Sr NTR was inarguably one of the biggest names in the Telugu film industry. The iconic mass hero redefined the tenets of Indian cinema with his powerful performances, electrifying screen presence, and striking dialogue delivery. During his illustrious and unparalleled career, ‘Annagaru’ starred in some of the country’s most unforgettable cinematic gems and proved that he was a synonym for greatness. On Tuesday (May 28) as fans remember the patriarch of the Nandamuri family on his 101st birth anniversary, here is a look at some of his finest performances.
KV Reddy’s ‘Mayabazar’ was based on the folk tale ‘Sasirekha Parinayam’ and proved to be a game-changer for Telugu cinema. The film starred Sr NTR as Lord Krishna for the first time and gave him an ideal platform to showcase his ability. Annagaru’s punch dialogues and impeccable expressions added new life to the already compelling narrative and helped the mythological drama emerge as a commercial success.
Sr NTR brought his A-game to the table when he played Raavana in the K Shankar-helmed ‘Bhookailas’, which is regarded as one of the finest films of his career. The legendary actor’s chemistry with ANR, who played Narada Maharshi, and his intense performance in the climax were the biggest highlights of the film. Additionally, Sr NTR’s expressions in the ‘Deva Deva Davalachara Mandira’ song were a treat to watch.
The matinee idol continued his association with mythological dramas when he starred in ‘Lava Kusa’, the first Telugu film to be fully shot in colour. The classic featured him as Lord Ram and proved to be another landmark release for him. ‘Lava Kusa’ became a massive hit and played in theatres for over 1000 days. Bapu later remade it as ‘Sri Rama Rajyam’ with Balakrishna in the lead.
Sr NTR gave strong proof of his versatility as a performer when he played two distinct roles in Tapi Chanakya’s ‘Ramudu Bheemudu’, which attained cult status. The film centred Ramudu, a simpleton, and his feisty lookalike Bheemudu. It featured the perfect mix of drama and situational humour, which helped it cater to the family audience. ‘Ramudu Bheemudu’ was later remade in multiple languages.
‘Daana Veera Soora Karna’, Sr NTR’s most ambitious and challenging film, marked his return to the mythological drama genre after a hiatus and helped him rewrite history. Directed by the thespian himself, it featured him in three distinct roles and was a showreel for the Nandamuri hero. ‘Daana Veera Soora Karna’ set the box office on fire despite clashing with ‘Kurukshetra’, which had a similar theme. DVS Karna is best remembered for Sr NTR’s intense dialogues.
‘Bobbili Puli’, an action drama with a strong social message, featured Sr NTR as a celebrated Army Officer who becomes a vigilante following a series of unfortunate and tragic events. It featured everything, right from emotional dialogues to action sequences, that one expected from a commercial mass movie. ‘Bobbili Puli’ is best remembered for its iconic court scene where Sr NTR’s character delivers a speech against corruption.
Sr NTR pushed his limits as a performer once again when he played two distinct roles, a justice and his son, in Justice Chowdary. The film clicked with the audience thanks to Anna’s striking screen presence, the intriguing storyline, and catchy songs. The ‘Chattaniki Nyayaniki’ song in particular left a strong impact on the audience as it saw Sr NTR alternate between vulnerable and tough with effortless ease.
Honourable mentions: Patala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Gundamma Katha (1962), and Karnan (1964)
