He had passed away 21 years ago on the same day of January 18th. But, he is still in our hearts. He had left many memories for us to remember him forever. The legendary man ruled cinema industry as well as politics as a sovereign without any opposition.

The man we are discussing about is none other than the late former chief minister and evergreen Sri Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao. It’s NTR’s 21st death anniversary today. Here are special events in NTR’s life.

Cinema debut: NTR ventured into films with social drama film Mana Desam, directed by LV Prasad in 1949.

Shot To fame with: NTR gained popularity in the 1950s for his portrayals of Hindu deities, especially Krishna and Rama roles which have made him a "messiah of the masses".

Notable Filmography: Devudu Chesina Manushulu, Adavi Ramudu, Driver Ramudu, Vetagadu, Sardar Papa Rayudu, Kondaveeti Simham, Justice Chowdhary, Bobbili Puli, Yamagola, Lava Kusa, Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra, Maya Bazaar, Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham, Daana Veera Soora Karna, Nartanasala, Major Chandrakanth etc.

Multiple Responsibilities: In the later half of his career, NTR became a screenwriter. Despite having no formal training in scriptwriting, he authored several screenplays for his own movies as well as for other producers. He also produced many of his films as well as other actor's films through his film production house National Art Theater Private Limited, Madras and later Ramakrishna Studios. NTR also had directed several blockbuster films.

Awards and honors: Padma Shri award from the Government of India in 1968. NTR has received three National Film Awards for co-producing Thodu Dongalu (1954) and Seetharama Kalyanam (1960). He had received the erstwhile Rashtrapati Awards for his performances in the films Raju Peda (1954), and Lava Kusa (1963. He garnered the Nandi Award for Best Actor for Kodalu Diddina Kapuram in 1970, and the Inaugural Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu in 1972 for Badi Panthulu. He won Nandi Award for Best Actor for Kodalu Diddina Kapuram. He won a Filmfare Award South in 1972  in Best Telugu Actor category for Badi Panthulu. He had received Honorary Doctorate from Andhra University in 1978.

Political Career: NTR entered politics when he founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on 29 March 1982 in Hyderabad. NTR had gone into the elections with the slogan, Telugu Vari Atma Gauravam and his party won by an absolute majority, winning 199 out of the 294 seats in the state assembly. NTR was sworn in as the 10th and the first non-Congress Chief Minister of the state on 9 January 1983 with ten cabinet ministers and five ministers of State. He served three tumultuous terms as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh between 1983 and 1995. At the national level, NTR was instrumental in the formation of the National Front, a coalition of non-Congress parties which governed India from 1989 until 1990.

Meantime, several awards have been instituted in the honor of NTR. The NTR National Award is a national award in honour of NTR. It was instituted in 1996 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to recognise notable film personalities for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Indian film industry.