NTR was a actor in telugu film industry.He started his career, playing a Police Inspector in the movie Mana Desam.He was encouraged and given opportunities by Raghupathi Surya Prakash Naidu son of Raghupathi Venkaiah Though widely recognized for playing mythological characters, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao is considered as one of the two greatest actors in Telugu film industry the other being Akkineni Nageswara Rao. His portrayal of Lord Krishna in Maya Bazaar produced by B. Nagi Reddy, Vijaya Productions, was the turning point in his life. His portrayal of Ravana and avatars of Vishnu, especially Rama and Krishna; mesmerized an entire generation who saw the face of Dr.Rao when these gods were mentioned.
Dr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao had a major contribution to Telugu film making, between 1950 and 1965. Analysts believe that the Telugu film industry produced some of the best mythological movies from India, while the Tamil and malayalam movie industry produced socially-oriented films.
An important factor that made him a great actor was his ability to deliver extremely lengthy dialogues that were original verses from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata with a fervor and command unmatched by most of his contemporaries. Generally, he played multiple roles in the same movie, which increased the number of dialogues and hence required preparation time.
Dr. Rama Rao was versatile in Dialog Delivery and Mannerisms. His ability to deliver lengthy dialogues without mistakes. In Tamil Nadu, Sivaji Ganesan who was much better known for striking a balance between various kinds of cinema namely commercial,Mythological and Social oriented movies . NTR like his contemparies namely Sivaji Ganesan and RajKumar the kannada film legend struck a balance between both kinds of cinema . He used to perform roles in mythological movies and even do commercial Janapadham (where the adventurous prince saves the damsel in distress) films like Sivaji Ganesan and RajKumar . It was not a surprise, that he established as Numero-Uno Actor of Telugu Filmdom.
Shri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao played the role of Lord Krishna not only in Telugu movies, but also in Tamil and Kannada movies. While the megastars—Ramachandran, Shivaji Ganesan,Prem Naseer and Rajkumar vied for the roles of other Mahabharata heroes like Karna, Arjuna and Bhima, there was no denying that he would be the only one to play Lord Krishna.
One of his greatest janapadams was "Jagadekaveeruni katha" (the story of the universal hero) where he plays the role of Pratap, the prince of Ujjain. He dreams of celestial damsels as his wives, but on revealing the dream to his father, he is banished from the kingdom. The heroic prince then does the impossible — passing the various tests put to him, winning the celestial damsels and bringing them home to his kingdom. Another one of his janapadams was "Gulebakavali katha" (the story of Gulebakavali) where he plays the role of a prince who sets out to the heavens to bring the flower named "Gulebakavali" in order to cure his poisoned father, even winning Indra's daughter in the process.
Shri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao stopped playing the role of the prince in films, and Instead played the roles of a poor yet heroic young man against the system in his kingdom. To the millions of the denizens in Andhra Pradesh, he became 'one of us'—one who assures the poor that he is there to rescue them from the wicked traitors in the kingdom.
The most notable movies acted by Rao in mythological characters are Maya Bazaar (Sri Krishna), Lava Kusa (Lord Rama), Sri Krishnaarjuna Yuddham (Sri Krishna), Bheeshma (Bheeshma), Bhookailasa(Raavana), Nartanasala (Arjuna also as Bruhannala), Panadava-vanavsam (Bheema), Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (Lord Venkateswara), Maha Mantri Thimmarusu (Sri Krishna Devarayalu) and Dana Veera Sura Karna (Duryodhana, Sri Krishna, Karna)which created a record in telugu film industry,Apart from these he played a variety of roles in folklore characters like Jagadeka Veeruni Katha, Pathala Bhairavi etc. On the social front he played roles in the movies Malliswari, Kanyasulkam, Gundamma Katha, Missamma, Raktha Sambandham, Ramudu Bheemudu, Devudu Chesina Manushulu, Adavi Ramudu, Vetagadu, Gajadonga, Driver Ramudu, Sardar Paparayudu, Kondaveeti Simham, Justice Chowdary, Bobbili Puli etc. He acted in over 280 movies in the lead role.
He also donned the roles of an elderly teacher (Badi Pantulu) becoming a model to his pupils, as a prince and a pauper (Raju-Peda), as down-to-earth servant dedicated to his master (Aatma Bhanduvu).
In addition to his purely artistic contributions to the Telugu movies, he built the Rama Krishna Film studios, and was very active in shifting the Telugu film industry from Madras to Hyderabad. This created the first sophisticated service industry in the agrarian state. He actively campaigned for the construction of a large number of movie theaters in rural locations and was influential in designing and implementing a financial system that funded the production and distribution of movies.
Later in his career, starting 1970's, he took to social dramas in a big way. Though aged now, he took to modern fashion. Bell-Bottom pants, Cowboy hats got added to his trade mark cigar moustache. Producers lined up a series of new-age actresses. Konda Veeti Simham, Vetagadu, Bobbili Puli, Justice Chowdhary saw the young and talented Sridevi with him. Adavi Ramudu, Yugandhar (Remake of Amitabh Bachchan's Don (1978 film),) saw Jayasudha, while Jayaprada paired with him in Adavi Ramudu.
with well wishers MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Director Sridhar in a meeting in chennaiNTR's mind was always craving for better roles and he kept satisfying his fans with regal performances in Sardar Paparayudu, Srimad Virata parvam.
When his son Nandamuri Balakrishna came of age, he took to direction delivering a classic Saleem Anarkali. He did pursue direction, however owing to lack of time or so, he could not direct as many movies, as he wanted to.
