List of Snippets

'SURYAKANTHAM'…is a name, no Telugu parents dare to select for their girl child. The reason is obvious. The name is synonymous with a brawling and peevish lady. That is the power of Suryakantham. It shows how the lady made a big mark on Telugu people with her roles. But if you can look at the otherside of the coin, there is an interesting aspect in this matter. There is not even a slightest similarity between the Suryakantham, we see on the screen and the Suryakantham in the real life. Let us see the off-screen personality of Suryakantham.

Suryakantham was born in Kakinada. She was very mischievous in her childhood. Ramalakshmi, wife of famous Telugu writer Aarudra, Suryakantham are classmates and buddies. They both were notorious for their pranks.  Teasing the school teachers, cycling around the town etc. In the teenage, she was attracted to theatre. She used to act in dramas played by Youngmen's Happy Club in Kakinada. Then she was selected for movie roles by some producers. Her first film was Soudamini, in the year 1949. But her first break came in the year 1950 with the role in Samsaram. From then onwards, she became the first choice for gayyali lady roles. Mother-in-law, who harasses daughter-in-law, jealousy daughter-in-law, dominant wife of a hen-pecked husband etc. are the roles, she used to play. Whatever the character she played, in the end, she realized her follies and claps her cheeks. But there is 'chalk and cheese' like difference between her on screen image and real personality. She was a very good human being. She used to cook several type of tasty delicacies at home and bring them to the shooting spot and serve them for the fellow members of the unit. She was very good cook. She has very charitable nature also. Whenever any calamity occurred in Andhra Pradesh and cine artists started charity programme, Suryakantham donated big amounts of money. 

Alluri Sitarama Raju is a milestone in the career of the super star Krishna, who was conferred with Padma Vibhushan recently by the Government of India. It is a film, Krishna and his fans feel proud of, even now. It was released on May 1st 1974 and went on to become one of the biggest and prestigious movies in Telugu film industry. The movie, which gave Krishna a unusual success, also made his life miserable for a brief period, i.e. two years. Let us see how it happened.

Alluri Sitarama Raju was a real story of our own Telugu freedom fighter, who revolted against British rule, even before Gandhi and Nehru. The movie was made with good screenplay, dialogues, music and production values. It brought not only money, but also critical acclaim to Krishna. The title role, played by him, made such a strong impact on Telugu audience that not even single film, out of the 13 of his movies followed Alluri Sitarama Raju, was a hit. For a period of two years, Krishna could not taste success. In one moment, he thought his career was over and it only lasted ten years(he entered cine field in 1965). But he didn't leave hope. That is why he was called Dashing and Daring hero. One producer saved him from that situation. He is none other than Krishna himself. In the direction of P.Chandra sekhar Reddy, who is known for village stories, Krishna started a movie, Paadi Pantalu ,in 1975. It was released in 1976 January for the Sankranthi season and became a super hit. Krishna again came into main stream.

In the Film industry indiscipline is considered as a common thing and anarchy is prevalent everywhere. Irregular life style, non-adherence of moral values and boozing are order of the day. Coming late to the sets and making all fellow actors and unit members to wait is a fashion for stars. But one person is odd man out in this type of setup. He is none other than our own Vishwa Vikhyatha, Nata Saarvabhouma Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao.

NTR’s lifestyle, discipline, professionalism, commitment to the work family are extraordinary. He wakes up very early in the morning, i.e. at 3.00am. The time is called ‘Brahmi Muhurtham’ in Hindu scriptures and it is said as an auspicious time for beginning any work. After doing physical exercises, he completes his morning wash and bath. At 4.00am, his personal makeup-man Pithambaram comes and starts make-up. At that time itself, NTR goes through his programme for the day and studies the scenes, to be picturised on him, on that day. By 5.00am, he is ready with makeup. He was never late, even for one minute, whether it is shooting or any appointment.

As for his food habits, he is a teetotaler. Forget about liquor, he even does not smoke. In the early days he used to eat jarda pan, but with LV Prasad advising that it would take away the sheen of the teeth, NTR stopped that habit. And then, he is a great food lover with varied interests in veg. and non-veg. varieties. But when playing mythological characters, particularly like Rama and Krishna, he avoids non-vegetarian food. At that time he used to follow a yogi like lifestyle. Sleeping on floor, taking less solid food, keeping silent for the most of the time and following yoga are some of the things he follow. Even he does not allow fellow actors and technicians to smoke on the sets during that time. Some sources say he used to smoke one ‘pogaaku chutta’(cigar) every morning. In financial matters also he is very disciplined. Though people allege that he is a miser, he never after other’s money or easy money.

He knows nothing but cinema until he enters into politics. At the time of entering politics, he himself admitted that he hasn’t the habit of reading newspaper.

Because of this discipline and ideal habits only he could rule the both the fields he entered, movies and politics.