Akkineni Nageswara Rao

In this Telugu name, the surname is Akkineni.

Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni in 1951
Born(1923-09-20)20 September 1923
Ramapuram, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died22 January 2014(2014-01-22) (aged 90)
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana, India)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
Years active1941–2014
WorksFull list
Spouse
Annapurna
​
(m. 1949)​
Children5, including Nagarjuna
FamilyAkkineni–Daggubati family
Awards

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923[1] – 22 January 2014), widely known as ANR, was an Indian actor and film producer, primarily known for his works in Telugu cinema. Over his seven decade career, he starred in numerous landmark films, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the industry.[2] Nageswara Rao received numerous accolades, including seven state Nandi Awards, five Filmfare Awards South and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award. He was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in Indian cinema, in 1990. Additionally, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (2011), Padma Bhushan (1988) and Padma Shri (1968), by the Government of India for his contributions to art and cinema.[3]

Nageswara Rao was particularly known for his roles in biographical films. He portrayed the Tamil saint Vipra Narayana in Vipra Narayana (1954), the Telugu poet Tenali Ramakrishna in Tenali Ramakrishna (1956), which received the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film, the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa in Mahakavi Kalidasu (1960), the 12th-century poet Jayadeva in Bhakta Jayadeva (1961), the legendary sculptor Jakanachari in Amarasilpi Jakkanna (1964), the Marathi saint Tukaram in Bhakta Tukaram (1971), the 15th-century mystic poet Kabir in Sri Ramadasu (2006), and the Sanskrit poet Valmiki in Sri Rama Rajyam (2009). He also portrayed mythological figures such as Lord Vishnu in Chenchu Lakshmi (1958), Narada in Bhookailas (1958), and Arjuna in Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu (1963).

Nageswara Rao is also remembered for his performances in romantic dramas, including Laila Majnu (1949), Devadasu (1953), Anarkali (1955), Batasari (1961), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Prema Nagar (1971), Premabhishekam (1981), and Meghasandesam (1982).[4][5] He also starred in the blockbusters Balaraju (1948), Keelu Gurram (1949), Ardhangi (1955), Donga Ramudu (1955), Mangalya Balam (1958), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Dharma Daata (1970), and Dasara Bullodu (1971).[6][7]

He played a pivotal role in the relocation of the Telugu film industry from Madras to Hyderabad in the 1970s.[8][9] To support the growing industry in Hyderabad, he established Annapurna Studios in 1976. Later, in 2011, he founded the Annapurna College of Film and Media within Annapurna Studios.[10] His last film, Manam (2014), was released posthumously and was featured at the 45th International Film Festival of India in the Homage to ANR section. Nageswara Rao died on 22 January 2014, during the production of Manam.[11]

  1. ^ "Nageshwara Rao Akkineni Biography | Nageshwara Rao Akkineni Girlfriend, Wife, Family & Net Worth - FilmiBeat". www.filmibeat.com. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. ^ Shankar Dayal Sharma (1997). President Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma: January 1995 – July 1997. Publication Divisions, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, AGovernment of India. p. 74. ISBN 9788123006147.
  3. ^ "Akkineni Nageswara Rao lived and breathed cinema". Rediff.com. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Directorate of Film Festival" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. ^ Ranjana Dave (30 June 2011). "The meaning in movement". The Asian Age. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  6. ^ "ANR – Telugu cinema stars". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Netizens Remember Legendary Actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao on his 97th birth anniversary". The Times of India. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. ^ Reddem, Appaji (22 February 2022). "Tollywood's great dilemma". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 September 2022. 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.
  9. ^ Sengupta, Pallavi (22 January 2014). "Telugu filmstar Akkineni Nageswara Rao no more". OneIndia. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  10. ^ "About Us". Annapurna Studios. 13 August 1975. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Romance Is All". Outlook India. 14 October 2013. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2014.