PM Modi pays tribute to NTR on his 103rd birth anniversary
Synopsis
On NTR’s 103rd birth anniversary, PM Modi invoked the Telugu icon’s welfare legacy and linked it directly to the current NDA government in Andhra Pradesh — a signal that NTR’s political memory remains very much alive in the BJP-TDP alliance calculus. CM Chandrababu Naidu, NTR’s own successor, also paid homage, underscoring how the founder’s legacy continues to anchor TDP’s identity.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to NTR on his 103rd birth anniversary on 28 May via a post on X.
NTR appeared in over 300 films and founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 .
He became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh after the 1983 landslide election.
His government introduced a subsidised rice scheme at Rs 2 per kilogram , among other welfare initiatives.
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu also offered tribute, calling NTR a “modern social reformer.” NTR passed away in January 1996 in Hyderabad following a heart attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 28 May paid tribute to legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) on the occasion of his 103rd birth anniversary, honouring his enduring legacy in both Telugu cinema and Indian politics.
What PM Modi Said
Modi took to social media platform X to share his tribute. “Tributes to the great NTR Garu on his birth anniversary. He is fondly remembered for his commitment towards public welfare and governance which ensured dignity for the poor and marginalised. His contributions to cinema continue to captivate generations. His life and ideals remain a source of immense inspiration. The NDA Government in Andhra Pradesh, under the leadership of my friend Chandrababu Naidu Garu, is committed to advancing the aspirations he cherished for the people,” Modi wrote.
NTR’s Cinematic Legacy
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, born on 28 May 1923 in Nimmakuru, Andhra Pradesh, appeared in over 300 films and is widely credited with shaping the identity of Telugu cinema. He began his professional life as a government sub-registrar before resigning to pursue acting, making his film debut with Mana Desam in 1949.
NTR earned widespread acclaim for his portrayals of Hindu mythological figures, most notably in Maya Bazaar (1957) and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977). His screen presence earned him the title “Viswa Vikhyatha Nata Sarvabhouma” — meaning “Universally Renowned Emperor of Acting” — a measure of the reverence he commanded among Telugu audiences.
Political Career and the Rise of TDP
At the age of 60, NTR entered politics and founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982, anchoring his campaign on Telugu pride and self-respect. In the 1983 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, the TDP secured a historic landslide, ending decades of Indian National Congress (INC) dominance in the state. He became the first non-Congress Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
His government introduced several welfare-oriented initiatives, most notably a subsidised rice scheme providing rice at Rs 2 per kilogram, alongside rural development programmes that became a defining feature of his political identity.
In 1984, while recovering from heart surgery in the United States, NTR was briefly removed from office in a political manoeuvre led by Nadendla Bhaskara Rao. He returned to power following a wave of public support, and later served a third term as Chief Minister beginning in 1994. In 1995, his son-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu assumed party leadership with the backing of a majority of MLAs.
Andhra Pradesh CM Naidu’s Homage
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu also paid tribute on social media. Writing in Telugu, Naidu described NTR as one who “left an indelible mark as Rama, as Krishna” in cinema and “shone as a pole star” in politics. “He was the modern social reformer who brought massive changes to the lives of Telugu people. I offer my heartfelt homage once again to that epochal figure,” Naidu said.
A Legacy That Endures
NTR passed away following a heart attack in January 1996 in Hyderabad, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape Telugu cultural and political identity. His 103rd birth anniversary drew tributes from political leaders across the spectrum, reflecting the cross-generational resonance of his life’s work.
Point of View
Invoking NTR on every anniversary is a reminder to voters of its founding ethos at a time when the party is a junior partner in a national coalition. What is often underplayed is the tension in that legacy: NTR built TDP on anti-Congress Telugu pride, yet today’s TDP governs alongside the BJP — a realignment NTR himself never made. The anniversary tribute, warm as it is, quietly papers over that contradiction.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was NTR and why is he remembered?
Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (1923–1996) was a legendary Telugu actor, filmmaker, and politician who appeared in over 300 films and founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982. He is remembered for transforming Telugu cinema through mythological roles and for welfare-oriented governance as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
Why did PM Modi pay tribute to NTR on 28 May 2025?
28 May marks NTR’s birth anniversary — he was born on 28 May 1923, making this his 103rd birth anniversary. PM Modi posted a tribute on X honouring NTR’s contributions to public welfare, governance, and Telugu cinema.
What political legacy did NTR leave behind?
NTR founded the Telugu Desam Party in 1982 and led it to a historic 1983 election victory, becoming the first non-Congress Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. His government introduced the subsidised rice scheme at Rs 2 per kilogram, which became a landmark welfare measure.
What did CM Chandrababu Naidu say about NTR?
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu paid homage on social media in Telugu, describing NTR as one who left an indelible mark in cinema as Rama and Krishna, and ‘shone as a pole star’ in politics. He called NTR a ‘modern social reformer’ who brought massive changes to Telugu people’s lives.
When did NTR pass away and what was his cause of death?
NTR passed away in January 1996 in Hyderabad following a heart attack. He was 72 at the time of his death, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape Telugu cultural and political identity.
