Centre to release special coin in honour of legendary actor-politician NTR — leaves his widow off guest list

On Friday, 25 August, Lakshmi Parvathi wrote a letter to the President of India and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking their intervention to instruct the concerned officials to include her name in the guest list.

Related: NTR centenary: A new biography explores facets of actor-politician

About the commemorative coin

The coin will be adorned with a portrait of NTR and the Union Ministry of Finance has already directed the Hyderabad Mint to undertake the production of these special coins.

The coin will have “NTR 100 Year Anniversary” imprinted on it, with the dates 1923-2023.

Though the coin will not be in regular circulation in the market, it will be sold as a collectable by the Mint. It can be purchased at any bank or the Reserve Bank counter.

Each coin, with a diameter of 44 mm, is priced at ₹4,160. It is composed of 50 percent silver, 40 percent copper, 5 percent nickel, and 5 percent zinc. Along with the coin, a four-page book detailing the historic life journey of NTR, who is known as “Telugu pride”, will also be given out to buyers.

Related: When Andhra CM chose Modi, but PM chose TDP founder NTR

Lakshmi Parvathi’s letter 

Lakshmi Parvathi, in her letter, said that she was married to late NTR on 11 September, 1993.

“Together, we led a peaceful family life and actively participated in the AP State Legislature election in 1994. Under our leadership, the TDP secured 226 Assembly seats out of 294. However, due to a conspiracy orchestrated by his elder son-in-law Nara Chandrababu Naidu, in collusion with other family members, power was acquired through backdoor methods.

“This unfortunate turn of events led to NTR’s deep depression, as he expressed his dissatisfaction with his children’s families. Tragically, he passed away on 18 January, 1996. Ironically, the very same family members who were responsible for his demise are now invited to the prestigious function of releasing the ₹100 coin in his memory,” she wrote.

Parvathi further stated that as the legitimate heir, she has been overlooked.

“As a single woman, I wish to express my profound dissatisfaction with the authorities responsible for this oversight. In light of the above, I earnestly request you to issue instructions to the relevant authorities to include my name in the guest list for the upcoming releasing function of the ₹100 coin in the name of the legendary leader Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, at the earliest convenience,” she further said in her letter.

Also Read: Why Daggubati Venkateswara Rao called it quits from politics

The family drama

NTR’s first wife Basava Tarakam died of cancer in 1985. In her memory, NTR established Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad in 1986. Years after Tarakam’s demise, in 1993, NTR married Lakshmi Parvathi, who is a Telugu writer.

It is learnt that Parvathi entered NTR’s life with an intention to write a biography of the actor-politician.

However, the family of NTR’s first wife never acknowledged his marriage to Lakshmi Parvathi.

NTR had 12 children — eight sons and four daughters — from his marriage with Basava Tarakam.

Nandamuri Balakrishna, a popular Tollywood actor, is one of NTR’s children from his first marriage.

BJP state president and former Union minister, Daggubati Purandeswari, and Nara Bhuvaneswari, wife of former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, are also Basava Tarakam and NTR’s children.

South First has learnt that the entire NTR family, including Naidu and popular Tollywood actor Jr NTR, are going to attend the event on 28 August at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.