Akkineni Nageswara Rao | |
|---|---|
 Akkineni in 1951 | |
| Born | (1923-09-20)20 September 1923 Ramapuram,Madras Presidency,British India (present-dayRamapuram,Krishna district,Andhra Pradesh, India) |
| Died | 22 January 2014(2014-01-22) (aged 90) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1941–2014 |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5, includingNagarjuna Akkineni |
| Family | Akkineni–Daggubati family |
| Awards |
|
Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923[1] – 22 January 2014), known asANR, was an Indian actor and film producer inTelugu cinema. Over his seven decade career, he became a prominent figures in the industry, and is among most influential actors ofIndian cinema.[2] Nageswara Rao received seven stateNandi Awards, fiveFilmfare Awards South and aTamil Nadu State Film Award. He was honoured with theDadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, in 1990. Additionally, he was awarded thePadma Vibhushan (2011),Padma Bhushan (1988) andPadma Shri (1968), by theGovernment of India for his contributions to art and cinema.[3]
Nageswara Rao's portrayals inbiographical films include the Tamil saintVipra Narayana inVipra Narayana (1954), the Telugu poetTenali Ramakrishna inTenali Ramakrishna (1956), which received theAll India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film, the Sanskrit poetKalidasa inMahakavi Kalidasu (1960), the 12th-century poetJayadeva inBhakta Jayadeva (1961), the legendary sculptorJakanachari inAmarasilpi Jakkanna (1964), the Marathi saintTukaram inBhakta Tukaram (1971), the 15th-century mystic poetKabir inSri Ramadasu (2006), and the Sanskrit poetValmiki inSri Rama Rajyam (2009). He also portrayed mythological figures such as LordVishnu inChenchu Lakshmi (1958),Narada inBhookailas (1958), andArjuna inSri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1963).
His performances in romantic dramas includeLaila Majnu (1949),Devadasu (1953),Anarkali (1955),Batasari (1961),Mooga Manasulu (1964),Prema Nagar (1971),Premabhishekam (1981), andMeghasandesam (1982).[4][5] He also starred inBalaraju (1948),Keelu Gurram (1949),Ardhangi (1955),Donga Ramudu (1955),Mangalya Balam (1958),Gundamma Katha (1962),Doctor Chakravarty (1964),Dharma Daata (1970), andDasara Bullodu (1971).[6][7]
He played a pivotal role in the relocation of the Telugu film industry fromMadras toHyderabad in the 1970s.[8][9] To support the growing industry in Hyderabad, he establishedAnnapurna Studios in 1976. Later, in 2011, he founded theAnnapurna College of Film and Media within Annapurna Studios.[10] His last film,Manam (2014), was released posthumously and was featured at the45th International Film Festival of India in the Homage to ANR section. Nageswara Rao died on 22 January 2014, during the production ofManam.[11]
Akkineni Nageswara Rao was born into a lower-middle-classTelugu family on 20 September 1923 inRamapuram,Krishna District, of present-dayAndhra Pradesh. He was the youngest of five brothers. His parents Akkineni Venkataratnam and Akkineni Punnamma,[12] were from the farming community. His formal education was limited to primary schooling due to his parents' poor economic condition.
He began working in theatre at the age of 10.[13] He became a stage actor, specialising in playing female characters, since women at that time were mostly prohibited from acting. His most famous roles were in notable dramasHarishchandra,Kanakatara,Vipranarayana,Telugu Talli,Aasajyoti andSatyanveshanam. The turning point of his career was whenGhantasala Balaramayya, a prominent film producer at that time, discovered him at the Vijayawada railway station. He was cast in the lead role of Rama inSri Seeta Rama Jananam (1944). This was after his debut in a supporting role in the filmDharmapatni (1941).
He starred in over 255 films, spanning the Telugu, Tamil and Hindi languages.[14] A majority of his films were both commercial and critical successes.[3][15][16][11][17]
Though he is known for playing mythological figures such as Rama and Krishna, he was notably an atheist.[18]
He is fondly calledNatasamrat by his fans. In 1953, Akkineni played the titular role inDevadasu (1953), which is based on thenovel of the same name.Deccan Herald reported that several critics had considered Rao's portrayal to be the best among all language versions.[19]Navaratri (1966) made Akkineni the second actor afterSivaji Ganesan to play nine different roles in a film.[20]
Akkineni is known for his romantic roles in films such asLaila Majnu (1949),Anarkali (1955), andPrema Nagar (1971). He also played several mythological characters inMayabazar (1957),Mahakavi Kalidasu (1965),Bhakta Tukaram (1973), andSri Ramadasu (2006).[21]
Some of his many commercially successful films areMaya Bazaar, Samsaram,Bratuku Theruvu,Aradhana,Donga Ramudu,Dr. Chakravarthi,Ardhaangi,Mangalya Balam,Illarikam,Shantinivasam,Velugu Needalu,Dasara Bullodu,Bharya Bhartalu,Dharmadata,Batasari andCollege Bullodu.Sitaramayyagari Manavaralu was released in 1991, almost 50 years after his debut, and was a success at the box office.
Akkineni was very active in social service. Regarding the existence of God, he once 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]
Akkineni set up the Akkineni Janmabhoomi trust under the Janmabhoomi programme to foster development in his home town,Ramapuram. He was instrumental in the construction of the Akkineni Varadhi (a bridge named after him), which improved his village's economy by facilitating easy connectivity. In Ramapuram, Akkineni contributed towards 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] TheAnnapurna College of Film and Media, founded by his family in 2011, was set up as a non-profit entity. Rao donated to educational institutions since the beginning of his career and created scholarships atGITAM University (Vizag).[25] He was the Chief Donor and President ofAkkineni Nageswara Rao College, which was named after him.[26] Rao was a Life member of the board and an adviser to the Department of Dramatics and Theatre Arts of Andhra University. 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]
Akkineni married Annapurna on 18 February 1949.Annapurna Studios (established 1975) is named after her, and she was also credited as a presenter for several of the studio's productions. Annapurna died in 2011 after a prolonged illness.[29] The couple had five children: Sathyavathi, Venkat Rathnam, who is a producer, Naga Susheeila, Saroja andNagarjuna Akkineni, who is an actor and producer.[30][31]
Akkineni has five grandsons and two granddaughters. While,Sumanth, Supriya Yarlagadda,Naga Chaitanya,Sushanth andAkhil Akkineni are all actors,[32][33][34] Annapurna and Adhithya do not work in the film industry.[35]
On 19 October 2013, Akkineni was diagnosed withstomach cancer.[36] He continued shooting for his final filmManam two weeks after a major laparoscopic surgery, which some doctors feared he wouldn't survive.[37] His last public appearance was at the foundation day celebrations ofAnnapurna Studios on 14 January 2014. Akkineni died a week later, on 22 January 2014.[38] He was cremated on 23 January 2014, atAnnapurna Studios with full state honours amid a 21-gun salute. Thousands were present to pay their last respects.[39][40]
| Year | Award | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Padma Shri | [41] |
| 1988 | Padma Bhushan | [42] |
| 2011 | Padma Vibhushan | [43][44] |
.jpg)
TheANR National Award is instituted by the Akkineni International Foundation in the honor of Akkineni Nageswara Rao.[59] The award is given annually to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to theIndian film industry.[60][61]
Akkineni played an instrumental role in shifting the base ofTelugu cinema fromMadras toHyderabad. During the late 1970s, he made a point to work only in the films that were produced inAndhra Pradesh (except forVijaya Vauhini Studios and Venus Studios films). In 1976, he establishedAnnapurna Studios in Hyderabad as part of his efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure to produce films there.[62] It was established in 1976 on the 22-acre site allotted to him by the Andhra Pradesh government in Banjara Hills. It was inaugurated by the thenPresident of India,Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.[63][64]
After convincing producers and directors to shoot several movies in erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, actor and producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao founded Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad in the 1970s.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
