{{Short description|Indian businessman and media entrepreneur}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Tummala Narendra Choudary | image = | birth_name = Tummala Narendra Choudary | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1960|4|4}} | birth_place = Khammam, Telangana, India | occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|media entrepreneur}} }}
'''Tummala Narendra Choudary''' is an Indian media entrepreneur and businessman who founded the Telugu news channel NTV and the first Telugu devotional channel Bhakthi TV.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Dr Paramveer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ncg7EAAAQBAJ |title=Indian Silver Screen |date=2021-08-05 |publisher=K.K. Publications |pages=302 |language=en}}</ref> He also serves as the chairman of Rachana Group of Companies which has interests in publishing, infrastructure development, advertising etc.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=Rachana Television (RTPL) |url=http://india.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/companies/detail/company/company/show/rachana-television-rtpl/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=Media Ownership Monitor |language=en}}</ref>
== Early and personal life == Hailing from Khammam, he established ''Rachana Television Private Limited'' that owns NTV, Bhakthi TV and Vanitha TV.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}
He is known for organizing ''Koti Deepotsavam'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-11 |title=NTv Chairman Narendra Chowdary Tummala Organizes Koti Deepostavam 2021 |url=https://www.ragalahari.com/localevents/188189/ntv-chairman-narendra-chowdary-tummala-organizes-koti-deepostavam-2021.aspx |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=www.ragalahari.com |language=en}}</ref> an initiative he took up where Hindu devotees come together and light one crore oil lamps. He also initiated ''Mana Desam-Mana Geetham'' (My Nation, My Song), a campaign where 50,000 people from different places sing National Anthem together.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NTV Chairman T.N. Chowdhary's TV initiative repositions India's National Anthem among youngsters |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/ntv-chairman-tn-chowdharys-tv-initiative-repositions-indias-national-anthem-among-youngsters20220111170157/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=ANI News |language=en |archive-date=18 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118183242/https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/ntv-chairman-tn-chowdharys-tv-initiative-repositions-indias-national-anthem-among-youngsters20220111170157// |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Release |first=ANI Press |title=NTV Chairman T.N. Chowdhary's TV initiative repositions India's National Anthem among youngsters |url=https://www.business-standard.com/content/press-releases-ani/ntv-chairman-t-n-chowdhary-s-tv-initiative-repositions-india-s-national-anthem-among-youngsters-122011101127_1.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=www.business-standard.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-11 |title=NTV Chairman T.N. Chowdhary's TV initiative repositions India's National Anthem among youngsters |url=https://theprint.in/ani-press-releases/ntv-chairman-t-n-chowdharys-tv-initiative-repositions-indias-national-anthem-among-youngsters/800782/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
Government of India has nominated Narendra Choudary as Swachh Bharat ambassador in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of India |title=The Government of India Nominated Swachh Bharat Ambassadors |url=http://sac.ap.gov.in/sac/UserInterface/Downlaods/IEC_merged_document.pdf }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Business Ventures == He launched the 24x7 Telugu-language news channel NTV on 30 August 2007.<ref name=":02"/><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_6JaAAAAYAAJ&q=NTV |title=Business World |date=2007 |publisher=Ananda Bazar Patrika Limited |volume=26 |pages=17 |language=en}}</ref> NTV's parent company is Rachana Television Pvt. Ltd (RTPL). Rachana also owns South India's first devotional channel Bhakthi TV and India's first female-focused television channel Vanitha TV. RTPL was incorporated in 2006. As per Media Ownership Monitor, Narendra Choudary and family own 66.2% of RTPL.<ref name=":22"/>
Narendra Choudary and family also has interests in publishing (Rachana Publishers Private Limited), Infrastructure Development (Sri Rachana Infra Developers, and Sunshine Infraholdings), etc.<ref name=":22"/>
== Controversies == Narendra Choudary has served as the president of Jubilee Hills Housing Society president from 2006 - 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Jubilee Hills Co-operative Society {{!}} President |url=http://jhhst.com/management/president.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=jhhst.com}}</ref><ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{Cite web |title=Hyderabad: Membership for all a priority, say new representatives of Jubilee Hills Society |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2021/mar/23/hyderabad-membership-for-all-a-priority-say-new-representatives-of-jubilee-hills-society-2280241.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="Koride Mahesh">{{Cite web |author=Koride Mahesh|date=Mar 9, 2021 |title=Hyderabad: Jubilee Hills housing society polls on March 21 {{!}} Hyderabad News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/jubilee-hills-housing-society-polls-on-mar-21/articleshow/81400169.cms |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Telangana High Court sets aside Jubilee Hills Society's voters list |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2021/jan/06/telangana-high-courtsets-aside-jubileehills-societys-voters-list-2246125.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
In the society elections held on March 21, 2021, Narendra Choudary didn’t contest and the new society formed their panel on March 23, 2021.<ref name="Koride Mahesh"/><ref name="newindianexpress.com"/> The new society filed a case against Choudary in the High Court on April 20, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-25 |title=Jubilee Hills plot scam: NTV founder Chowdary made prime accused |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/250421/jubilee-hills-plot-scam-ntv-founder-chowdary-made-prime-accused.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Is NTV founder to be targeted ??? |url=http://www.indiaherald.com/Politics/Read/994343495/Is-NTV-founder-to-be-targeted |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=indiaherald.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-01 |title=Conspiracy against NTV Chairman Narendra Chowdary Tummala? |url=https://www.telugubulletin.com/conspiracy-against-ntv-chairman-narendra-chowdary-tummala-128762 |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=TeluguBulletin.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
However, the Telangana High Court directed the Hyderabad city police not to arrest Narendra Choudary in the case pertaining to alleged scam in Jubilee Hills Cooperative House Building Society (JHCHBS).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Telugu360 |date=2021-04-28 |title=TS High Court asks police not to arrest NTV Chowdhary |url=https://www.telugu360.com/ts-high-court-asks-police-not-to-be-arrest-ntv-chowdhary/ |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=Telugu360.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-05-06 |title=News channel chairman gets anticipatory bail |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/news-channel-chairman-gets-anticipatory-bail/article34501436.ece |access-date=2022-04-01 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Sagar Kumar Mutha|date=May 7, 2021 |title=Hyderabad: Ex-members of Jubilee Hills housing body get bail in plot case |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/ex-members-of-jubilee-hills-hsg-body-get-bail-in-plot-case/articleshow/82442926.cms |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> And the Jubilee hills police have withdrawn the case as there is no conspiracy and nothing illegal in the plot registration process.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-08 |title=Property deal with false ID card in Jubilee Hills is not criminal act, say police |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/080621/property-deal-with-false-id-card-in-jubilee-hills-is-not-criminal-act.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-03 |title=Police withdraw case against NTV Narendra Chowdary |url=https://www.telugubulletin.com/police-withdraw-case-against-ntv-narendra-chowdary-132108 |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=TeluguBulletin.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Despite the contradictions over the years, In the September 3, 2021 elections for the Jubilee Hills International Center governing body Narendra Chaudhary panel was elected unanimously.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jublihills International Centre: జూబ్లీహిల్స్ ఇంటర్నేషనల్ సెంటర్ ఎన్నికలు ఏకగ్రీవం.. పూర్తి వివరాలివే.. |url=https://telugu.news18.com/news/telangana/hyderabad-jubilee-hills-international-center-elections-unanimous-here-is-the-elected-members-list-bk-vb-1020148.html |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=News18 Telugu |language=te}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-03 |title=జూబ్లీహిల్స్ ఇంటర్నేషనల్ సెంటర్ ఎన్నికల్లో చౌదరి ప్యానెల్ ఏకగ్రీవం |url=https://telugu.gulte.com/political-news/28446/narendra-chowdary-panel-unanimously-elected-for-jic |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=Gulte Telugu |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Awards == He received lifetime achievement award by Telugu Association of North America in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ఎన్టీవీ చైర్మన్ నరేంద్రచౌదరికి తానా జీవనసాఫల్య పురస్కారం |url=https://telugutimes.net/news-article/ntv-chairman-narendra-choudary-receives-tana-lifetime-achievement-award |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=Telugu Times USA NRI Telugu News Telugu News Papers In USA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-07-05 |title=TANA 2019 award winners |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/cinema/tollywood/tana-2019-award-winners-543966 |access-date=2022-03-18 |website=www.thehansindia.com |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tummala, Narendra Choudary}} Category:Living people Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh Category:Indian mass media owners Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople Category:Businesspeople from Andhra Pradesh Category:1960 births