Hyderabad: Eenadu Group chairman Cherukuri Ramoji Rao passed away on early hours of Saturday following a brief illness. He was 87. He is survived by his wife Rama Devi, son Ch Kiran, daughters-in-law Sailaja Kiran, Vijaeshwari and grandchildren. His younger son Ch Suman died in 2012. Ramoji Rao’s final rites will be held at 11 am on Sunday in a private area in the Ramoji Film City. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed that Ramoji Rao be given state honours.
Ramoji Rao had set up media empire encompassing the ‘Eenadu’ newspaper, television channels and a film production unit. He had also entered the finance, foods and hospitality sectors. He ventured into the media sector with the launch of ‘Annadata’, a magazine for farmers, in 1969, and the Eenadu newspaper in Visakhapatnam in 1974.
The Centre conferred the Padma Vibhushan on Ramoji Rao in 2016.
President Droupadi Murmu led the nation in paying tribute to the media baron. “Ramoji Rao succeeded in all his ventures as his vision was essentially rooted in society,” she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a visionary who revolutionised Indian media. “Rao’s rich contributions have left an indelible mark on journalism and the world of films,” Modi said.
AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge termed Ramoji Rao as a visionary who transformed Indian media and made significant contributions to the field of cinema and journalism. Former vice-president Venkaiah Naidu termed the media baron as an institution.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who is away in New Delhi, said Ramoji Rao was credited with setting up new standards for Telugu media. “Irrespective of the field he had chosen, Ramoji Rao set new standards and reliability,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka paid homage to the mortal remains of Ramoji Rao at RFC and consoled the bereaved family members. “Ramoji Rao through his newspaper stood on behalf of the people and discharged his duty as the opposition,” Bhatti said. He reviewed the arrangements for the media baron’s last rites with state honours with the Rangareddy district collector.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate N. Chandrababu Naidu, his wife Bhuvaneshwari, son Lokesh and his wife Brahmini paid tribute to Ramoji Rao at the RFC. “Ramoji Rao left an indelible impression on the lives of Telugu people. His demise is a loss not just to the state but the country,” Naidu said.
Among those who paid tribute at Ramoji Film City were Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Telangana Speaker Gaddam Prasad, ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Ponnam Prabhakar, BRS leaders K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao among others and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan and party leaders. “Ramoji Rao set new trends and reforms in the media industry while upholding values,” Union minister and Telangana BJP chief Kishan Reddy said.
The Telugu Film Producers Council halted film shooting as a mark of respect to Ramoji Rao. Prominent actors Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Brahmanandam, Jagapati Babu, Sai Kumar, Rajendra Prasad, Naresh, Kalyan Ram, Manchu Vishnu, poducers and directors S.S. Rajamouli, K.V. Raghavendra Rao, Aswini Dutt, Shyam Prasad Reddy, Boyapati Srinivas, S.V. Krishna Reddy, music director Ilayaraja, writer Chandra Bose, singer S.P. Charan paid tribute to Ramoji Rao at the RFC.
