Nandamuri Taraka Ratna (22 February 1983 – 18 February 2023) was an Indian actor who worked in Telugu cinema. After his debut in Okato Number Kurraadu (2003), he acted in several films as the lead actor and a few as the antagonist. He was a member of the Nandamuri family which is influential in Telugu cinema and politics. Taraka Ratna was also an aspiring politician from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, rooting for the Telugu Desam Party. He died on 18 February 2023 at the age of 39 at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, following severe health complications.[1]
Nandamuri Taraka Ratna | |
|---|---|
| నందమూరి తారకరత్న | |
| Born | 22 February 1983 |
| Died | 18 February 2023 (aged 39) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–2023 |
| Spouse |
Alekhya Reddy (m. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Family | Nandamuri family |
Early life
editNandamuri Taraka Ratna was born on 22 February 1983 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He is the son of Nandamuri Mohana Krishna, a cinematographer in Telugu cinema and Nandamuri Shanti. He is the grandson of Telugu actor and former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao, his wife Nandamuri Basavatarakam and N. Trivikrama Rao. He has a sister, Rupa.
Ratna was the cousin of actors Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Jr. N.T.R, and politician Nara Lokesh.[2] He is the nephew of actor and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, actor and politician Nandamuri Harikrishna, politicians Daggubati Purandeswari,Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, and chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu.[3] Fondly called "Obu" by his family, Taraka Ratna was reportedly willing and preparing himself to contest in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Elections, according to Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.[4]
Career
editRatna made his debut with Okato Number Kurraadu (2002), written and produced by K. Raghavendra Rao.[5] During his debut, Taraka Ratna signed nine films at once as the lead (a record)[citation needed] including Yuva Rathna (2003), Taarak (2003), and Bhadradri Ramudu.[6] His played the antagonist in Amaravathi (2009), for which he received a Nandi Award.[7] He also acted in Nandeeswarudu, Maha Bhaktha Siriyala (2014), Venkatadri (2009),[8] Kakatheeyudu (2019), Devineni (2021) and a web series 9 Hours.[9] among others.
Family
editTaraka Ratna married Alekhya Reddy, a divorcee, on August 2, 2012 at the Sanghi Temple. She was a costume designer in one of his films where they met and fell in love. Despite both their families being against the marriage, they got married in the presence of a couple of friends and two family members from Reddy's side. The couple had three children, a girl in 2013, and later a twin boy and girl.[10][11]
Illness and death
editOn 27 January 2023, he participated in a political road yatra Yuva Galam Padayatra event with his cousin Nara Lokesh in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh. During the event, Ratna suffered a massive cardiac arrest and fainted.[12][13] He was administered Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. He was taken to a local hospital in Kuppam for treatment,[14] and on the following day transferred to a specialized cardiac hospital in Bangalore. Heart specialists from USA were brought for his treatment, and procedures for Balloon Angioplasty, Intra Aortic Balloon Pump, vasoactive support, and other advanced cardio services were provided to him two days before his death.[15]
Ratna died on 18 February 2023, at the age of 39 while undergoing treatment in Bangalore. He had spent twenty-three days in the hospital in critical condition.[16] He died four days before his 40th birthday.[17]
His body was moved from Bangalore to his house in Hyderabad. Later he was shifted to Film Chamber for his fans to visit. His cremation was conducted at Jubilee Hills Mahaprasthanam.[16]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Okato Number Kurraadu | Balu | |
| Yuva Rathna | Ratna | ||
| 2003 | Taarak | Taraka Ram | |
| 2004 | No | Shiva | |
| Bhadradri Ramudu | Ramudu | ||
| 2006 | Pakadai | Maasi | |
| 2009 | Amaravathi | Shrinu | |
| Venkatadri | Venkatadri Nayudu | ||
| 2010 | Mukkanti | ||
| 2011 | Nandeeswarudu | Nandeeswarudu "Nandu" | |
| 2012 | Vijeta | ||
| Eduru Leni Alexander | Alexander | [18] | |
| Choodaalani Cheppaalani | |||
| 2014 | Maha Bhakta Siriyala | Shiva Datta / Siriyala | [19] |
| 2015 | Kakatheeyudu | Soorya, Deva | |
| 2016 | Evaru | Shekar | [20] |
| Manamantha | Painter | ||
| Raja Cheyyi Vesthe | Manik | ||
| 2017 | Kayyum Bhai | Sathya | |
| 2017 | Raja Meeru Keka | Nagaraju | |
| 2021 | Devineni | Devineni Nehru | |
| 2022 | Saradhi | Saradhi | |
| S5 No Exit | Subbu |
Television
edit| Year | Work | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 9 Hours | CI Prathap | Disney+ Hotstar |
Awards
editReferences
edit- ^ "Actor, politician and a father: Life and times of Nandamuri Taraka Ratna". timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- ^ IndiaGlitz – NTR's Kuchipudi dance in 'Kantri' – Telugu Movie News Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Indiaglitz.com (5 May 2008). Retrieved on 1 September 2015.
- ^ "NTR Family Tree: Everything you wanted to know about his family legacy". familytreeinfo.com. 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Taraka Ratna wanted to contest Andhra polls next year: Chandrababu". odishatv.in.
- ^ "Okato Numberu Kurraadu Review". Full Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ Suresh Kavirayani (26 April 2016). "Won't repeat earlier mistakes: Taraka Ratna". Deccan Chronicle.
- ^ "Amaravathi". Sify. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Venkatadri Audio Release". ragalahari.com.
- ^ "9 HOURS SEASON 1 REVIEW : GOOD STORY AIDED BY A STELLAR CAST". The Times of India.
- ^ "Love against all odds: Tarak, Alekya's marriage nothing less than filmy drama". Deccan Chronicle. 12 June 2016.
- ^ "Here's an interesting fact about Taraka Ratna's kids". filmyfocus.com. 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Jr NTR's cousin Nandamuri Taraka Ratna collapses during political rally, rushed to hospital". indianexpress.com. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Taraka Ratna's last viral video when he collapsed during the political rally". pinkvilla.com. 20 February 2023.
- ^ "Telugu actor Taraka Ratna faints during 'Yuva Galam' Padayatra near Kuppam, taken to hospital". timesnownews.com. 27 January 2023.
- ^ "Tollywood actor Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ a b Bureau, The Hindu (20 February 2023). "Body of Taraka Ratna consigned to flames". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ Bureau, The Hindu (18 February 2023). "Actor Taraka Ratna passes away after battling for 23 days". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Eduruleni Alexander Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ 'Bhaktha Siriyala' will be milestone in Tarak's career: Film's director- Telugu News- South Cinema-IBNLive Archived 19 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Ibnlive.in.com (7 November 2012). Retrieved on 2013-03-07.
- ^ "Evaru Telugu Movie Review | Evaru Movie Review | Evaru Review and Rating | Evaru Cinema Review | Evaru Film Review | Evaru Movie Review in Telugu | Evaru Review in Telugu | Evaru Telugu Review | Evaru First Day TalK | Evaru Review". 26 August 2016.
- ^ List of Nandi awards for 2009–2010. newsofap.com
External links
edit- Taraka Ratna at IMDb