The launch of “NTR,” the biopic on legendary actor and former chief minister N T Rama Rao, at Ramakrishna cine studios at Nacharam witnessed a galaxy of VIPs including Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu, veteran director Raghavendra Rao, former Rajya Sabha member Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, music director M M Keeravani and others.
NTR’s son and Telugu Desam Party legislator from Hindupur Nandamuri Balakrishna, who is not only producing the film but is also playing the lead role, attracted everybody with his dress-up as Duryodhana.
It is not an exaggeration that he resembled his father in looks, if not grace and dialogue delivery.
However, one VIP who was conspicuous by his absence at the grand launch of NTR’s biopic was TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Inquiries revealed that he had gone to Visakhapatnam to participate in the convocation of Indian Institute of Management, besides attending other official engagements.
Generally, Naidu evinces interest in attending film functions, but he conveniently avoided attending this very important occasion.
Moreover, Chandrababu happens to be the son-in-law of NTR and whether somebody agrees or not, the film is being made to fetch electoral benefits to the TDP.
Interestingly, even Balakrishna’s son-in-law and Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh also did not attend the launch of NTR biopic.
Sources say Naidu had skipped the event only to avoid embarrassment of meeting Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. If he comes there, he would have to share the dais with Venkaiah and sit beside him.
Invariably, both of them will have to talk to each other and that would be a big photo-op for the media and there would be a lot of speculations as to whether Venkaiah was mediating between him and the Centre.
Naidu does not want to give any scope for such a talk and speculations. That is precisely why he skipped the inaugural event of NTR biopic.
