Nerella Venumadhav: The man and his era

Warangal: His was an era where in that domain one can only listen to the echoes of apery. Nerella Venumadhav, popularly known as NV, who made his name synonymous with mimicry, embossed Warangal on the world map with gilded letters.

Born to Srihari-Srilaxmi couple, residents of Mattewada in the city, on December 28, 1932, NV, a self-artiste, made his mark in the field of mimicry and ventriloquism when he was a teenager. Not many people are aware of the fact that it was NV’s college Principal Paru Venkata Ramanarsu, who identified the spark in NV, encouraged him to nurture his talent.

The Principal helped NV get bursary to watch English and Hindi movies to enhance skills by mimicking actors of other genres. It may be noted here that those were the days when tape recorders were not available and one has to listen to a voice once and had to mimic it.

Even though he was destined to excel in his most cherished art form, mimicry, NV had to work as a teacher in a government school in Hanamkonda. NV, who used to teach history had his unique way of teaching as he made it interesting with his apery skills.

Mimicking great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, John F Kennedy besides the way he presented a few scenes of 10 Commandments movie not only brought him huge applause but also made him world famous. He also scripted a few Radio programmes for himself to broadcast. NV who had rapport with cine bigwigs in Madras had acted in 10-odd movies - Gudachari 116, Potti Pleader, Puja Phalam etc.

A big fan of multi-faceted thespian Chittoor Nagaiah, NV also hobnobbed with Akkineni Nageswar Rao, BN Reddy, Kongara Jaggaiah, Gummadi Venkateswar Rao etc.

His teaching career that spanned about 18 years ended when the then Chief Minister PV Narasimha Rao nominated him to Legislative Council. He represented as the Member of Legislative Council from 1972-78 MLC.

NV also worked as the member of Sangita Nataka Akademi between 1974 and 78, besides holding the Director post of the Andhra Pradesh Film Development Corporation from 1976 to 77. He was instrumental in introducing a course in mimicry in several institutions, including the Telugu University.

NV who was the first mimic in the world to perform at the United Nations Organisation, New York City, was awarded with Padma Shri by Government of India in 2001. This apart, he was also the recipient of ‘Kala Prapoorna’ from Andhra University in 1979, Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation award in 1981 and ‘Gajarohanam’ by the TTD besides honorary doctorates from Andhra University, Kakatiya University and IGNOU.

Last year, the India Post has also released a special cover in commemoration of his seven-decade association with art form. NV breathed his last on June 19, 2018 at the age of 86 years. He is survived by wife Shobhavathy, two daughters, and two sons.

Speaking to The Hans India, Sahitya Akademi award winner Ampasayya Naveen said: “NV a unique performer who popularised mimicry has produced hundreds of artistes besides being the Ekalavya guru of many. Credit should go to NV for making mimicry, which once treated as a pastime, a means of livelihood to many artistes.”

In his memory, ‘Nerella Venumadhav Cultural Trust’ has planned a huge cultural fiesta in commemoration of NV’s birth anniversary on Friday (December 28). Telangana State Department of Culture Director Mamidi Harikrishna, lyricist, singer and Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister, Government of Telangana Deshapathi Srinivas, film actors Brahmanandam, Siva Reddy, mimicry Srinivas and a host of dignitaries are scheduled to attend the cultural fiesta organised at Nerella Venumadhav Kala Pranganam in Hanamkonda Public Garden.