Taraka Ratna Explained

Nandamuri Taraka Ratna
Native Name:నందమూరి తారకరత్న
Birth Date:22 February 1983
Birth Place:Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana), India
Death Place:Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Occupation:Actor
Children:3
Family:Nandamuri family
Yearsactive:2002–2023

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]

Early life

Nandamuri 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

Ratna 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) 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

Taraka 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

On 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.

Filmography

Year Film Role Ref.
2002Okato Number KurraaduBalu
Yuva RathnaRatna
2003TaarakTaraka Ram
2004NoShiva
Bhadradri RamuduRamudu
2006PakadaiMaasi
2009AmaravathiShrinu
VenkatadriVenkatadri Nayudu
2010Mukkanti
2011NandeeswaruduNandeeswarudu "Nandu"
2012Vijeta
Eduru Leni AlexanderAlexander[18]
Choodaalani Cheppaalani
2014Maha Bhakta Siriyala Shiva Datta / Siriyala[19]
2015KakatheeyuduSoorya, Deva
2016Evaru Shekar[20]
Manamantha Painter
Raja Cheyyi Vesthe Manik
2017Kayyum Bhai Sathya
2017Raja Meeru Keka Nagaraju
2021DevineniDevineni Nehru
2022SaradhiSaradhi
S5 No ExitSubbu

Television

!Year!Work!Role!Network
20229 HoursCI PrathapDisney+ Hotstar

Awards

2009 – Nandi Award for Best VillainAmaravathi[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Actor, politician and a father: Life and times of Nandamuri Taraka Ratna. timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
  2. http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/38360.html IndiaGlitz – NTR's Kuchipudi dance in 'Kantri' – Telugu Movie News
  3. Web site: NTR Family Tree: Everything you wanted to know about his family legacy. familytreeinfo.com. 3 July 2023 .
  4. Web site: Taraka Ratna wanted to contest Andhra polls next year: Chandrababu. odishatv.in.
  5. Web site: Okato Numberu Kurraadu Review. Full Hyderabad. 3 June 2022. 27 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127013317/https://movies.fullhyderabad.com/okato-numberu-kurraadu/telugu/okato-numberu-kurraadu-movie-reviews-606-2.html. live.
  6. Web site: Won't repeat earlier mistakes: Taraka Ratna. Suresh Kavirayani. Deccan Chronicle. 26 April 2016.
  7. Web site: Amaravathi. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127122413/https://www.sify.com/movies/amaravathi-review-telugu-pclxwxeigjied.html. dead. 27 January 2022. Sify. 4 December 2009.
  8. Web site: Venkatadri Audio Release. ragalahari.com.
  9. News: 9 HOURS SEASON 1 REVIEW : GOOD STORY AIDED BY A STELLAR CAST. The Times of India.
  10. Web site: Love against all odds: Tarak, Alekya's marriage nothing less than filmy drama. June 12, 2016. Deccan Chronicle.
  11. Web site: Here's an interesting fact about Taraka Ratna's kids. filmyfocus.com. 21 February 2023 .
  12. Web site: Jr NTR's cousin Nandamuri Taraka Ratna collapses during political rally, rushed to hospital. indianexpress.com. 27 January 2023 .
  13. Web site: Taraka Ratna's last viral video when he collapsed during the political rally. pinkvilla.com. 20 February 2023 .
  14. Web site: Telugu actor Taraka Ratna faints during 'Yuva Galam' Padayatra near Kuppam, taken to hospital. timesnownews.com. 27 January 2023 .
  15. News: Tollywood actor Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passes away . 19 February 2023 . The Times of India.
  16. News: Bureau . The Hindu . Body of Taraka Ratna consigned to flames . 18 April 2023 . The Hindu . 20 February 2023 . en-IN.
  17. News: Bureau . The Hindu . 2023-02-18 . Actor Taraka Ratna passes away after battling for 23 days. The Hindu . 2023-02-22 . 0971-751X.
  18. News: Eduruleni Alexander Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India. The Times of India. 24 August 2016. 23 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923015711/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movie-reviews/Eduruleni-Alexander/movie-review/32919270.cms. live.
  19. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bhaktha-siriyala-will-be-milestone-in-taraks-career-films-director/304331-71-216.html 'Bhaktha Siriyala' will be milestone in Tarak's career: Film's director- Telugu News- South Cinema-IBNLive
  20. Web site: 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 .
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20101010025325/http://www.newsofap.com/newsofap-26651-24-list-of-nandi-awards-for-2009-2010.html List of Nandi awards for 2009–2010