Unravelling the enigma

The upcoming biopic on late NT Rama Rao has been subject to a lot of attention ever since it was announced. Adding to the curiosity that surrounds the film is also the question of how the character of NTR’s wife, Basavatarakam, will be portrayed. Though Basavatarakam was a pillar of strength to NTR, she was always in the shadows. A simple woman, she was said to run a tight ship at home even when NTR was busy juggling films and politics. Here’s what those who knew her have to say:

The beginnings
Basavatarakam garu, who happened to be a close relative of NTR, was married to him at 16. She first conceived when NTR used to work as a Sub-Registrar in Guntur.

Nandamuri Ramana, NTR’s cousin, shares that she was more than what meets the eye. “Basavatarakam (Vadina garu) was humble and down-to-earth always. She was a woman of substance who stood the test of time. When my brother (NTR) quit the job and left for Chennai to try his luck in films, she stayed alone for two years with her infant son (Ramakrishna),” he says.

A file picture of NTR and Basavatharakam

“Two years after NTR started to settle down in showbiz, she moved to Chennai. Despite being a mother to 13 kids, Vadina garu was a pillar of support to my brother,” he adds.

Prasanna Kumar, General Secretary, Telugu Producers Council and a close family aide of NTR’s family reveals Basavatarakam had to brave many storms and didn’t have it easy.

“She lost her first son (Ramakrishna) when he was 10 years old. So the agony she had to go through was gruelling. She raised all the kids in a systematic way. NTR’s family was very big and several relatives and guests would visit their home. But she used to cook and serve the food herself. In fact, during NTR’s film shootings, she used to cook and send food to him on the sets,” reveals Prasanna.

Traditional and conservative
Apparently, Basavatarakam was the perfect picture of a traditional Telugu woman. She would wear sarees and would always sport a big bindi. She was said to sleep only for few hours each day and didn’t have a social life. Her whole world revolved around her family and she always wanted to be like that, a sacrificing character.

Another thing that stood out about her was that she never cashed in on her husband’s fame and power. Though she could have done anything she wanted, she remained a simple homemaker.

Prasanna Kumar further adds that her role was significant in moulding NTR into what he finally became.

“Despite being a star hero’s wife, Basavatarakam garu never attended any film function nor was she part of any public meeting as the wife of a chief minister. Although NTR garu was the breadwinner of the family, it was his brother Trivikrama Rao and his wife, on whom Basavatharakam garu would depend for running the household,” explains Prasanna Kumar.

He adds, “In 1982, NTR garu couldn’t attend the weddings of his sons Balakrishna and Ramakrishna due to political commitments. So it was Basavatarakam garu who performed the rituals.”

An integral part of the tale
So in order to step into the shoes of Basavatarakam, the makers needed an actress who could match the former’s stature and character. This why they eventually zeroed in on Bollywood star Vidya Balan. Having completed a brief part of the shooting in the first schedule, the National Award winner couldn’t stop raving about Basavatharakam.

“Basavatarakamji is extremely integral to this story and that’s why I’m doing this film. I found it interesting that people did not know much about her and that made me sign this film,” recalls Vidya. After Basavatarakam passed away in 1983 due to cancer, in an apt tribute, NTR built a cancer hospital in loving memory of her.