ANR 100th Birth Anniversary: Celebrating Akkineni Nageswara Rao, the Pioneer of Dance in Tollywood

Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR), one of the foundational pillars of Tollywood, needs no special introduction. Recognized as a Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient, Padma Vibhushan, and Natasamrat, he left an indelible mark on the industry. Born on September 20, 1924, as his centenary completes today, fans globally are celebrating his 100th birth anniversary. Although widely known as a legendary actor, not everyone is aware that he was also an excellent dancer. In fact, he was the one who introduced dance to Tollywood, a fact that might be unknown to this generation. Let’s delve into this special report to learn more about it.

The Pioneer of Dance in Tollywood

Looking back to the early days of Tollywood, dance was not a primary focus when the industry first began. Leading actors were not keen on dancing; their focus was entirely on how to act and express emotions to captivate the audience. This was particularly noticeable between the 1960s and 1970s. When heroines danced, heroes would often just stand by, a point of criticism at the time. However, Akkineni Nageswara Rao completely changed these dynamics. While many associate Tollywood dance primarily with Megastar Chiranjeevi, it was Nageswara Rao who laid the groundwork for dance in the industry, making it an essential skill for heroes, matching and even excelling alongside heroines in dance. At one point, seeing Nageswara Rao’s dance, contemporaries like Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, Superstar Krishna, Shobhan Babu, and Krishnam Raju also began to emphasize dance in their films.

Audiences Mesmerized by Akkineni’s Steps!

In the 1971 film ‘Dasara Bullodu‘, ANR’s performance in the song ‘Ettage Unnadi Olammi’ was mesmerizing. Similarly, in ‘Bangaru Babu’, his dance to ‘Chengavi Rangu Cheera’ electrified audiences who, until then, primarily enjoyed songs for their auditory appeal. Specifically, his dance in ‘Prem Nagar’ for the song ‘Nenu Puttanu Lokam Navvindi’ became a trendsetter. Additionally, his competitive dance with Sridevi in ‘Premabhishekam’ for the song ‘Ne Kallu Chebuthunnayi’ delighted everyone. He also matched steps with Megastar Chiranjeevi in the film ‘Mechanic Alludu’. There’s a long list of such performances, some of which are linked below for a glimpse into his prowess.

Inspired by Nageswara Rao…

Even Megastar Chiranjeevi, known for his dance, was inspired by Nageswara Rao at one point. It’s said that Chiru enhanced the importance of dance in films after watching Nageswara Rao’s movies. In an event, Chiranjeevi made interesting remarks about ANR’s influence, noting that after watching Chiru’s dance, one might wonder if his body actually had any bones at all. Over the decades, as Chiranjeevi became a peerless hero in acting and dancing, he carried forward the legacy initiated by Nageswara Rao, which now continues with stars like Allu Arjun, Ram Charan, NTR, and Ram Pothineni.

Interesting Post by Balakrishna

On the occasion of ANR’s 100th birth anniversary, actor Balakrishna posted a touching tribute, expressing pride in remembering Nageswara Rao. He noted that ANR’s iconic roles and invaluable contributions to Telugu cinema are unforgettable and serve as a guiding light to all actors. Balakrishna urged everyone to express their gratitude for the immense services ANR provided to the film industry, from theater to cinema. His journey is an inspiration to all.

ANR’s Top-10 Film Re-Releases

To commemorate Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s centennial, a series titled ‘ANR 100: King of the Silver Screen’ is re-releasing ten of his classic films from September 20-22 across various cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Warangal, Kakinada, Tumkur, Vadodara, Jalandhar, and Rourkela, among a total of 25 locations. What are these films? What are their plots? Where can you watch them? Let’s find out now.

Devadasu (1951)

In this film, Akkineni Nageswara Rao delivers a remarkable performance as a man who fails in love. The plot revolves around Devadasu, who becomes an alcoholic after society rejects his love for Parvathi. During this turmoil, a courtesan named Chandramukhi falls in love with him. What happens at the end?

Missamma (1955)

Starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri, this film created a sensation at the time. The plot follows two unemployed graduates who pretend to be a married couple to secure teaching jobs in a small village. Over time, they genuinely fall in love with each other. But do they end up together?

Mayabazar (1957)

The story begins with Balarama promising his daughter’s hand in marriage to Subhadra’s son. However, circumstances force Balarama to break his promise when the kingdom falls into the hands of the Kauravas. What follows next?

Bharya Bhartalu (1961)

In this film, Anand falls in love with Sharada, a schoolteacher, who initially rejects him. Over time, Sharada is won over by Anand’s personality. However, just as their love blossoms, Anand’s ex-girlfriend reappears, pressuring him to marry her. What happens next?

Gundamma Katha (1962)

Featuring a successful combination of Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Ramarao, this film was a hit. Gundamma has a son and a daughter but treats her stepdaughter, Lakshmi, as a servant. She plans to marry Lakshmi off to an orphan to keep her as a permanent servant at home, while seeking a wealthy match for her own daughter. The sons of a landlord, Ramabhadrayya, decide to teach her a lesson. What unfolds next?

Dr. Chakravarthy (1964)

Renowned for boosting ANR’s reputation, this film follows Dr. Chakravarthy, who considers Madhavi as his own sister after his sister’s death because she reminds him of her. However, their life partners misunderstand their relationship. What happens after that?

Sudigundalu (1968)

The story centers around Justice Chandrasekharam, a compassionate man who provides shelter to families of the convicted. When his own son is murdered, he ends up defending the culprits. What happens thereafter?

Prema Nagar (1971)

This film’s story revolves around a wealthy young man who falls in love with a middle-class girl. Her mother disapproves of their marriage, leading him to alcoholism. Do they end up together or not?

Premabhishekam (1982)

Another milestone in Nageswara Rao’s career, this film narrates the story of Rajesh, who deeply loves Devi. Days before their wedding, Rajesh learns he has cancer and begins to act hatefully towards Devi to push her away, resulting in her marrying another man. What becomes of Rajesh in the end?

Manam (2014)

A memorable film for the Akkineni family and their fans, ‘Manam’ features four generations of heroes (Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya, Akhil) from the family. The plot revolves around reincarnated lives intertwined with love. What events transpire in this emotional journey?