As the centenary celebrations of Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, the legendary actor-turned- politician popularly known as NTR, are being held across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, it is time to recollect his invaluable contribution to the fields of cinema and politics, in which he strode like a colossus.
NTR was one of the most iconic film stars Indian cinema has seen. A larger-than-life figure beyond cinema, he is widely seen as a rebellious non-conformist and a pioneer of “alternative politics”, who rewrote the grammar of India’s politics. It is often said that NTR scripted a new political idiom when he first burst on the political scene like a blazing meteorite. He single-handedly dethroned a well-entrenched ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, tasting extraordinary success within about nine months of floating a regional party and coming up with a sound political alternative.
NTR was an ardent nationalist who was immensely proud of his Telugu identity. Shorn of parochialism, NTR’s regionalism exemplified the idea of unity in diversity. He passionately espoused the cause of strengthening the federal character of the Constitution, spelt out his own well-articulated doctrine on Centre-State relations, and was ahead of his time in outlining his vision of welfarism.
