subbarao obtained an agreement from NTR to act in his film and paid 1000 rupees as remuneration (at that time it was a big amount). One time meals cost ½ rupee only.
Then he returned to Guntur and resigned the job. He left for Madras alone, for good, to act in films.

He stayed in a lodge namely ‘’Poornam’s lucky lodge’’ along with three friends, whatever the cause may be, luckily all of them settled in cinema field.

NTR’s first movie: Mana Desam (our country).
His role: Sub-inspector.

Later he became legend in movies and politics. He founded Telugu Desam party which came to power just within 9 months.

Everyone knew the movie and political history of Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao. We may never a person like N.T. Rama Rao in our life time. We are lucky in that aspect. Telugu Desam leaders and cadre should work hard to keep the spirit and values of our “Anna”.

Chandrababu Naidu views on N.T. Rama Rao

N.T. Rama Rao is still an Icon in the Andhra Pradesh. In the CNN-IBN Poll, he was selected as greatest Telugu person by Andhra People. NTR is still revered as God by his followers. N.T. Rama Rao changed the political situation in Andhra Pradesh by forming Telugu Desam Party.

Views of Nara Chandrababu Naidu on NTR:

1. N.T.R was a much disciplined person. He used to wake up at 3 a.m., and did yoga for one hour. I used to visit him at 4.30 a.m., early in the morning, to discuss about the party affairs and also the matters regarding administration. On any day, if I failed to visit him, he used to phone me at that time and asked me to come over there at once for discussion.

2. The first time I met N.T.R While he was in a cinema shooting. At that time I was minister of cinematography in A.P. govt. N.T.R. came out from the shooting and talked to me for a long time.

3. N.T.R used to call me as “Babu”. He showed much affection towards me.

4. N.T.Rama Rao’s personality was extraordinary. He never showed laziness. If he wished to do anything he would not take rest until he achieves that thing. He was having good creativeness.

5. He always had soft corner towards the poor.

6. He was usually emotional and often not listen to others opinion.

7. The only thing which I did not like in N.T.R is that his nature of taking hasty decisions. He did not take much time to think over any problem. Some times I used to differ with him and left the place. Immediately I received a phone call from N.T.R.

8. Over all, N.T.R. was a good person. People of Andhra were of the opinion that N.T.R will not do any mistake. Such was his personality. His individuality was very great. He was tall and very handsome.

Can we see another NTR (of his stature) in our lifetime? May be not.

NTR in the WEEK magazine's list of 25 street fighters

The WEEK magazine included Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) as street fighter in its Republic Day special. The magazine listed 25 great street fighters from all over India. L.K.Advani of BJP, Mamata Banarjee of Trinamool Congress, Spiritual Guru Baba Ramdev, Anna Hazare, Medha Patkar, VHP president Ashok Singhal and Revolutionary Singer Gaddar are other eminent personalities in the list.

Highlights of the Article:

• He was an actor for many years, before he joined politics by launching Telugu Desam Party 1982.
• His famous slogan is "Arise, awaken, the Telugu nation is calling". He was inspired by Swami Vivekananda.
• His political philosophy was based on the self respect of the Telugu People.
• Theatricality was NTR's hallmark.
• NTR became the chief minister of Andhra pradesh in 1983 just with in the 9 months of Telugu Desam party formation.
• His mentor is MGR (Tamilnadu chief minister at that time) in politics.
• NT Rama Rao announced many populist schemes like Rs.2 per Kg of rice.
• He is the only political leader who can match Indira Gandhi in charisma.
• He believed that society was his temple and the poor man, the GOD in it.
• NTR was never charged with corruption. He did not allow anyone to make money on the files he signed.
• NTR died in 1996 at the age of 73.

We may never see a political personality like NT Rama Rao in the Andhra politics.

NTR is the greatest Andhraite in CNN-IBN Poll

Telugu Desam Party founder Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao was elected as greatest Andhraite in the CNN-IBN Poll. NTR got more than 70% votes polled indicating his populrity among ANDHRA PRADESH people.
Telugu actor Chiranjeevi is in second place with just 23% votes. No other person including Satyasai Baba and Sania Mirza got more than 5% votes. Poll indicated that NT Ramarao got permanent place in the hearts of Telugu people. No other person may ever replace the legend from the hearts of Andhra people. See the video with the opinion of Junior ntr.

Abdu Kalam, Mammutty and Mokshagundam Visweswaraiah got the same achievement in Tamilanadu, Kerala and Karnataka states successively.

Rediff Article on Telugu Desam

This is the Rediff.com article on Telugu Desam, its leadership and party history. This article was published before 2004 elections.

Highlights of the Article :

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao -- or simply "NTR" -- was keen to do something for the people. He resolved to dedicate his life to social work after he turned 60.

While filming "Sardar Paparayudu" in October 1981, he suddenly announced plans to float a political party.
Telugu Desam Party was formed in March 1982. NTR turned 60 on May 28, 1982.

NTR built his Telugu Desam Party with the support of Ramoji Rao, Eenadu daily Editor, the largest circulated newspaper in the state. Both stalwarts were members of NTR's Kamma community.

In January 1983, the TDP came to power with an stunning majority, winning 198 of the 294 assembly seats.
NTR was a hugely popular actor, especially owing to several mythological roles which gave him the status of a demi-god in the minds of people. Read more about Telugu Desam here.