Nandumuri Taraka Ratna passes away, battled for 23 days

Hyderabad: Actor-turned-TDP leader Nandmuri Taraka Ratna (39), who suffered a cardiac arrest during Nara Lokesh padayatra, passed away while being treated at Narayana Hrudayalaya hospital in Bangalore on Saturday night. He has been in the hospital for the last 23 days, battling for life. Unfortunate to say, his 40th birthday is just four days away on February 22. The hospital authorities are to release a health bulletin.

A couple of days back, cardiology specialists from the US came to the hospital for additional health-related support.

Taraka Ratna is the grandson of Telugu actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao. His father Nandamuri Mohan Krishna is a noted cinematographer in Tollywood. He is the cousin of actors Nandamuri Kalyan Ram and Jr. NTR and TDP leader Nara Lokesh.

Nandamuri Taraka Ratna suffered a cardiac arrest in Kuppam on 27 January during TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh's padayatra Yuva Galam. He was taken to a hospital in Kuppam for primary treatment. Doctors there advised that he be moved to a tertiary center due to his critical condition.

A team of doctors from Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences (Narayana Hrudayalaya), Bangalore, traveled to Kupparm to evaluate Taraka Ratna's condition. He was found to have an anterior wall myocardial infarction with balloon angioplasty on an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and vasoactive support. Taraka Ratna was then shifted to Bangalore on 28 January. According to the earlier health bulletin released by the doctors, higher-level diagnostics showed that his condition was highly critical due to the cardiogenic shock after the myocardial infarction. "Evaluation of his condition will continue with treatment under standard guidelines and protocols. He was under the care of a multidisciplinary clinical team, including cardiologists, intensivists, and other specialists at NH", said the health bulletin.

The doctors and family members were in the hope that he would recover and return home. However, since Saturday evening, a tensed situation was seen at the hospital premises. Actor Nandamuri Bala Krishna, and other family members reached Bangalore on Saturday evening. His demise was announced at around 8 pm. Taraka Ratna will be shifted to Hyderabad tonight.

Taraka Ratna's film career

Taraka Ratna made his debut with ‘Okato Number Kurraadu’ in 2003. He appeared in several movies as a hero and as a villain. His other movies include 'Yuva Rathna,' 'Taarak,' and 'Bhadradri Ramudu.'

Taraka Ratna got the Nandi award for his role in 'Amaravathi,' a thriller written and directed by Ravi Babu. He recently played the lead role in the Hotstar web series 9 Hours,' released in 2022.