Happy Birthday Jr NTR: 6 Films that define the mass hero’s career

Jr NTR is one of the biggest stars in the film industry, The mass hero enjoys an immense fan following because of his stellar screen presence and remarkable range as a performer. The mass hero has headlined some of Tollywood’s biggest films and proved that he is a force to reckon with. On Monday, May 20, as Tarak turns 41, here is a look at five popular films that proved to be game-changers for Jr NTR.

Student No 1 (2001)

Jr NTR made his debut as a leading man with ‘Ninnu Choodalani’, which bombed at the box office and received negative reviews. To make matters worse, Tarak received flak for his lacklustre acting skills and unimpressive screen presence, ‘Student No 1’, which marked his first collaboration with SS Rajamouli, emerged as the Young Tiger’s first hit and helped him silence his critics. The film centered on a young man who loses his father’s trust after accidentally killing a goon. The film received critical acclaim for its emotional narrative and engaging screenplay

Simadri (2003)

Tarak wasn’t able to capitalise on the success of ‘Student No 1’ as films such as ‘Subbu’ and ‘Naaga’ failed to live up to expectations at the box office. Following this, he teamed up with SS Rajamouli for ‘Simhadri’. The decision worked wonders for him as the actioner emerged as a massive hit at the box office. Moreover, Tarak impressed fans with his earnest portrayal of the kind-hearted yet troubled titular character. Critics also praised him for doing justice to the raw and intense action scenes.

Yamadonga (2007)

‘Yamadonga’ was a special film for Tarak as it had shades of the yesteryear classic ‘Yamagola’, which featured his iconic grandfather Sr NTR in the lead. Jr NTR hit it out of the park with his lively performance in the fantasy drama and left fans asking for more. The film is best remembered for the thrilling sequence where ‘Annagaru’ appeared on screen through the use of graphics and archival footage and ‘shared screen space’ with the ‘Young Tiger’.

Temper (2015)

Jr NTR suffered a setback in 2013 and 2014 when ‘Ramayya Vasthavayya’ and ‘Rabhasa’ tanked at the box office. Temper proved to be a game-changer on this front as it set the cash registers ringing and impressed critics. Tarak’s remarkable physical transformation and terrific performance in the climax were the biggest highlights of the Puri Jagannadh-helmed flick.

Jai Lava Kusa (2017)

Jr NTR pushed his limits as a performer when he essayed three distinct roles in Bobby’s action drama ‘Jai Lava Kusa’. His efforts paid off as he did justice to each character and left the audience spellbound. His portrayal of Jai/Raavan, a heartless gangster who stammers quite frequently, in particular was the highlight of the film. The cast included Raashii Khanna, Nivetha Thomas, Ronit Roy, and Nassar. Tamannaah Bhatia made a guest appearance in the Swing Zara song.

RRR (2022)

SS Rajamoulli’s ‘RRR’ featured Jr NTR as the tribal leader Bheem and marked his first collaboration with Ram Charan, who essayed the role the revolutionary Alluri Sitharama Raju. The Nandamuri hero elevated the film with his unparalleled intensity in the action scenes. He was also at his energetic best as he matched steps with the Mega Powe Star to the beats of ‘Naatu Naatu’. ‘RRR’ emerged as a global sensation and opened new avenues for the team