Nandamuri Harikrishna
{{Short description|Indian actor, film producer and politician}}
{{family name hatnote|Nandamuri|lang=Telugu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nandamuri Harikrishna
నందమూరి హరికృష్ణ
| office = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
| term_start = 10 April 2008
| term_end = 22 August 2013
| predecessor =
| successor = Thota Seetharama Lakshmi
| constituency = United Andhra Pradesh
| office1 = Member of the Legislative Assembly
United Andhra Pradesh
| term_start1 = 1996
| term_end1 = 1999
| predecessor1 = N. T. Rama Rao
| successor1 = C. C. Venkataramudu
| constituency1 = Hindupuram
| image = Nandamuri-Harikrishna.webp
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1956|9|2}}
| birth_place = Nimmakuru, Andhra State (now in Andhra), India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2018|8|29|1956|9|2}}
| death_place = Narketpally, Telangana, India
| death_cause = Car accident
| spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Lakshmi|1973}}|{{marriage|Shalini|1981}}}}
| party = Telugu Desam Party
| children = 4; including {{unbulleted list|Kalyan Ram|N. T. Rama Rao Jr.}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|Film producer|Politician}}
| parents = N. T. Rama Rao (father) Nandamuri Basavatarakam (mother)
| relatives = See Nandamuri–Nara family
}}
Nandamuri Harikrishna (2 September 1956 – 29 August 2018) was an Indian politician, actor, and film producer. He served as the Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house the Indian Parliament representing the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh from 2008 to 2013 and a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 1996-1999. His film works were predominantly in Telugu cinema. Harikrishna was the fourth son of actor and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao. His sons N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Nandamuri Kalyan Ram are actors{{cite web|url=http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=2085|title=Detailed Profile: Shri Nandamuri Harikrishna|publisher=india.gov.in|access-date=2010-09-12|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102444/http://www.archive.india.gov.in/govt/rajyasabhampbiodata.php?mpcode=2085|url-status=live}} and daughter Nandamuri Venkata Suhasini is a politician. He is also the brother of the famous Telugu actor and politician Nandamuri Balakrishna also called Balayya.
Early life
Harikrishna was born on 2 September 1956 in Nimmakuru village of Krishna district in present-day Andhra Pradesh to N. T. Rama Rao and Basava Ramatarakam as their 4th son. He has eleven siblings: seven brothers and four sisters.{{cite news|last=R.|first=Majoj Kumar|title=The life and career of Nandamuri Harikrishna|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/nandamuri-harikrishna-5330209/|access-date=29 August 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=29 August 2018|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829111747/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/telugu/nandamuri-harikrishna-5330209/|url-status=live}}{{Additional citation needed|date=February 2023}}
Acting career
Harikrishna made his acting debut in 1964 as a child artist in Sri Krishnavataram, in which he played Krishna. It was directed by Kamalakara Kameshwara Rao.{{cite web|title=Sri Krishnavataram (1967)|url=http://www.studboo.com/2018/08/sri-krishnavataram-1967.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829142521/https://www.studboo.com/2018/08/sri-krishnavataram-1967.html|archive-date=29 August 2018|access-date=2010-09-12|publisher=studboo.com}} He then starred in Thalla? Pellama? (1970), followed by Tatamma Kala (1974), Ram Raheem (1974), and Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977). After a long sabbatical and political stint, he starred as a character actor in works such as Sri Ramulayya (1998), followed by a full-length role alongside Nagarjuna in Seetharama Raju (1999), Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002), and Seetayya (2003). In 2002, he received Nandi Award for Best Character Actor for his work in Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002).{{Cn|date=February 2023}}
Political career
Harikrishna, who had a knack for driving, drove his father's "Chaitanya Ratham" (chariot of consciousness), a revamped and customised green Chevrolet with registration number ABR 7776 during his father's political campaignings.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nt-rama-raos-charioteer-who-waded-into-heart-of-ap/articleshow/65601509.cms|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna: NT Rama Rao's charioteer who waded into heart of Andhra Pradesh|newspaper=The Times of India|date=30 August 2018 |access-date=February 23, 2023}} The vehicle was reportedly used to campaign over 75,000 kms and assumed mammoth significance in the state's politics.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/nandamuri-harikrishna-a-man-who-loved-wheels-and-driving/article61498824.ece|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna: A man who loved wheels and driving|date=August 29, 2018|website=www.thehindu.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}} Outspoken and rebellious by nature,{{Cn|date=February 2023}} Harikrishna was instrumental in staging the 1995 coup that dethroned his father N. T. Rama Rao during Chief Ministership of N. T. Rama Rao alongside N. Chandrababu Naidu, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao and Nandamuri Balakrishna.{{cite web|url=https://www.siasat.com/in-naidu-directed-drama-25-years-ago-seasoned-politician-actor-ntr-booted-out-of-power-1958725/|title=In Naidu directed drama 25 years ago, seasoned politician-actor NTR booted out of power|date=August 27, 2020|website=www.siasat.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}} He served as the member of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly during 1996–1999 as the elected MLA from Hindupur Assembly constituency. He became a Cabinet Minister for Road Transport in 1996. In a historic move, he opened the doors for women in the State Road Transport Corporation. Hundreds of women were hired as bus conductors.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/nandamuri-harikrishna-a-man-who-loved-wheels-and-driving/article61498824.ece|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna: A man who loved wheels and driving|date=August 29, 2018|website=www.thehindu.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}} However, following rifts with Naidu, he floated his own Anna Telugu Desam Party in 1999 but returned to his previous party in 2006 after the ATDP failed to win a single seat in the 1999 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nt-rama-raos-charioteer-who-waded-into-heart-of-ap/articleshow/65601509.cms|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna: NT Rama Rao's charioteer who waded into heart of Andhra Pradesh|date=August 30, 2018|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}} He shared a bittersweet relationship with his brother-in-law Naidu, often expressing displeasure about his son N. T. Rama Rao Jr. being ignored for the party ranks.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nt-rama-raos-charioteer-who-waded-into-heart-of-ap/articleshow/65601509.cms|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna: NT Rama Rao's charioteer who waded into heart of Andhra Pradesh|date=August 30, 2018|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}} In 2008, he was a candidate of the Telugu Desam Party and was elected to Rajya Sabha.{{Cn|date=February 2023}} In 2013, he renounced his Rajya Sabha seat as a mark of protest against the then United Progressive Alliance government's decision to divide Andhra Pradesh.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/harikrishna-resigns-from-rajya-sabha/article5048410.ece|title=Harikrishna resigns from Rajya Sabha|date=August 22, 2013|website=www.thehindu.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}}
Personal life
File:Jr ntr with father Hari krishna at jai lava kusha event.png at Jai Lava Kusa (2017) event]]
Harikrishna married Lakshmi Kumari on 22 February 1973 and they have two sons, Janaki Ram and Kalyan Ram, and a daughter, Suhasini. He later married Shalini Bhaskar Rao, a Kannadathi from Kundapur, in 1981. They have one son, Taraka Ram. His elder son, Janaki Ram, died in a road mishap, on 6 December 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/former-mp-nandamuri-harikrishnas-son-dies-in-accident-in-nalgonda-districgt/article6668216.ece|title=Former MP Nandamuri Harikrishna's son dies in accident in Nalgonda district|first=T. Karnakar|last=Reddy|date=6 December 2018|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829142943/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/former-mp-nandamuri-harikrishnas-son-dies-in-accident-in-nalgonda-districgt/article6668216.ece|url-status=live}}{{Additional citation needed|date=February 2023}}
Death
Harikrishna died in a car crash in Nalgonda district, Narketpally, on 29 August 2018 at the age of 61. He was driving at a high speed without a seat belt on his way to the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to attend a private ceremony of his friend, accompanied by two others. His Toyota Fortuner crashed into a road median on Nalgonda district Highway near Narkatpally when he bent over to pick up a water bottle.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/nandamuri-harikrishna-was-driving-at-160km/hour-nalgonda-sp/articleshow/65587522.cms|title=Nandamuri Harikrishna was driving at 160km/hour: Nalgonda SP|date=August 29, 2018|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=February 23, 2023}}
His son Janaki Ram died on the same highway in 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141206/entertainment-tollywood/article/nandamuri-janakirams-dies-fatal-road-accident|title=Telugu producer Nandamuri Janakiram dies in a fatal car accident|date=December 7, 2014|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=February 23, 2023}} Janakiram was a Telugu movie producer under the N. T. R. Arts banner who also met a tragic death in a road crash while travelling alone from Vijayawada to Hyderabad. Reports say that, his car collided with a tractor near Akumpamala village in Munagala mandal of Nalgonda district. He was rushed to a private hospital in Kodad, where he died of internal bleeding.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141207/nation-current-affairs/article/nandamuri-janakiram-died-internal-injuries|title=Nandamuri Janakiram died of internal injuries|date=December 7, 2014|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=February 23, 2023}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+List of films and roles |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1967
| Child artist |
| 1970
| Little Krishna | Child artist |
| rowspan="2" |1974
| Venkatesam | |
| Ram Raheem
| Raheem | |
| 1977
| Arjuna | Also producer |
| rowspan="2" | 1998
| Comrade 'Sathyam' |Cameo appearance |
| Subhalekhalu
| | Guest appearance{{Cite web |last=P. |first=Rakesh |date=20 December 1998 |title=Shubalekhalu (Telugu) |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/B1B03240AE8F5FF6652569400062A3E6?OpenDocument |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922033358/http://www.cscsarchive.org/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/B1B03240AE8F5FF6652569400062A3E6?OpenDocument |archive-date=22 September 2022 |access-date=17 September 2022 |website=Deccan Herald}} |
| rowspan="1" |1999
| Seetayya | |
| rowspan="2" |2002
| Krishnama Naidu | Won{{Emdash}}Nandi Award for Best Character Actor |
| Siva Rama Raju
| Ananda Bhupati Raju | Cameo appearance |
| rowspan="2" |2003
| Seetayya | Seetayya | |
| Tiger Harischandra Prasad
| Harischandra Prasad | |
| 2004
| Swamy | Swamy | |
| 2005
| Trimurtulu | |
Awards
- He won Nandi Award for Best Character Actor - Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo (2002){{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=21 August 2020}}(in Telugu)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|0620791}}
{{Nandi Award for Best Character Actor}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harikrishna, Nandamuri}}
Category:Indian male child actors
Category:Rajya Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:People from Krishna district
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:Telugu Desam Party politicians