N.T.R: Mahanayakudu

Set in the 1980s, the film charts Rama Rao's rise to Chief Minister and the political battles with the central government. It portrays the use of populist reforms and high-stakes elections during a time of shifting political alignments. The era is defined by central-state friction and a shifting political landscape.

Primarily unfolds across Andhra Pradesh as Rama Rao campaigns across towns and villages to win public support. The film also sketches political life in Delhi during central-government maneuvers and governance battles, and briefly scenes in the United States during a medical trip. The setting highlights rural-urban divides, grassroots outreach, and the media's role in shaping public opinion.

🏛️ Power

The story centers on the struggle for state and national power, showing how Rama Rao navigates party rivalries, no-confidence motions, and central interference. It reveals how political leverage and public support influence decision-making and policy. The film underscores the fragility of governance when power is contested from multiple fronts.

🎯 Leadership

Rama Rao's leadership is depicted through bold reforms—landmark welfare schemes, Mandal system, rural uplift programs—that redefine governance. The narrative shows the balance between populist promises and political risk, as he mobilizes supporters and allies to push through reforms. It also depicts the costs of leadership, including opposition's schemes to undermine him.

❤️ Family

The personal cost of political life is shown in Basavatarakam's illness and death, and Rama Rao's emotional strain while balancing family with public duty. It highlights how family narratives intersect with political legacies. The film uses this to humanize the leader and show the impact of political life on loved ones.