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Only actor to play both Lord Rama and Ravana had temples built for him, is still worshipped in parts of India

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4 days ago

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Only actor to play both Lord Rama and Ravana had temples built for him, is still worshipped in parts of India

Though he played Lord Krishna in a record 17 films, this superstar is best remembered for being the only actor to play both Lord Rama and Ravana.

Dussehra is celebrated across India as a symbolic victory of good over evil. As per Hindu tradition, the day marks the anniversary of when Lord Rama registered his victory over the asura king Ravana of Lanka. This tale, which forms the crux of Ramayana, has been retold on screen several times. Many actors have become icons through their portrayals of both Lord Rama and Ravana. But there has only been one who has played both the hero and the villain in this story, and done it in such iconic fashion that he has temples built in his name. (Also read: On NTR’s birth anniversary, a look at how the Tollywood star transformed into an icon of Telugu pride)

Only actor to play both Lord Rama and Ravana

To the Gen Z, NTR may mean Jr but to ardent fans of Telugu cinema, the initials will always refer to the original NT Rama Rao, one of the biggest icons of Indian cinema. Sr NTR is the actor who played both Lord Rama and Ravana on the big screen. In fact, he did one better and even played Lord Krishna, whom he played in a record 17 films. NTR first played Lord Rama in the 1963 film Lava Kusa and reprised the role in several films after that. But prior to that, he had already played Ravana in the 1958 release Bhookailas. However, that film was not a success and NTR’s definitive portrayal of the demon king came in the cult classic Seetharama Kalyanam (1961). NTR became a messiah-like figure for Telugu audiences through his mastery over the mythological drama genre, which he lorded over through the 1960s and 70s. He later moved to playing Robin Hood-like characters, solidifying his mass hero stature, something that helped him graduate to politics later in life.

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When NTR had temples built for him

By the mid-1960s, NTR had attained stardom in Telugu cinema. He was even accorded a ‘divine’ status through his roles as Lord Rama, Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, and Lord Vishnu. His house in Hyderabad was considered a pilgrimage site with many fans/devotees paying obescience there before going to actual shrines. In 1970s, half a dozen temples came up in his name in various parts of Andhra Pradesh, depicting him in his Rama and Krishna avatar. As per reports, NTR wasn’t too pleased about the practice though.

NTR’s later life and legacy

In 1982, NTR distanced himself from films and founded the Telugu Desam Party. The party won the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections the following year and NTR became the Chief Minister of the state, a posy he would hold for three terms till 1995. The actor-politician died in January 1996 at the age of 72. His legacy in cinema is more than just his roles though. He was also the patriarch of the Nandamuri family of Telugu cinema. Two of his sons – Chaitanya Krishna and Saikrishna – are film producers. His fifth son Nandamuri Balakrishna is one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. His fourth son Harikrishna, was an actor, who died young. Jr NTR is Harikrishna’s son.

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Bollywood

Fauji 2: Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic 1989 series to be rebooted with Vikas Jain, Gauahar Khan.

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14 hours ago

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October 15, 2024

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Fauji 2: Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic 1989 series to be rebooted with Vikas Jain, Gauahar Khan.

Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track of Fauji 2. It will feature 11 songs with music composed by Shreyas Puranik, Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma.

In a much-anticipated return to Indian television, the beloved serial Fauji, which first brought Shah Rukh Khan to the forefront in 1989, is being reimagined as Fauji 2. Filmmaker Sandeep Singh has teamed up with the national broadcaster Doordarshan to breathe new life into this classic show. (Also Read | How Fauji’s director convinced Shah Rukh Khan to be punctual: ‘I ran after him with a stone’)

Sandeep Singh expressed his excitement in a press release shared by his team, “We are bringing back one of the greatest shows ever seen on television but in a new and exciting version. The 1989 Fauji gave us Shahrukh Khan, who captivated the entire nation with his extraordinary energy and talent. With Fauji 2, I hope to recreate history and connect with every Indian, especially the youth.”

The new series introduces Bigg Boss 17 fame Vikas Jain as Colonel Sanjay Singh and actor Gauahar Khan as Lieutenant Colonel Simarjeet Kaur, a cadet trainer specializing in weaponry. Sandeep Singh is set to introduce 12 new actors to the audience, selected for their talent from various regions across India.

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The cast includes Aashish Bhardwaj as Daksh Desai from Surat, Utkarsh Kohli as Rangrez Phogat from Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, Rudra Soni as Harun Malik from Srinagar, Ayaan Manchanda as Aakash Chhetri from Darjeeling, Niel Satpuda as Vijay Sachan from Kanpur.

It also includes Suvansh Dhar as Abhimanyu Rai from Deolal in Maharashtra, Priyanshu Rajguru as Subbu Balakrishnan from Chennai, Aman Singh Deep as Vikram Singh Bagga from Chandigarh, Udit Kapur as Arjun Negi from New Delhi, Maansi as Kavya Rajadhyaksha from Deolali, Maharashtra and Sushmita Bhandari as Kinjal Joshi from Surat.

Sandeep also elaborated on the storytelling approach, mentioning, “We spent six months brainstorming to develop a story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike the usual television narratives, Fauji 2 has a unique storytelling style.”

“It’s rich in emotion and offers a close look at the lives of army personnel, their bonds despite cultural and religious differences, and their dedication to safeguarding the country. Fauji 2 is a tale of courage and inspiration,” he added.

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Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Doordarshan, highlighted the enduring legacy of the original show, stating, “Fauji, one of our most prestigious shows, continues to rule hearts, and it just had to come back for today’s audience.” He expressed excitement for viewers to experience the valour of army officers once again.

Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Doordarshan, echoed this sentiment, noting, “When we came across the concept of Fauji 2, it took us no time to begin working on this iconic project. The show will be on-air very soon, and we are ecstatic to bring the magic of Fauji back to the Indian audience,” as per the press release shared by the Fauji 2 team.

Adding to the series’ allure, singer Sonu Nigam has lent his voice to the title track. Fauji 2 will feature 11 songs, with music composed by Filmfare Award-winning music director Shreyas Puranik, along with contributions from Shashi Suman and Jazim Sharma.

Produced by Sandeep Singh, with Vicky Jain and Zafar Mehdi as co-producers, Fauji 2 is written by a team including Amarnath Jha, Vishal Chaturvedi, Anil Choudhary, and Chaitanya Tulsyan.

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The series also marks the directorial debut of Abhinav Pareek. Fauji 2 will air on Doordarshan in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Bengali, making it accessible to a wide audience. The release date of the show is yet to be announced.

Group Media Publications
Entertainment News Platforms – anyflix.in      
Construction Infrastructure and Mining News Platform – https://cimreviews.com/
General News Platform – https://ihtlive.com/
Podcast Platforms – https://anyfm.in

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