NTR’s Centenary: Young, yesteryear actors, politicos recall great humanist, legendary actor

HYDERABAD: Young generation Tollywood icons like Ramcharan Tej, Adavi Seshu, Jonnalagadda Siddu, Akkineni Naga Chaitanya, and senior actors like Venkatesh and heroines Jayasudha and Jayaprada graced the birth centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister and TDP founder president Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR).

The celebrations were held at the Kaithalapur grounds, KPHB, in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Actor-producer R Narayana Murty and senior actor Murali Mohan demanded ‘Bharat Ratna’ for NTR.

Narayana Murty urged Chief Ministers of both the Telugu states K Chandrashekar Rao and YS Jaganmohan Reddy to do their part in achieving the highest civilian award for the great actor turned politician.

Ramcharan remembered how he had breakfast with NTR at his house in Hyderabad while returning from a scaring class along with Purandeswari’s son Hitesh. "I thank Purandheswari Aunty for facilitating that meeting," he said.

“Though people are talking about South Indian cinema and Telugu cinema becoming popular nowadays, the legendary NTR had done it and shown to the world long ago. Celebrations to recall such legends would alway inspire the younger generations. We all remember him forever,” said Ramcharan.

Naga Chaitanya recalled the Akkineni clan’s relationship with NTR and his family. Sumanth said he had understood great deal about NTR while donning the role of his grandfather Akkineni Nageswara Rao in Balakrishna-starter “Kathanayakudu”.

Jayasudha said she learned the importance of discipline from NTR.

TDP Chief and former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu also demanding Bharat Ratna for NTR said that every Telugu-speaking person will remember NTR as a person who brought them recognition.

Sitaram Yechury, CPI (M) general secretary recalled the 1984 political turmoil in Andhra Pradesh during which NTR along with TDP legislators reached Delhi in a show of strength and the way CPI (M) has sheltered all the MLAs.

“My uncle Mohan Kanda, who was in later years become the Chief Secretary of combined AP was a child actor and knew NTR well,” he remembered. He also recalled how NTR’s 1983 conclave helped form Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relations and subsequent laws.

CPI Secretary D Raja termed NTR a very sensitive politician who understood the pain of the poor. “He gave rice at Rs 2 per kg per the poor. India needs politicians like him now as we need leaders who respect India’s multi-culturalism and federalism,” he said.

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya recalled the abolition of the Patel Patwari system by NTR, immediately after coming to power. TDP Telangana president Kasani Gnaneswar also spoke.

NTR’s family members Balakrishna, Mohana Krishna, Daggubati Purandheswari, NTR’s grand and great-grandchildren, Nara Bhuvaneswari, and Nara Brahmani were also present. As announced earlier Jr NTR could not attend the function and Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan also could not attend the event.

Telugu film industry was represented by Allu Aravind, V Vijayendra Prasad, G Adiseshagiri Rao, M Murali Mohan, Kannada hero and son of Kannada Kantheerava late Rajkumar Sivaraj Kumar, Babu Mohan, Roja Ramani, Prabha, Ashwani Dutt, and Director Boyapati Srinu attended the event.

A souvenir “Sakapurushudu” commemorating the cine and political life was released and a website and app on NTR were also launched on this occasion.