End of era! Media legend, movie mogul 'Ramoji Rao' dies at 87

Ramoji Film City founder and media baron Ramoji Rao passed away in the wee hours of Saturday in Hyderabad, Telangana. Ramoji died while undergoing treatment at Star Hospital in Hyderabad. He took his last breath at 3:45 AM. 

Eenadu & Ramoji Film City founder Ramoji Rao, passed away today morning in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Ramoji Rao died while undergoing treatment at Star Hospital in Hyderabad. He took his last breath at 3:45 am. pic.twitter.com/DJGufYRtMP

— ANI (@ANI) June 8, 2024

Ramoji Rao's Hospitalization and Legacy

On June 5, Ramoji Rao was admitted to Star Hospitals in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, citing high blood pressure and breathlessness. Despite valiant efforts by medical professionals to stabilize his condition, Ramoji's health continued to deteriorate. In the intensive care unit (ICU), a stent was surgically placed in his heart, and he was connected to a ventilator in a bid to sustain vital functions. Regrettably, in the early hours of today, he bid farewell to the world, succumbing to his ailments. Notably, Ramoji had battled colon cancer in recent years and had successfully undergone treatment, marking a triumph over adversity.

The Genesis of Ramoji Film City

Renowned South Indian filmmaker and recipient of the prestigious Padma award, Ramoji Rao, envisioned and established Ramoji Film City in 1996. Confronting the myriad challenges inherent in film production, he conceptualized a comprehensive film city where filmmakers could materialize their cinematic visions seamlessly. This visionary endeavor epitomized a space where filmmakers arrived merely with a script and departed with a completed film. Annually, approximately 200 films are crafted within its expansive confines, representing a diverse array of languages including Hindi, Bhojpuri, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Oriya, among others. Noteworthy Hindi productions filmed here include blockbuster hits such as "Krrish-3," "Jai Ho," "Robot," "Kismat Connection," "Sarkar Raj," "Golmaal," "Himmatwala," "Chennai Express," and "Dilwale." Notably, the monumental "Baahubali" saga was entirely filmed within these hallowed grounds, marking a historic milestone in Indian cinema.

Achievements of Ramoji Rao 

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