Akkineni Nageswara Rao, formerly known as ANR was one of the legendary actors of the Indian cinema. Along with NTR, he has contributed a lot to the Tollywood film industry and he was one of the first persons to shift his base to Hyderabad from Chennai for the development of the film industry in the Telugu states, especially in making Hyderabad as the city for realizing the filmmaking dreams of the aspiring enthusiasts.
He was born on September 20th, 1924. His career spanning seventy-five years witnessed so many landmark movies and achievements including the last one Manam that released in the year 2014, shortly, after his demise in the same year. He is certainly one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema who brought recognition to Telugu cinema at the National level.
Having made his debut in the film Dharmapatni, in 1941, he later acted in so many successful projects like Laila Majnu (1949), Devadasu (1953), Anarkali (1955), Ardhangi (1955), Donga Ramudu (1955), Mangalya Balam (1958), Batasari (1961), Mooga Manasulu (1964), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Prem Nagar (1971), Dharma Daata (1970) and Dussehra Bullodu (1971), Premabhishekam (1981) and Meghasandesham (1982).
He later turned a character actor and worked with many young and talented actors during the end of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. ANR dedicated his entire life to the cinema and dubbing for Manam from the hospital bed is one incident that tells his love for cinema!
He was awarded Dadasaheb Falke Award, Padma Sri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Bhushan awards by the government of India. He even grabbed National Award, Filmfare Awards, and Nandi Awards.
He fought cancer in his last days like a real hero and inspired so many lives. Today marks his birth anniversary and one else can ever replace him in the film industry, as he just lives on.
ANR Lives On!
