How a man became a movement and how a generation first met him not on a screen, but in their own homesMy introduction
to N.T. Rama Rao did not begin on the silver screen. It began at home in conversations, in discussions, and in a quiet but firm sense of admiration that surrounded his name. In our household, he was never referred to simply as “NTR.” He was always called ఎన్టీ ఓడు . a name spoken not casually, but with affection and respect.
By the time I was old enough to understand public life, NTR had already as a CM In those days, television was a rarity and news was an event. When Doordarshan aired his speeches, it was not just our family that gathered before the screen neighbours would join as well. The house would fall silent as his voice filled the room. Almost inevitably, someone would remark, “Look, ఎన్టీ ఓడు is saying this… ఎన్టీ ఓడు is saying that.”
But the real discussion would begin after the news ended.
On the front veranda of our house, my father, my uncle, and their friends would sit and analyse the day’s political developments. They spoke at length about the decisions NTR was taking, about his approach towards governance, and, above all, about his concern for the poor. In our village, these were not casual conversations. They were serious, thoughtful debates. I may not have understood the language of politics then, but one thing became unmistakably clear even to a child NTR was not an ordinary leader.
One day, my father and the elders of the family left to attend one of NTR’s public meetings. I did not know what a rally was, or what political mobilisation meant. But I clearly remember one sentence being said at home that day:
“Your father has gone for ఎన్టీ ఓడు.”
Looking back today, I realise it was not just a journey to attend a meeting. It was a journey of belief. A journey of hope. A journey that an entire generation was making.
To the Telugu people, NTR on the screen was a phenomenon. In public life, he was a movement. But in homes like ours, he was not merely a politician or a celebrity. He was an idea. He was a presence.
What he gave the Telugu people was not merely an administration.
He gave them self respect.
He gave them the courage to stand tall.
He gave them pride in their language, their culture, and their identity.
That is why N.T. Rama Rao cannot be measured as an individual.
He was and remains an era.
Tulasi Padmashree
Founder, Maarpu Welfare Society
About the Author
Tulasi Padmashree is the Founder of Maarpu Welfare Society and has been actively working in the social sector for several years. She is engaged in initiatives related to community development, social awareness, and public welfare. Through her writing, she seeks to document social realities, cultural memories, and stories that reflect the lived experiences of people. Her work aims to combine social commitment with thoughtful storytelling and a strong sense of responsibility towards society.
