Cherukuri Ramoji Rao (16 November 1936 – 8 June 2024) was an Indian businessman, media proprietor and film producer.[2] He was head of the Ramoji Group which owns the world's largest film production facility Ramoji Film City, Eenadu newspaper, ETV Network of TV channels, film production company Ushakiran Movies.[3][4][5][6]
Ramoji Rao | |
|---|---|
 Rao in 2019 | |
| Born | Ramoji Rao 16 November 1936 |
| Died | 8 June 2024 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, Media Proprietor |
| Spouse |
Rama Devi (m. 1961) |
| Awards |
|
His other business ventures included Margadarsi Chit Fund, Dolphin Group of Hotels, Kalanjali Shopping Mall, Priya Pickles, ETV Win OTT platform and Mayuri Film Distributors.[7][8]
Rao garnered four Filmfare Awards South, five Nandi Awards and the National Film Award for his works in Telugu cinema.[9] In 2016, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, for his contributions in journalism, literature and education.[10][11]
Personal life
editCherukuri Ramoji Rao was born on 16 November 1936 in Pedaparupudi of Krishna District, Madras Presidency, India into an agricultural family.[12] Companies owned by the Ramoji Group include Margadarsi Chit Fund, Eenadu newspaper, ETV Network, Ramadevi Public School, Priya Foods, Kalanjali, Ushakiran Movies, and Ramoji Film City near Hyderabad. He was also the chairman of Dolphin Group of Hotels in Andhra Pradesh.
Rao's younger son, Cherukuri Suman, died of leukaemia on 7 September 2012.[13] Rao died from heart disease in Hyderabad, on 8 June 2024, at the age of 87.[14] He was cremated with state honours at Ramoji Film City, on 9 June 2024, where his memorial is expected to come up.[15]
Filmography
editFilms
edit| Year | Film title | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Srivariki Premalekha | Telugu | ||
| 1984 | Kanchana Ganga | Telugu | ||
| 1984 | Sundari Subbarao | Telugu | ||
| 1985 | Mayuri | Telugu | Remade in Hindi as Naache Mayuri; dubbed into Malayalam and Tamil as Mayoori | |
| 1985 | Pratighatana | Telugu | Remade in Malayalam as Pakarathinu Pakaram and Hindi as Pratighaat | |
| 1985 | Preminchu Pelladu | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Pakarathinu Pakaram | Malayalam | Remake of Pratighatana | |
| 1986 | Mallemoggalu | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Car Diddina Kapuram | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Naache Mayuri | Hindi | Remake of Mayuri | |
| 1987 | Chandamama Rave | Telugu | ||
| 1987 | Pratighaat | Hindi | Remake of Pratighatana | |
| 1987 | Premayanam | Telugu | ||
| 1988 | O Bharya Katha | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Mouna Poratam | Telugu | ||
| 1989 | Paila Pacheesu | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Judgement | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Mamasri | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Manasu Mamata | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Amma | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Aswini | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | People's Encounter | Telugu | ||
| 1991 | Jagannatham & Sons | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Vasundhara | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Teja | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Padutha Theeyaga | Telugu | ||
| 1998 | Daddy Daddy | Telugu | ||
| 1999 | Mechanic Mamaiah | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Subhavela | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Chitram | Telugu | Remade in Kannada as Chitra | |
| 2000 | Moodu Mukkalaata | Telugu | ||
| 2000 | Nuvve Kavali | Telugu | Remake of Niram; remade in Hindi as Tujhe Meri Kasam and Kannada as Ninagagi | |
| 2000 | Dr. Munshir Diary | Bengali | Feluda Telefilm | |
| 2001 | Deevinchandi | Telugu | ||
| 2001 | Ninnu Choodalani | Telugu | ||
| 2001 | Akasa Veedhilo | Telugu | ||
| 2001 | Chitra | Kannada | Remake of Chitram | |
| 2001 | Anandam | Telugu | Remade in Tamil as Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu | |
| 2001 | Ishtam | Telugu | ||
| 2002 | Manasuvunte Chalu | Telugu | [16] | |
| 2002 | Priya Nestama | Telugu | ||
| 2002 | Neetho | Telugu | ||
| 2002 | Ninagagi | Kannada | Remake of Nuvve Kavali | |
| 2003 | Tujhe Meri Kasam | Hindi | Remake of Nuvve Kavali | |
| 2003 | Ananda | Kannada | Remake of Telugu film Anandam | |
| 2003 | Oka Raju Oka Rani | Telugu | ||
| 2003 | Toli Choopulone | Telugu | [17] | |
| 2003 | Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu | Tamil | Remake of Anandam | |
| 2003 | Bombaiyer Bombete | Bengali | Feluda Film | |
| 2004 | Anandamanandamaye | Telugu | ||
| 2004 | Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda Hum | Hindi | ||
| 2006 | Veedhi | Telugu | [18] | |
| 2007 | Sixer | Kannada | ||
| 2008 | Nachavule | Telugu | ||
| 2009 | Ninnu Kalisaka | Telugu | ||
| 2009 | Savaari | Kannada | Remake of Gamyam; co-production with Arka Media Works | |
| 2010 | Betting Bangaraju | Telugu | ||
| 2011 | Nuvvila | Telugu | ||
| 2015 | Beeruva | Telugu | Co-production with Anandi Art Creations | [19] |
| 2015 | Dagudumootha Dandakor | Telugu | Remake of Saivam; co-production with First Frame Entertainment |
Television
edit| Year | Series title | Language | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1999 | Sneha | Telugu | ||
| 2003–2007 | Panchatantram | Telugu |
Awards and honours
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2024) |
- Civilian honours
- Padma Vibhushan (2016) – Government of India
- National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer) – Nuvve Kavali (2000)
- Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) – Pratighatana (1985)
- Filmfare Special Award - South for outstanding contributions towards Indian cinema (1998)
- Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) – Nuvve Kavali (2000)
- Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South (2004)
- Best Feature Film - Silver – Kanchana Ganga (1984)
- Best Feature Film - Gold – Mayuri (1985)
- Best Feature Film - Silver – Mouna Poratam (1989)
- Best Feature Film - Bronze – Aswini (1991)
- Best Children's Film - Gold – Teja (1992)
References
edit- ^ "Rajinikanth gets Padma Vibhushan; Padma Shri for Priyanka, Ajay Devgn". The Indian Express. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Donthi, Praveen (December 2014). "How Ramoji Rao of Eenadu wrested control of power and politics in Andhra Pradesh". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ramoji Film City on BBC. 9 May 2013 – via YouTube.
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ramoji Film City on Discovery Travel & Living. 9 May 2013 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Largest film studio". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ "ETV Ramoji group forays into garment making". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "About Ramoji Group". Eenaduinfo.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ The Hindu (8 June 2024). "Ramoji Rao: A media mogul who dreamed big". Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Chairman Rao". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Padma Awards 2016". Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "Padma Awards 2016: Full List". NDTV.com. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
- ^ "ఈనాడు "రామోజీరావు" జన్మదిన సుభాకాంక్షలు". Namasthe Andhra (in Telugu). 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ Ramoji Rao's Son Suman Died'd – Sakshi TV on YouTube
- ^ "Media baron Ramoji Rao passes away at 87". The Indian Express. 8 June 2024. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ The Hindu (9 June 2024). "Ramoji Rao death: Last rites of the media baron held at Ramoji Film City; Chandrababu Naidu attends". Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ "Movie Preview — Manasunte Chalu". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ "Movie review — Toli Choopulone". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
- ^ "Veedhi Press Meet". ragalahari.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ "AnandiArts-UshaKiran film 'Beeruva'". supergoodmovies.com. 11 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
External links
edit- Ramoji Rao at IMDb