Ramoji Rao

Ramoji Rao
Rao in 2019
Born
Ramoji Rao

(1936-11-16)16 November 1936
Pedaparupudi, Madras Presidency, British Raj (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died8 June 2024(2024-06-08) (aged 87)
Hyderabad, Telangana, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s)Businessman, Media Proprietor
Spouse
Rama Devi
​
(m. 1961)​
Awards

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]

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

Cherukuri Ramoji Rao was born on 16 November 1936 in Pedaparupudi of Krishna District, Madras Presidency, India into an Telugu-speaking Kamma family.[12][13] 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.[14] Rao died from heart disease in Hyderabad, on 8 June 2024, at the age of 87.[15] He was cremated with state honours at Ramoji Film City, on 9 June 2024, where his memorial is expected to come up.[16]

Filmography

Films

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 [17]
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 [18]
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 [19]
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 [20]
2015 Dagudumootha Dandakor Telugu Remake of Saivam; co-production with First Frame Entertainment

Television

Year Series title Language Notes Ref.
1995–1999 Sneha Telugu
1997 Popula Pette Telugu
2003–2007 Panchatantram Telugu

Awards and honours

President Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Vibhushan Award to Shri Ramoji Rao, at a civil investiture ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 12 April 2016
Civilian honours
National Film Awards
Filmfare Awards
Nandi Awards[21]

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ramoji Film City on BBC. 9 May 2013 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Ramoji Film City on Discovery Travel & Living. 9 May 2013 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Largest film studio". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  6. ^ "ETV Ramoji group forays into garment making". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
  7. ^ "About Ramoji Group". Eenaduinfo.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Chairman Rao". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Padma Awards 2016". Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Padma Awards 2016: Full List". NDTV.com. 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  12. ^ "ఈనాడు "రామోజీరావు" జన్మదిన సుభాకాంక్షలు". Namasthe Andhra (in Telugu). 16 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  13. ^ Phadnis, Aditi (10 June 2024). "Cherukuri Ramoji Rao: Bridging the divide between business and politics". Business Standard. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  14. ^ Ramoji Rao's Son Suman Died'd – Sakshi TV on YouTube
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Movie Preview — Manasunte Chalu". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Movie review — Toli Choopulone". idlebrain.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Veedhi Press Meet". ragalahari.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  20. ^ "AnandiArts-UshaKiran film 'Beeruva'". supergoodmovies.com. 11 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  21. ^ "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)