Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr, famously known by his stage name NTR Jr, visited the NTR ghat on Tuesday, May 28, to pay tribute to his grandfather and the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) on the occasion of his 101st birth anniversary.
The video footage from the site showed NTR Jr paying tribute with folded hands at the memorial. The RRR star's brother, Nandamuri Kalyanram, also paid tribute to NTR by offering flowers at the memorial. Actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of NTR, also came to pay homage to his late father.
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders and film personalities also paid tribute to the legendary N T Rama Rao.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X and said, “Remembering the legendary NTR on his birth anniversary. He was a remarkable icon of Telugu cinema and a visionary leader.” He added, “His contributions to film and politics continue to inspire generations. From his unforgettable roles on screen to his transformative leadership, he is fondly remembered. We will keep working to fulfil his vision for our society.”
In a post on X, Venkaiah Naidu described NTR as a "heartbeat" and “symbol of self-respect of Telugu people.” He said that the TDP founder won laurels as an actor for his performances in mythological roles, which ushered in a new era in politics. He further remarked that NTR was a great nationalist who stood against autocratic politics, “Sri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao was a great reformer who brought many revolutionary changes, including property rights for women and decentralisation of power.”
Who was NTR?
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, fondly known as NTR, was an Indian actor, producer, director, editor and politician who served as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh for seven years.
NTR received national recognition for his works, and he was awarded with three National Film Awards for co-producing 'Thodu Dongalu' (1954) and 'Seetharama Kalyanam' (1960) and directing 'Varakatnam' (1970).
Moreover, another accolade in NTR's list was the erstwhile Rashtrapati Awards for his performance(s) in films like ‘Raju Peda’ (1954) and ‘Lava Kusa’ (1963).
On the work front, NTR Jr has an upcoming pan-India film, ‘Devara’, starring Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor in significant roles. The Ayan Mukerji-directed ‘War 2’ will also feature NTR Jr.
