Akkineni Nageswara Rao

About Akkineni Nageswara Rao

Akkineni Nageswara Rao is an actor, film producer working in Telugu cinema and English cinema. Clapnumber holds 141 titles for Akkineni Nageswara Rao, from Mayalokam in 1945 to Pratibimbalu in 2022. By decade, that is 8 in the 1940s, 29 in the 1950s, 34 in the 1960s, 21 in the 1970s, 28 in the 1980s, 14 in the 1990s, 4 in the 2000s, 2 in the 2010s and 1 in the 2020s. Those titles are mostly drama, comedy and romance.

Biography

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (20 September 1923 – 22 January 2014), known as ANR, was an Indian actor and film producer in Telugu cinema. Over his seven-decade career, he became a prominent figure in the industry, and is among the most influential actors of Indian cinema. Nageswara Rao received 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. Nageswara Rao's portrayals in biographical films include 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). His performances in romantic dramas include Laila Majnu (1949), Devadasu (1953), Anarkali (1955), Batasari (1961), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Prema Nagar (1971), Premabhishekam (1981), and Meghasandesam (1982). He also starred in 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). He played a pivotal role in the relocation of the Telugu film industry from Madras to Hyderabad in the 1970s. 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. 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.