Ramoji Rao

Cherukuri Ramoji Rao (16 November 1936 – 8 June 2024) was an Indian businessman, media proprietor and film producer. 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 Usha Kiran Movies.

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.

Rao garnered four Filmfare Awards South, five Nandi Awards and the National Film Award for his works in Telugu cinema. In 2016, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, for his contributions in journalism, literature and education.

Personal life Cherukuri Ramoji Rao was born on 16 November 1936 in a Telugu family in Pedaparupudi of Krishna District, Madras Presidency (now Andhra Pradesh), India. Companies owned by the Ramoji Group include Margadarsi Chit Fund, Eenadu newspaper, ETV Network, Ramadevi Public School, Priya Foods, Kalanjali, Usha Kiran 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. Rao died from heart disease in Hyderabad, on 8 June 2024, at the age of 87. He was cremated with state honours at Ramoji Film City, on 9 June 2024, where his memorial is expected to come up.

Filmography

Films Year Film title Language NotesRef. 1984 Srivariki PremalekhaTelugu Kanchana Ganga Sundari Subbarao 1985 MayuriRemade in Hindi as Naache Mayuri; dubbed into Malayalam and Tamil as Mayoori PratighatanaRemade in Malayalam as Pakarathinu Pakaram and Hindi as Pratighaat Preminchu Pelladu 1986 Pakarathinu PakaramMalayalam Remake of Pratighatana MallemoggaluTelugu Car Diddina Kapuram Naache MayuriHindi Remake of Mayuri 1987 Chandamama RaveTelugu PratighaatHindi Remake of Pratighatana PremayanamTelugu 1988 O Bharya Katha 1989 Mouna Poratam Paila Pacheesu 1990 Judgement Mamasri Manasu Mamata 1991 Amma Aswini People's Encounter Jagannatham & Sons 1992 VasundharaTeja 1998 Padutha Theeyaga Daddy Daddy 1999 Mechanic Mavayya 2000 Subhavela ChitramRemade in Kannada as Chitra Moodu Mukkalaata Nuvve KavaliRemake of Niram; remade in Hindi as Tujhe Meri Kasam and Kannada as Ninagagi Dr. Munshir DiaryBengaliFeluda Telefilm Madhuri Telugu 2001 Deevinchandi Ninnu Choodalani Akasa Veedhilo Chitra KannadaRemake of Chitram AnandamTeluguRemade in Tamil as Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu Ishtam 2002 Manasuvunte Chalu Priya Nestama Neetho NinagagiKannadaRemake of Nuvve Kavali 2003 Tujhe Meri KasamHindi Ananda KannadaRemake of Telugu film Anandam Oka Raju Oka RaniTelugu Toli Choopulone Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal InidhuTamil Remake of Anandam Bombaiyer BombeteBengaliFeluda Film 2004 AnandamanandamayeTelugu Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda HumHindi 2006 VeedhiTelugu 2007 SixerKannada 2008 NachavuleTelugu 2009 Ninnu Kalisaka SavaariKannadaRemake of Gamyam; co-production with Arka Media Works 2010 Betting BangarajuTelugu 2011 Nuvvila 2015 BeeruvaCo-production with Anandi Art Creations Dagudumootha DandakorRemake of Saivam; co-production with First Frame Entertainment

Television

Awards and honours

Civilian honours Padma Vibhushan (2016) – Government of India

National Film Awards National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu (producer) – Nuvve Kavali (2000)

Filmfare Awards 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)

Nandi Awards 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)