Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) was one of the most prominent and respected actors in the Telugu film industry, known for his versatile roles and contributions to Indian cinema. He was one of the founding pillars of Telugu cinema and a cultural icon, admired for his performances and charismatic presence on screen. Below are the full details of his life and career:
1. Early Life:
Full Name: Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Date of Birth: September 20, 1924
Place of Birth: Venkatraghavapuram (present-day Gudivada), Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Parents: Akkineni Sanjeeva Rao (father) and Akkinen Rukminamma (mother)
Family Background: ANR came from a family with no connection to the film industry. His early life was spent in the village of Gudivada, where he received his schooling before moving to Chennai to pursue acting.
2. Early Career and Entry into Films:
Debut Film:Dharmapatni (1941) – ANR made his debut as an actor in this film at the age of 17, which marked the beginning of a successful and illustrious career.
First Major Role: He played the lead role in Balanagamma (1942), which was his first major success, leading to his recognition as an actor in the Telugu film industry.
Personal Life:
Family:
Wife: Akkineni Nageswara Rao married Annapurna in 1949. They had a strong, supportive relationship.
Children: ANR had two children. His son, Akkineni Nagarjuna, became one of the leading actors in Telugu cinema. His daughter, Savitri, is married and settled in the United States.
Philanthropy: Apart from his acting career, ANR was involved in various social causes, particularly in the field of education and healthcare, and contributed significantly to the welfare of the Telugu people.
Year-wise Filmography
Year
Film
Role
1941
Dharma Patni
Student (one of ten school children in a song)
1944
Sri Seeta Rama Jananam
Lord Rama
1945
Mayalokam
Sarabandi Raju
1946
Mugguru Maratilu
Firoji
1947
Palnati Yuddham
Balachandrudu
1948
Ratnamala
Chandrakanth
Balaraju
Balaraju
1949
Keelu Gurram
Vikrama
Raksha Rekha
Sudhakar
Laila Majnu
Qais/Majnu
1950
Sri Lakshmamma Katha
Venkayya Naidu
Palletoori Pilla
Vasanth
Paramanandayya Sishyulu
Chandrasena
Swapna Sundari
Prabhu
Samsaram
Venu
1951
Tilottama
Deva Duttudu
Soudamini
Udaysena
Mayalamari
Raghu
Mantra Dandam
Siva Prasad
Stree Sahasam
Raja Sekhara
1952
Prema
Raja
1953
Paradesi
Chandram
Bratuku Teruvu
Mohan Rao
Kanna Talli
Ramu
Vayyari Bhama
Chadrayya
Devadasu
Devadas
1954
Nirupedalu
Narayana
Chakrapani
Venkatachalam
Parivartana
Satyam
Vipra Narayana
Vipranarayana
Annadata
Bangarayya
1955
Missamma
A.K. Raju
Ardhangi
Raghavendra Rao
Rojulu Marayi
Venu
Anarkali
Saleem
Santaanam
Ramu
Vadina
Raghu
Donga Ramudu
Ramu
1956
Tenali Ramakrishna
Tenali Ramakrishna
Bhale Ramudu
Ramakrishna
Ilavelpu
Shekar
Charana Daasi
Venu
1957
Thodi Kodallu
Satyam
Sati Savitri
Satyavanthudu
Mayabazar
Abhimanyu
Allavuddin Adbhutadeepam
Allavuddin
Suvarna Sundari
Jayanth
Dongallo Dora
Anand
1958
Bhookailas
Narada
Chenchu Lakshmi
Vishnu
Sri Krishna Maya
Narada
Aada Pettanam
Krishna
Pellinaati Pramanalu
Krishna Rao
1959
Mangalya Balam
Chandra Shekar
Pelli Sandadi
Mr. Nath / Vasu
Jayabheri
Kasinath Sastry
Illarikam
Venu
1960
Nammina Bantu
Prasad
Santhi Nivasam
Gopi
Mahakavi Kalidasu
Kalidasu
Pelli Kanuka
Bhaskar
Abhimanam
Venu
Runanubandham
Suryam
Maa Babu
Dr. Anand
1961
Velugu Needalu
Chandra Shekar
Bharya Bhartalu
Anand
Bhakta Jayadeva
Jayadeva
Batasari
Surendra
Vagdanam
Dr. Suryam
Sabhash Raja
Raja
Iddaru Mitrulu
Ajay & Vijay (dual role)
1962
Aradhana
Dr. Krishna
Manchi Manasulu
Venu
Gundamma Katha
Raja
Kalimilemulu
Raju
Kula Gotralu
Ravi
Siri Sampadalu
Prasad
1963
Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu
Arjuna
Chaduvukunna Ammayilu
Shekar
Punarjanma
Gopi
1964
Pooja Phalam
Madhu
Bhakta Ramadasu
Lord Vishnu
Aathma Balam
Anand
Mooga Manasulu
Gopi
Murali Krishna
Dr. Krishna
Amara Silpi Jakkanna
Jakkanna
Doctor Chakravarty
Dr. Chakravarti
1965
Sumangali
Viswam
Antastulu
Raghu
Preminchi Choodu
Ranga Rao
Manushulu Mamathalu
Venu
1966
Zamindar
Seshagiri Rao / Seshu
Aatma Gowravam
Srinivasa Rao
Navaratri
Multiple Roles (Nine roles)
Manase Mandiram
Dr. Raghu
Year
Film
Role
1967
Gruhalakshmi
Chitti Babu
Prana Mithrulu
Chinna
Sati Sumathi
Lord Vishnu
Vasantha Sena
Chaarudattudu
Rahasyam
Mandakudu
Poola Rangadu
Ranga Rao
1968
Brahmachari
Ramakrishna
Manchi Kutumbam
Venu Gopal Rao
Govula Gopanna
Gopi & Shekar (dual role)
Sudigundalu
Justice Chandra Shekar
Bangaru Gaajulu
Ramu / Ravi
1969
Adrushtavanthulu
Raghu
Mooga Nomu
Venu
Bandipotu Dongalu
Krishna / Kanna
Aadarsa Kutumbam
Prasad
Aatmiyulu
Suryam
Bhale Rangadu
Ranga
Buddhimantudu
Madhavachary & Gopi (dual role)
Sipayi Chinnayya
Chinnayya & Bhaskar (dual role)
1970
Akka Chellelu
Justice Ramchandra Rao Raju (dual role)
Jai Jawan
Captain Ravindranath
Maro Prapancham
Ravindranath
Dharma Daata
Raja Raghupathi Rao Sekhar (dual role)
Iddaru Ammayilu
Madhusudhana Rao
1971
Dasara Bullodu
Gopi
Manasu Mangalyam
Ravindra Babu
Pavitra Bandham
Ashok / Raja
Rangeli Raja
Raja
Suputhrudu
Gopi
Amaayakuraalu
Shekar
Srimanthudu
Raja
Prema Nagar
Kalyan
1972
Bharya Biddalu
Mohan
Raitu Kutumbam
Ramu
Beedala Patlu
Kotayya / Dayanidhi / K. V. Purushotham
Manchi Rojulu Vachchaayi
Gopalam
Datta Putrudu
Ramanna
Vichitra Bandham
Madhav
Koduku Kodalu
Raja Shekar
1973
Bangaru Babu
Buchi Babu
Kanna Koduku
Krishna
Bhakta Tukaram
Tukaram
Palletoori Bava
Yedukondalu
Andala Ramudu
Seetarama Rao
Marapurani Manishi
Abbi
Manchivadu
Anand & Satyam (dual role)
1974
Premalu Pellillu
Dr. Madhu
Bangaaru Kalalu
Ravi
Dorababu
Chandram
1976
Mahakavi Kshetrayya
Varadayya / Kshetrayya
Secretary
Raja Shekar
Mahatmudu
Venu Gopal
1977
Chakradhari
Gora Kumbhar
Aalu Magalu
Dr. Gopi Krishna
Bangaru Bommalu
Gopi
Raja Ramesh
Raja Ramesh
Chanakya Chandragupta
Chanakya
Aatmiyudu
Ranga
1978
Chilipi Krishnudu
Dr. Krishna
Devadasu Malli Puttadu
Devadas / Sridhar Raja
Vichitra Jeevitham
Chandra Shekar
Rama Krishnulu
Krishna
Sri Rama Raksha
Ramu & Gopi (dual role)
Ravanude Ramudayithe?
Nagaraju
1979
Hema Hemeelu
Red Lion Raghuveer Ramachandra (dual role)
Muddula Koduku
Gopi
Andaman Ammayi
Shekar
1980
Yedanthasthula Meda
Ranga Rao & Venu (dual role)
Nayakudu Vinayakudu
Chiranjeevi
Buchi Babu
Buchi Babu
Pilla Zamindar
Madhu & Balaaraju (dual role)
1981
Srivari Muchatlu
Gopi
Premabhishekam
Rajesh
Guru Sishyulu
Kalyan
Satyam Shivam
Satyam
Prema Kanuka
Raja Shekar
Prema Mandiram
Pedababu Sarva Rayudu Chinnababu (dual role)
1982
Raaga Deepam
Chakravarthy
Bangaru Kanuka
Ramesh
Gopala Krishnudu
Gopala Krishna Dr.Murthy (dual role)
Meghasandesam
Ravindra Babu
Yuvaraju
Rajesh
1983
Muddula Mogudu
Prasad
Oorantha Sankranthi
Venu
Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu
Ramu & Krishna (dual role)
Bahudoorapu Batasari
Prasad
Amarajeevi
Dr. Murali
Sri Ranga Neethulu
Rajesh
Year
Film
Role
1984
Koteeswarudu
Krishna
Tandava Krishnudu
Chakravarthy
Anubandham
Rajesh
Adarshavanthudu
Sridhar
Vasantha Geetam
Kumar
S. P. Bhayankar
Father James / S.P. John Yugandhar (dual role)
Justice Chakravarthy
Justice Chakravarthy / Kalyan (dual role)
Sangeeta Samrat
Kalyan
Bharyabhartala Bandham
Sanjeevi
1985
Dampatyam
Dr. Satya Murthy
Illale Devata
Gopi Krishna
1986
Aadi Dampatulu
Shankar Rao
Brahma Rudrulu
Jagadish Chandra Prasad
Guru Brahma
Not Available
1987
Collector Gari Abbai
Collector Ramakantha Rao
Agni Putrudu
Hari Hara Bhardwaja
Aatma Bandhuvulu
Anand Rao
1988
Rao Gari Illu
Anand Rao
1989
Rajakeeya Chadarangam
CM Satya Murthy
Bhale Dampathulu
Anand Rao
Sutradharulu
Hanumathdasu
1990
Rao Gari Intlo Rowdy
Anand Rao
Iddaru Iddare
Justice Madhusudhan Rao
Dagudumuthala Dampathyam
Raja Sekharam
1991
Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu
Sitaramayya
1992
Pranadaata
Dr. Chakravarthy
Raguluthunna Bharatham
Raghupathi
Madhavayya Gari Manavadu
Madhavayya
College Bullodu
Gopala Krishna
1993
Rajeswari Kalyanam
Master
Ratha Saradhi
Collector Raja Shekaram
Mechanic Alludu
Jagannatham
1994
Bangaru Kutumbam
Srinivasa Rao
Gandeevam
Chakravarthy
Theerpu
Justice Ram Mohan Rao
1995
God Father
Raja Shekaram
Maya Bazaar
Krishna Rao
1996
Rayudugaru Nayudugaru
Rayudu / Gudavalli Sarva Rayudu
1998
Pandaga
Suryadevara Lakshmi Raghava Varaprasad
Sri Sita Ramula Kalyanam Chootamu Raarandi
Ramachandra Raju
Daddy Daddy
Anand Rao
2000
Pelli Sambandham
Sitaramayya / Kaasi
2001
Sakutumba Saparivaara Sametam
Janaki Ramayya
2006
Chukkallo Chandrudu
Krishna Rao
Sri Ramadasu
Kabir Das
2011
Sri Rama Rajyam
Valmiki
2014
Manam
Chaitanya
2022
Pratibimbalu
Not Available
Awards & Honors
Year
Award / Honor
Presented By / For
1963
Padma Shri
Government of India
1976
Padma Bhushan
Government of India
1980
Raghupathi Venkaiah Award
Lifetime achievement in Telugu cinema
1988
Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Lifetime contribution to Indian cinema
1991
NTR National Award
Government of Andhra Pradesh
1996
Kalaimamani
Government of Tamil Nadu
2001
Nandi Award – Best Actor
For Seetharamayya Gari Manavaralu
2011
Padma Vibhushan
Government of India
2014
ANR National Award (posthumous tribute)
Instituted in his name (ongoing annual honor)
Various
Filmfare Awards South
Multiple wins for Best Actor (Telugu)
Death:
Date of Death: January 22, 2014
Cause of Death: Akkineni Nageswara Rao passed away at the age of 89 due to cancer, which he had been battling for some time. His death marked the end of an era in Telugu cinema, leaving behind a huge void in the industry.