Media mogul Cherukuri Ramoji Rao was laid to rest with full state honors at Ramoji Film City on Sunday. Telangana police paid tribute to the chairman of the Ramoji Group by performing a ceremonial firing of shots after reversing their arms.
Ramoji Rao’s son and Managing Director of Eenadu, Cherukuri Kiran, conducted the final rites, lighting the funeral pyre amidst Vedic hymns recited by priests.
Dignitaries including former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu, political leaders, film personalities, and prominent figures from various domains attended the funeral.
Chandrababu Naidu personally carried Ramoji Rao’s bier from his residence to Smriti Vanam, a spot designated within Ramoji Film City for his final rites.
#WATCH | Telangana: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu attends the last rites of Eenadu & Ramoji Film City founder Ramoji Rao, in Hyderabad.
(Visuals source: I&PR, Government of Telangana) pic.twitter.com/x6JHDkJNaB
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024
Family, friends, employees of Film City, and Ramoji Group bid farewell to the media icon, who passed away at the age of 88 following a brief illness.
Ramoji Rao, the visionary behind the widely circulated Telugu daily ‘Eenadu’, the ‘ETV’ group of channels, and the renowned Ramoji Film City, breathed his last on Saturday after being admitted to a private hospital on June 5 due to respiratory issues.
His contributions extended beyond media to the film industry, culinary ventures, and Telugu politics. A pioneer in many respects, he was the first to introduce a 24-hour news channel in Telugu and other languages.
The funeral saw the presence of several notable figures including Former Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana, Telangana ministers, TDP leaders, Congress and BJP representatives, as well as senior IAS officers from Andhra Pradesh.
Veteran actor Murali Mohan, filmmakers Boyapati Srinu, Suresh Babu, and numerous others from the entertainment industry paid their respects.
Born on November 16, 1936, in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district, Ramoji Rao initiated the ‘Eenadu’ Telugu daily on August 10, 1974, which swiftly became a dominant force in the media landscape. His legacy encompasses a profound influence across various sectors and continues to resonate within Telugu society.