NTR: Mahanayakudu

NTR: Mahanayakudu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKrish Jagarlamudi
Screenplay byKrish Jagarlamudi
Dialogues by
Story byKrish Jagarlamudi
Nandamuri Balakrishna
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyGnana Shekar V. S.
Edited byRama Krishna Arram
Santosh Kiran Billakurti
Music byM. M. Keeravani
Production
companies
Release date
  • 22 February 2019 (2019-02-22)
Running time
128 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu

NTR: Mahanayakudu (transl. NTR: The Great Leader) is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Krish Jagarlamudi,[1] based on the political career of N. T. Rama Rao. It is produced by Nandamuri Balakrishna, Sai Korrapati, Vishnu Vardhan Induri under NBK Films, Vaaraahi Chalana Chitram, and Vibri Media. It is the second film in a two-part series, the first being NTR: Kathanayakudu.[2][3] The film stars Nandamuri Balakrishna, Vidya Balan, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram, and Rana Daggubati in the lead roles.[4] The film's music was composed by M. M. Keeravani.[5]

Plot

Following his public announcement of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), N. T. Rama Rao aka NTR designs the party's flag and core agenda, planning a comprehensive tour across undivided Andhra Pradesh. He tasks his son, Nandamuri Harikrishna, with converting an old Chevrolet van into an improvised campaign vehicle, which he names the "Chaitanya Ratham." Driven by Harikrishna and accompanied by his son-in-law, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, Rama Rao embarks on an exhausting, historic pilgrimage across the state, successfully rallying public admiration and challenging the political establishment. Alarmed by his soaring popularity, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi advances the state assembly elections and appoints Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy as the new Chief Minister to stabilize the ruling Congress party's position.

Internal friction arises when political ally Nadendla Bhaskar Rao drafts a candidate list featuring compromised former politicians. Rama Rao rejects the proposals, opting to field young, uncorrupted newcomers instead. Concurrently, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Rama Rao's son-in-law, contests the election on a Congress ticket but loses. Recognizing Naidu's underlying organizational talent, Rama Rao convinces the disillusioned politician to defect and join the TDP. The elections culminate in a historic landslide victory for the TDP, and Rama Rao is sworn in as the tenth Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

As Chief Minister, Rama Rao adopts saffron robes to signify his renunciation of personal luxury for public welfare. He introduces radical administrative reforms and welfare schemes, including a ₹2-per-kilogram rice program for low-income families, equal inheritance rights for daughters, the abolition of the feudal Patel-Patwari system, the introduction of the decentralized Mandal system, and the Telugu Ganga irrigation project. His rigid anti-corruption stance extends to his own family and political circle, alienating Bhaskar Rao, who begins secretly plotting a rebellion. When Rama Rao aggressively confronts Indira Gandhi over the central government's withholding of state funds, she appoints a hostile Governor, Thakur Ram Lal, to systematically undermine his administration.

Personal and physical crises intersect when Basavaramatarakam is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and Rama Rao simultaneously suffers a severe cardiac ailment. The couple travels to the United States for his urgent bypass surgery. Seizing his absence, Bhaskar Rao negotiates a covert alliance with Indira Gandhi and Governor Ram Lal. Upon Rama Rao's return, Bhaskar Rao orchestrates a fraudulent political coup, claiming the chief ministership under the false pretense of a majority. Rama Rao directly marches his loyal legislators to the Raj Bhavan to prove his democratic mandate, but Governor Ram Lal dismisses the evidence and orders his arrest. Following his release, a terminally ill Basavaramatarakam rejuvenates his resolve, promising to withstand her illness until he successfully reclaims his office.

Rama Rao relaunches his Chaitanya Ratham, generating massive public outrage and uniting nationwide anti-Congress opposition leaders. Operating as the strategic backbone of the movement, Chandrababu Naidu safeguards the loyal TDP legislators in secure, out-of-state locations to prevent political horse-trading. Naidu and Rama Rao paraded their majority of MLAs before the President of India, Zail Singh, who formally orders a legislative confidence motion. Though Bhaskar Rao employs stall tactics to delay the assembly session, escalating civilian strikes and national protests paralyze the state. Conceding defeat, Indira Gandhi withdraws her backing of Bhaskar Rao and replaces Ram Lal with Shankar Dayal Sharma as Governor. Governor Sharma immediately dismisses the usurpers and reinstates Rama Rao as Chief Minister. After taking his oath of office, Rama Rao returns home to his wife, and the film concludes with Basavaramatarakam passing away peacefully in his embrace.

Cast

Production

Filming

Balakrishna took a break from the shooting between 30 November 2018 and 4 December[6] to campaign in the 2018 Telangana Legislative Assembly election for Telugu Desam Party thus causing a delay of about a week in the shooting schedule. By mid-December, about 90% of the shooting was completed.[7]

Post-production

In mid-December, the film's post-production works have started.[7][8]

Soundtrack

NTR: Mahanayakudu
Film score by
M. M. Keeravani
Released21 December 2018 (2018-12-21)
Recorded2018
GenreSoundtrack
Length31:53
LabelLahari Music
ProducerM. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology
NTR: Kathanayakudu
(2019)		 NTR: Mahanayakudu
(2018)		 12 'O' Clock
(2021)

The music is composed by M. M. Keeravani for both the parts. The music released on Lahari Music. The audio and trailer launch of the biopic was held at JRC Convention Center, Hyderabad on 21 December 2018. Veteran Telugu stalwarts Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Mohan Babu, K. Raghavendra Rao, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and others attended the function along with complete Nandamuri family.[9]

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Kathaa Nayaka"K.Siva Datta, Dr. K. Rama KrishnaKailash Kher3:35
2."Venditera Dora"M. M. KeeravaniM. M. Keeravani4:19
3."Bhantureethi Koluvu"Sirivennela Sitarama SastryChitra, Sreenidhi Tirumala4:54
4."Kathanayaka (F)"K.Siva Datta, Dr. K. Rama KrishnaSreenidhi Tirumala, Ramya Behara, Mohana Bhogaraju3:36
5."Ramanna Katha"M. M. KeeravaniChitra, Sunitha Upadrashta5:09
6."Chaitanya Ratham"Sirivennela Sitarama SastryM. M. Keeravani, Kaala Bhairava, Keerthi Sagathia, Sai Shivani4:58
7."Rajarshi"M. M. Keeravani, Dr. K. Rama Krishna, K. Siva DattaM. M. Keeravani, Kaala Bhairava, Sreenidhi Tirumala, Sharath Santosh, Sathyaprakash5:22
Total length:31:53

Release

NTR: Mahanayakudu was initially planned to be released on 24 January 2019.[10] Later the date was revised to 26 January,[11] then to 7 February[12] coinciding with the release of Yatra on 8 February, a biographical film on former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.[13] In January 2019, the crew took a four-day leave to celebrate Sankranti festivities causing a delay in shooting,[14] and post-production work that would take about 10–15 days.[15][16] The filmmakers thus reportedly planned to release the movie on 14 February.[15] Due to NTR: Kathanayakudu's poor performance at the box office, the filmmakers postponed the release of NTR: Mahanayakudu, which was scheduled to be released on 8 February and instead premiered NTR: Kathanayakudu on Amazon Prime Video on 8 February. The makers intended the OTT release to reach a wider audience and act as a marketing stunt for the NTR: Mahanayakudu.[13] Eventually, the movie was released on 22 February.[17]

Critical reception

Suhas Yellapantula of The Times of India rated 2.5/5 criticised the movie of not meeting expectations of a typical biopic which lacked major parts of the political career of NTR and rather portraying him as a godly-figure as it was in the first part of the biopic. He opined, Balakrishna was more comfortable playing the old-NTR rather than the young-NTR, praised Rana for his acting and criticised Krish of ambiguous shifts in the film's theme between being a romantic story and a dramatic thriller. He concluded, "[calling the film] a biopic would be a great disservice to NTR’s political journey".[18]

Box office

It was released with mixed expectations – high expectations from trade analysts and low expectations from others – due to the commercial failure of its prequel NTR: Kathanayakudu.[19][20] The Telugu Desam Party politicians, including Nandigama MLA Tangirala Sowmya, held free shows at various locations in Andhra Pradesh and provided subsidises for the party's workers and used the film as a medium of campaigning for the upcoming 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections.[21]

In its opening weekend, the film earned ₹3.4 crore (US$350,000) worldwide.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "NTR biopic: Manikarnika director Krish may direct the Nandamuri Balakrishna starrer". Hindustan Times. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "NTR biopic confirmed to release in two parts". 123telugu.com. 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "Biopic Season - NTR: Kathanayakudu : The Birth Of A Hero". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Vidya Balan to make her Telugu debut with NTR biopic, will play his first wife". www.hindustantimes.com/. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "Keeravani for NTR biopic". Deccan Chronicle. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Balakrishna's Five-Days TS election campaign schedule released!". ap7am.com. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Release date of NTR Mahanayakudu confirmed". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "NTR Kathanayakudu: Puneeth Rajkumar recalls fond memories of NT Rama Rao". The Indian Express. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "N.T.R. Biopic (Audio Launch)". idlebrain.com.
  10. ↑ "Kalyan Ram plays father Hariskrishna in NTR biopic, shares intense first look from film". Hindustan Times. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "NTR biopic: Meet Nithya Menen as legendary actor Savitri". The Indian Express. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "NTR biopic trailer: Nandamuri Balakrishna as NTR steals the show. Watch video". Hindustan Times. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  13. 1 2 "After box-office flop, 'NTR Kathanayakudu' releases on Amazon Prime". The News Minute. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "'Mahanayakudu', part 2 of the NTR biopic, release postponed". The News Minute. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  15. 1 2 "'NTR Mahanayakudu': The political journey of late legendary Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao will now release on Feb 14". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Vyas (17 January 2019). "NTR Mahanayakudu To Release On 14th February?". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "NTR Mahanayakudu early reviews: Balakrishna film gets mixed response". India Today. Ist.
  18. ↑ Yellapantula, Suhas (22 February 2019). "NTR: Mahanayakudu Movie Review". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Nandamuri Balakrishna, Vidya Balan starrer NTR Mahanayakudu crashes at box-office". Hindustan Times. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  20. ↑ Vyas (24 February 2019). "Balakrishna's Mahanayakudu First Day Box Office Collections Report". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  21. ↑ Vyas (27 February 2019). "TDP distributes Mahanayakudu tickets for free". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
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