Akkineni Nageswara Rao
- Acting
- September 20, 1923 · Ramapuram, Madras Presidency, British India
- January 22, 2014
Biography
Akkineni Nageswara Rao (September 20, 1923 – January 22, 2014), known by the initialism ANR, was an Indian actor and film producer who worked predominantly in Telugu cinema alongside appearances in Tamil films. After starting in theatre and making his screen debut in *Dharmapatni* (1941), he achieved his breakthrough as a leading man in the folklore fantasy *Balaraju* (1948) and the romance *Keelu Gurram* (1949). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, he established himself as a central figure in South Indian cinema, headlining the tragic romance *Devadasu* (1953), the social comedies *Missamma* (1955) and *Gundamma Katha* (1962), the mythological drama *Mayabazar* (1957), and the drama *Doctor Chakravarthy* (1964). In the 1970s and 1980s, Rao continued as a commercial lead in the romantic drama *Prema Nagar* (1971), the musical drama *Meghasandesam* (1982), and the romance *Premabhishekam* (1981). Beginning in the 1990s, he transitioned into senior character roles, starring in the family drama *Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu* (1991), *Bangaru Kutumbam* (1994), and the devotional features *Sri Ramadasu* (2006) and *Sri Rama Rajyam* (2011). His final screen appearance was in the fantasy drama *Manam* (2014), which he also co-produced. Beyond acting, he established Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. For his contributions to cinema, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1990, followed by the Padma Vibhushan in 2011.
Known for
Filmography
- Pratibimbalu
- Manam · Chaitanya, Producer
- Sri Rama Rajyam · Valmiki
- Jayeebhava · Ram's Grandfather
- Sri Ramadasu · Kabirdas
- Chukkallo Chandrudu
- Sakutumba Saparivara Sametam · Janakiramayya
- Sri Sitaramula Kalyanam Chutamu Rarandi
- Pandaga · Suryadevara Lakshmi Raghava Vara Prasad
- Rayudugaru Nayudugaru
- Gandeevam · Chakravarthy
- Bangaru Kutumbam · Srinivasa Rao
- Mechanic Alludu · Jagannatham
- Rajeswari Kalyanam
- College Bullodu · Gopala Krishna
- Pranadaata · Dr. Chakravarthy
- Seetharamaiah Gari Manavaralu · Seetharamaiah
- Iddaru Iddare
- Dagudumuthala Dampathyam · Raja Shekaram
- Sutradhaarulu
- Rao Gari Illu · Anand Rao
- Rajakiya Chadurangam · Chief Minister Satya Murthy
- Agni Putrudu
- Collector Gari Abbai · Collector Rama Kantha Rao
- Brahma Rudrulu
- Illale Devatha · Gopi Krishna
- Bharyabhartala Bandham · Sanjeevi
- Justice Chakravarthy · Justice Chakravarthy / Kalyan
- Tandava Krishnudu · Chakravarthy
- Sriranga Neethulu · Rajesh
- Bahudoorapu Batasari · Prasad
- Oorantha Sankranthi · Venu
- Muddula Mogudu · Prasad
- Meghasandesam · Ravindra Babu
- Bangaru Kanuka
- Yuvaraju
- Prema Mandiram · Pedababu Sarvarayudu / Chinnababu
- Prema Kanuka · Raja Shekaram
- Guru Sishyulu · Kalyan
- Premabhishekam · Rajesh
- Pilla Zamindar
- Nayakudu Vinayakudu · Chiranjeevi
- Yedanthasthula Meda · Ranga Rao & Venu (Dual role)
- Hema Hemeelu · Red Lion Raghuveer & Rama Chandra
- Ravanude Ramudaithe
- Vichitra Jeevitham · Chandra Shekar
- Chilipi Krishnudu · Krishna
- Chanakya Chandragupta · Chanakya
- Mahakavi Ashethrayya · Varadhayya
- Andala Ramudu · Ramudu
- Bhakta Tukaram · Tukaram
- Bharatha Vilas · Telugu actor
- Bangaru Babu · Buchi Babu
- Koduku Kodalu · Raja Shekar
- Prema Nagar
- Srimanthudu · Raja
- Dasara Bullodu
- Dharma Daata · Raja Raghupathi Rao & Sekhar
- Maro Prapancham · Special CBI Officer Ravindra Nath, Producer
- Akka Chellelu · Justice Ramachandra Rao / Raju
- Aathmeeyulu · Suryam
- Aadarsa Kutumbam · Prasad
- Mooga Nomu · Venu
- Adrushtavanthulu · Raghu
- Manchi Kutumbam · Venu Gopal Rao
- Sudigundalu · Gumasta
- Rahasyam · Mandakudu
- Vasantha Sena · Chaaru Datta
- Aastiparulu · Krishna / Seenu
- Manase Mandiram · Dr. Raghu
- Navaratri
- Zamindar
- Antastulu · Raghu
- Aatma Gowravam
- Doctor Chakravarthy · Dr. Chakravarthy
- Mooga Manasulu
- Aatma Balam · Anand
- Pooja Phalamu
- Punarjanma
- Chaduvukunna Ammayilu · Sekhar