Akkineni Nageswara Rao 97th Birth Anniversary
The great evergreen hero of Telugu silver screen, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao born on 20th of September 1924 in Venkataraghavapuram Village Of Gudivada Taluk in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh in a poor farmer family.
Today is the 97th Birth Anniversary of this Great actor of Telugu Cinema.
Businessoftollywood.com remember and recollect the sweet memories of this great actor and salute at this legendary actor on his 97th birth day.
Passion for acting made him settle in Telugu cinema as his profession. This evergreen hero was a restless artist of Telugu Cinema almost since its inception. He served the Industry for 70 years in different levels.
ANR, as been fondly addressed by his fans, was an actor, producer and Studio Owner.
The doors of success in films were opened for Akkineni Nageshwara Rao with the film Dhrmapathni released in the year 1941.
Devadasu, Vipranarayana, Mahakavi Kalidasu, Batasari, Punarjanma, Velugu Needalu, Mooga Manasulu, Dr.Chakravarthi, Sumangali, Sudigundalu, Dasara Bullodu, Premnagar, Setharamayyagari Manavaralu are the best movies of Nageshwara Rao.
ANR in the film “Devadasu” has displayed more than what writer Sarath Chandra described his character ”Devadasu” in his Bengali novel.
In the film Mahakavi Kalidasu, ANR has stepped into the character and acted.
Ramanaidu’s film “Prem Nagar” Celebrated Silver jubilee only because of ANR’s involvement in the character.
As a Judge in his film ”Sudigundalu” ANR was superb.
He played 9 characters in the film “Navarathri” with actress Savitri and did justice to all 9 roles.
As Arjuna in the film Krishnarjuna Yuddham ANR looked like Arjunudu.
ANR has developed his own style of expression and dialogue delivery for which he became so popular.His style of dancing with an attractive stepping has earned him name and fame.
In the film “Seetharamayyagari Manavaralu” as a grandfather he has acted more than what the film director wanted him to do.
At the age of 87 he has acted as Valmiki in the film “Sri Rama Rajyam”(2011). For this particular role it takes at least 2 hours for make-up. This great actor had patience and passion for acting and has done it.
For this reason Akkineni Nageshwara Rao is The Nata Samrat (Emperor of world of action)
ANR’s son Akkineni Nagarjuna is one of the leading actors in Tollywood.
Nagarjuna’s sons Naga chaithanya and Akhi are also actors.
Akkineni Nageswara Rao was the spirit behind for shifting of Telugu Industry from Madras to Hyderabad. He is the owner of “Annapurna Studios” at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
Akkineni Nageswara Rao last film as an actor is ‘Manam’ with his son Nagarjuna and Grandson Naga Chathanya
List of Popular Movies of Akkineni Nageshwara Rao:-
Balaraju(1948) Keelu Gurram(1949) Laila-Majnu(1949) Devadasu(1953) Vipranarayana(1954) Missamma(1955) Anarkali(1955)Mayabazar(1957) Mangalyabalam(1959) Santhinivasam(1960)Mahakavi Kalidasu(1960) Pellikanuka(1960)VeluguNeedalu(1961) Bharyabharthalu(1961)Iddaru Mithrulu(1961)Aaradhana(1962) Gundammakatha(1962)Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddham(1963) Moogamanasulu(1964) Dr.Chakravarthi(1965)Navarathri(1966)Sudigundalu(1967)Buddhimanthudu(1969)Dasarabullodu(1971)Premnagar(1971)Andalaramudu(1973)Chakradhari(1977)Meghasandesam(1983)Seetharamayyagari Manavaralu(1991) Sri Ramadasu(2006)Sri Ramarajyam(2011)Manam(2014) are the popular movies of Akkineni Nageshwara Rao.
Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s classic movies:-
1.Keelu Gurram(1949)
Cast :- ANR,Anjali Devi,Relangi,A V Subba Rao
Directed by :- Raja Saheb
Music:- Ghantasala
Producer :- Raja Saheb(Raja of Mirzapur)
Banner :- Sobhanachala Pictures
2.Devadasu(ANR)(1953)
Cast:- ANR,SVR,CSR,Peketi,Savitri,Padmini
Directed by:- Vedantham Raghavaiah
Music:- C R Subbarama,Viswanathan-Ramamurthy
Producer:- D L Narayana
Banner :- Vinoda Pictures
3.Vipranarayana(1954)
Cast :- ANR,Relangi,P.Bhanumathi,Rushyendramani,V Sivaram
Directed by :- P S Ramakrishna Rao
Music :- S Rajeswara Rao
Producer :- P S Ramakrishna Rao
4.Rojulumarayi(1955)
Cast:- ANR,Relangi,Ramana Reddy,CSR,Sowkar Janaki,Waheeda Rehman
Directed by :- T.Chanakya
Music :- Master Venu
Producer ;- C V Ramakrishna Prasad
5.Missamma(1955)
cast:- ANR,NTR,Savitri,Jamuna,SVR,Relangi
Directed by :- L V Prasad
Music :- S Rajeswara Rao
Producers :- Nagi Reddy – Chakrapani
Banner ;- Vijaya Pictures
6.Anarkali(1955)
Cast:- ANR,Anjali Devi,S V Ranga Rao,Kannamba,Peketi
Directed by:- Vedantham Raghavayya
Music:- Adinarayana Rao
Producer:- Anjali Devi
Banner :- Anjali Pictures
7.Ilavelpu(1956)
Cast :- ANR,Anjali Devi,
Directed by :- D Yoganand
Music :- Susarla Dakshina Murthy
Producer:- A Poornachandra Rao
Banner :- Lakshmi Productions
8.Thodikodallu(1957)
Cast:ANR,Jaggaiah,SVR,Relangi,Savitri,Kannamba,Rajasulochana,Chadalawada
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music :- Master Venu
Producer :- D Madhusudan Rao
9.Mayabazar(1957)
Cast:- ANR,NTR,SVR,Gummadi,Relangi,CSR,Savitri,Suryakantham
Directed by :- K V Reddy
Music :- Ghantasala
Producers :-Nagi Reddy – Chakrapani
Banner :- Vijaya Pictures
10.Mangalyabalam(1958)
cast :- ANR,SVR,Relangi,Ramana Reddy,Savitri,Suryakantham,
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music :- Master Venu
Producer :- D Madhusudan Rao
Banner :- Annapurna Pictures
11.Bhookailas(1958)
NTR,ANR,SVR,Nagabhushanam,B Saroja Devi
Directed by :- K Shankar
Music:- R Govardhana,R Sudarsanam
Producer:- A V Maiyappan
A V M Productions
12Chenchulakshmi(1958)
Cast:- ANR,Anjali Devi,SVR,Relangi
Directed by:- B A Subba Rao
Music:- S Rajeswara Rao
Producer:- B A Subba Rao
Banner :- B A S Productions
13.Illarikam(1959)
Cast:- ANR,Jamuna,CSR,Relangi,Peketi,Gummadi,Ramana Reddy
Directed by :- T Prakash Rao
Music :- T Chalapathi Rao
Producer:- A V Subba Rao
Banner :- Prasad Art Pictures
14. Santhinivasam(1960)
Cast:ANR,KrishnaKumari,Rajasulochana,Suryakantham,Relangi,RamanaReddy,Kantharao
Directed by :- C S Rao
Music :- Ghantasala
Producer :- Sundarlal Nahatha
15.Velugu needalu(1961)
Cast:ANR,Jaggaiah,SVR,Gummadi,Relangi,Savitri,Girija,Suryakantham,Padmanabham,
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music :- Pendyala
D Madhusudan Rao
16.Vagdanam(1961)
Cast:ANR,Gummadi,Relangi,Chalam,Krishnakumari,Girija,Suryakantham,Padmanabham,
Directed by :- Athreya
Music :- Pendyala
Producer :- Athreya
17.Bharya Bharthalu(1961)
Cast:- ANR,Gummadi,Padmanabham,Relangi,Krishnakumari,Suryakantham
Directed by:- K Prathyagathma
Music :- S Rajeswara Rao
Producer:- A V Subba Rao
Banner :- Prasad Art Pictures
18.Batasari(1961)
Cast:- ANR,Bhanumathi,Janaki,Devika,Suryakantham
Directed by :- P Ramakrishna Rao
Music:- Master Venu
Producer:- P S Ramakrishna Rao
Banner :- Bharani Pictures
19.Aradhana(1962)
Cast:- ANR,Savithri,Jaggaiah,Gummadi,Girija,Relangi,Ramana
Directed by:- V Madhusudan
Music:- S Rajeswara Rao
Producer:- V B Rajendra Prasad
Banner :- Jagapathi Art Pictures
20.Gundammakatha(1962)
Cast:- ANR,NTR,SVR,Ramana Reddy,Savitri,Jamuna,Haranath,
Vijayalakshmi,Chaya Devi,Rajanala,Allu Ramalingaiah
Directed by :- Kamalakara Kameswara Rao
Music:- Ghantasala
Producers:- Nagi Reddy- Chakrapani
Banner :- Vijaya Pictures
21.Punarjanma(1963)
Cast :- ANR,Krishnakumari,Prabhakara Reddy,
Directed by :- K Prathyagathma
Music:- T Chalapathi Rao
Producer :- A V Subba rao
Banner :- Prasad Art Pictures
22.Moogamanasulu(1964)
Cast :- ANR,Savitri,Jamuna,Gummadi,Padmanabham,Allu Ramalingaiah
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music :- K V Mahadevan
Producer :- Subba Rao
Banner :- Babu Movies
23.Dr.Chakravarthi(1964)
Cast:ANR,Jaggaiah,Savitri,Janaki,Krishnakumari,GummadiSuryakantham,Chalam,Geethanjali,
Directed by:- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music:- S Rajeswara Rao
Producer:- D Madhusudan Rao
Banner :- Annapurna Pictures
24.Sumangali(1965)
Cast :- ANR,Jaggaiah,Savitri
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music ;- K V Mahadevan
Producer :- D Govindraj
25.Sudigundalu(1968)
Cast:- ANR,Vijayachander,Rammohan,Sandhyarani,Sarath Babu
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music :- K V Mahadevan
Producers:- ANR,Adurthi Subba Rao
26.Maroprapancham(1970)
cast :- ANR,Gummadi,Savitri
Directed by :- Adurthi Subba Rao
Music:- K V Mahadevan
Producers :- Adurthi,ANR
Banner :- Chakravarthi Chithra
27.Dasara Bullodu(1971)
Cast:- ANR,SVR,Vanisri,Chandrakala,Padmanabham
Directed by :- V B Rajendra Prasad
Music:- K V Mahadevan
Producer :- V B Rajendra Prasad
Jagapathi Art Pictures
28.Premnagar(1971)
ANR,Sathyanarayana,SVR,Rajababu,Gummadi,Vanisri,Santhakumari,G Varalakshmi
Directed by :- K S Prakasa Rao
Music :- K V Mahadevan
Producer :- D Rama Naidu
Banner :- Suresh Productions
29.Premabhishekam(1981)
Cast :-ANR,Muralimohan,Mohanbabu,Prabhakara Reddy,Gummadi,Sridevi,Jayasudha
Directed by :- Dasari Narayana Rao
Music :- Chakravarthi
Producer:- Venkat Akkineni,Nagarjuna Akkineni
Banner :- Annapurna Studios
30..Seetharamayyagari Manavaralu(1991)
Cast:- ANR,Muralimohan,Tanikellabharani,RohiniHattangadi,Kota,Sudhakar,Meena
Directed by :- Kranthi Kumar
Music :- M M Keeravani
Producer:- V Doraiswamy
Awards for Akkineni:-
Nandi Award 1964 as best actor for the film”Dr.Chakravarthi”
• Nandi Award 1965 as best actor for the film “Anthasthulu”
• Nandi Award 1967 as best actor for the film”Sudigundalu”
• Nandi Award 1982 as best actor for the film “Meghasandesam”
• Nandi Award 1994 as best actor for the film”Bangaru Kutumbam”
• Filmfare Award (South) 1973 as best actor for the film”Marapurani Manishi”
Honours for Akkineneni Nageshwara Rao:-
• Nageshwara Rao was honored with Padmasri in the year 1963 by Govt. of India.
• Akkineni was conferred with Kalaprapoorna by Andhra University, Visakhapatnam in the year 1977.
• ANR was conferred with honorary doctorate by Andhra University, Visakhapatam in the year 1977.
• Nageshwara Rao was honored with Padmabhushan in the year 1983 by Govt. of India.
• ANR is the recipient of Raghupathi Venkaiah award from Govt. of A.P. for the year 1989
• He is the Recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Palke award for the year 1991.
• ANR was awarded the N T R National award by Govt. of A.P. for the year1996.
• Govt. of India has honored him with Padmavibhushan for the year 2011.
• On 20th of August 2011 ANR was conferred with honorary doctorate by GITAM University,Visakhapatnam.
ANR National Award was instituted in honor of Akkineni Nageswara Rao by Akkineni International Foundation.This award given to Film Personalities in recognition of their service to Film Industry every year starting from 2005.
The last ANR Award Recipient is Tollywood director S S Rajamouli
for the Year – 2017 Honored with Memento,Citation and Rs.5 Lakhs cash
Akkineni Nageswara Rao Memorial Award is instituted by Suresh Kondeti of Sathosam Magazine in the year 2014.This Akkineni Nageswara Rao Memorial Awards will be presented every year to film personalities from the four South Indian Languages
This great actor died on 22nd January 2014 in Hyderabad.
