A 18 year old teenager, who entered into films as a hero turned into a "Star-Actor" by the completion of his first decade. Yes, I am talking about NTR.Jr, who would fondly called as "Tarak" by his lovely fans. Wonder why I called him with two different images Star and Actor instead star or actor??? Now-a-days, a hero has only one choice to go for. Either to be call as a star or an actor. A star, cannot do all kind of roles beyond his image but can commercially help his film with his star image. For an actor, can do any kind of role beyond his image but commercial success of his film is rare. Only the few legends like NTR, Amitabh bacchan fullfilled both as a star and an actor. So, u will understand why I called NTR.Jr as "Star-Actor" after reading this article.
If we exactly go back for 10 years, on Nov 16, 2000 NTR.Jr had his first shoot as the hero for his first film "Ninnu Chudalani" and the movie released on May 23, 2001. With the brand name of "Nandamuri" and his first name as "Taraka Ramarao", had delivered his first hit with "Student no.1" directed by SS Rajamouli (fondly called as "jakkanna" by NTR.Jr). His acting skills were good in the movie. Also it was his first commercial success which gave him new energy to continue his career. Also the same film gave birth to the mighty director SS Rajamouli. "Aadi", directed by VV Vinayak, showed NTR.Jr in a ferocious role which gave him a complete mass look and proved him as an "Actor" with the popular formula "Rayalaseema Backdrop". His acting skills were highly improved with the role of "Aadi Kesava reddy" and he excelled in dialogues. The dialog "Amma thodu..." is still popular as it is from his very recent flicks. NTR.Jr has created many historical records at his 20 and very small age as a hero, with just 3 years experience. Yes, that is none other than "Simhadri" which turned NTR.Jr as "Good Actor" cum great dancer and surpassed all the previous records of Telugu cinema and brought him stardom and demigod image. This image was first carried by NTR, krishna and that image continued by Balakrishna, Chiranjeevi in the next generation. From "Simhadri" the telugu cinema audience started considering NTR.Jr as "God of Masses" for the present generation. By simhadri, NTR.Jr became a Hero turned Star and Hero growing as an Actor.
Apart from these successes and huge following, NTR.Jr had overcome many hurdles in his film journey. Sometimes over-expectations by fans leads to failures. This is what happened for NTR.Jr after his high voltage action flick "Simhadri". Many of his films which released post simhadri like Andhrawala, Na alludu, Narasimhudu never satisfied his fans as much as "Simhadri" did. Samba and Ashok were accepted by his fans which were rejected by normal cinegoer and families due to excessive-violence. Even people like me get over-bored with his continuous mass flicks. His series of flops continued for 3+ years. The later film "Rakhee", directed by Krishna Vamsi also commercially didn't work out, but had gained critical applause. The maturity in his acting levels are highly improved and turned him to "Great Actor". But with series of flops and over-bored mass flicks he had lost grip in family audience, ladies and college-going youth.
After "Simhadri", NTR.Jr had bounced back with his high energy and delivered a blockbuster for that year with "Yamadonga", which is a socio-fantasy, directed by his jakkanna. This is a very special film for NTR.Jr, his fans and SS Rajamouli. NTR.Jr has changed his fat look with "Yamadonga". His new look and getup as "Yama" fascinated everyone and proved him as "Mighty Actor". His dancing skills were doubled with Yamadonga and his step in "Nachore" song became as popular as several TV shows were telecasted with that name. And for the same movie he lend his voice for his song for the first time as a professional singer. With his later flick "kantri", NTR.Jr had completely changed his look, showed versatility in dialog delivery, he excelled in dance as usual. "Adurs", directed by VV Vinayak, which made a demigod, Mass super star NTR.Jr, as a chari, who filled theaters with laughs. That was a real experiment from him and critically applauded thing which shut off the mouths of critics. Kudos to his courage for doing that role. With this movie the mighty actor in him turned as "Magnificent Actor". With his latest flick "Brindaavanam" directed by Vamsi Paidapally, NTR.Jr had reduced 80% of his regular mass content in films. For the first time, the demigod, NTR.Jr had appeared as Lover Boy in the flick. He showed versatility in his action and dialogues. "Brindaavanam" turned magnificent actor NTR.Jr into "Star-Actor" who can fit for any role.
Yes., NTR.Jr who entered into films as a hero gained "Star" image with "Simhadri" and proved himself as a perfect actor with flicks like "Rakhee", "Yamadonga", "Adhurs" and "Brindavanam". Telugu Film Industry should feel proud to be have a "Star-Actor" like him. Irrespective of Hits and flops, NTR.Jr from South Indian Cinema made both Star image and Actor image possible for just in a decade for which some heroes took many decades and some heroes not even made possible any one of them. One more appreciable quality in NTR is his way of treating both success and failure in the same way. He is being called as NTR.Jr just to differentiate him from his grandfather NTR, but no more he is junior. Kudos to NTR for his Dedication, Passion, Commitment towards films.
On the eve, I am congratulating him for the successful completion of the decade and wishing "Star-Actor" a very all the best for his mighty future.
- Harsha
