View source for Ramoji Rao

{{Short description|Indian businessman, media proprietor and film producer (1936–2024)}}
<!-- Should be 40 characters (including spaces) or fewer see [[WP:SD40]] -->
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Ramoji Rao
| image              = Ramoji Rao.jpeg
| spouse(s)          = {{marriage|Rama Devi|1961-2024}}
| caption            = 
| birthname          = Cherukuri Ramoji Rao
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=y|1936|11|16}}
| birth_place        = [[Pedaparupudi]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now in [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|06|08|1936|11|16}}
| death_place        = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India
| occupation         = Businessman, Media Proprietor, [[Film producer]]
| nationality        = Indian
| awards             = {{ubl|[[Padma Vibhushan]] (2016)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rajinikanth-awarded-padma-vibhushan-padma-shri-for-priyanka-chopra-ajay-devgn/ |title=Rajinikanth gets Padma Vibhushan; Padma Shri for Priyanka, Ajay Devgn |date=25 January 2016 |website=The Indian Express |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025080029/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/rajinikanth-awarded-padma-vibhushan-padma-shri-for-priyanka-chopra-ajay-devgn/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
}}

'''Cherukuri Ramoji Rao''' (16 November 1936 – 8 June 2024) was an Indian businessman, media proprietor and film producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donthi |first=Praveen |date=December 2014 |title=How Ramoji Rao of Eenadu wrested control of power and politics in Andhra Pradesh |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/chairman-rao |access-date=30 December 2019 |website=[[The Caravan]] |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517005221/https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/chairman-rao |url-status=live }}</ref> 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]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/9k8yUozcP80 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170307183601/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8yUozcP80 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k8yUozcP80 |title=Ramoji Film City on BBC |date=9 May 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/PzHlTCLkias Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170307163247/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHlTCLkias Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzHlTCLkias |title=Ramoji Film City on Discovery Travel & Living |date=9 May 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="guiness2">{{cite web |title=Largest film studio |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-film-studio/ |access-date=12 January 2015 |publisher=Guinness World Records |archive-date=18 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218024841/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-film-studio/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ETV Ramoji group forays into garment making |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2002/07/05/stories/2002070501670400.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305032931/http://www.hinduonnet.com/businessline/2002/07/05/stories/2002070501670400.htm |archive-date=5 March 2011 |access-date=18 January 2011 |work=The Hindu}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Ramoji Group |url=http://eenaduinfo.com/about_ram.htm |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Eenaduinfo.com |archive-date=19 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019054522/http://eenaduinfo.com/about_ram.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Ramoji Rao: A media mogul who dreamed big">{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=Ramoji Rao: A media mogul who dreamed big |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ramoji-raos-multifaceted-legacy-spanned-contributions-to-journalism-the-film-industry-and-an-indelible-mark-on-entrepreneurship/article68265932.ece |access-date=10 June 2024 |date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060359/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ramoji-raos-multifaceted-legacy-spanned-contributions-to-journalism-the-film-industry-and-an-indelible-mark-on-entrepreneurship/article68265932.ece |archive-date=10 June 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

Rao garnered four [[Filmfare Awards South]], five [[Nandi Awards]] and the [[National Film Awards|National Film Award]] for his works in [[Telugu cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chairman Rao |url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/chairman-rao |access-date=28 December 2015 |website=The Caravan |archive-date=28 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128233250/http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/chairman-rao |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, he was honoured with the [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second-highest civilian honour, for his contributions in journalism, literature and education.<ref>{{cite web |title=Padma Awards 2016 |url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=135783 |access-date=25 January 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329211831/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=135783 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=25 January 2016 |title=Padma Awards 2016: Full List |url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/padma-awards-2016-full-list-1269936 |work=NDTV.com |access-date=25 January 2016 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329222623/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/padma-awards-2016-full-list-1269936 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Cherukuri Ramoji Rao was born on 16 November 1936 in a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] family in [[Pedaparupudi]] of [[Krishna District]], [[Madras Presidency]] (now [[Andhra Pradesh]]), India.<ref>{{cite web |title=ఈనాడు "రామోజీరావు" జన్మదిన సుభాకాంక్షలు |url=https://namasteandhra.com/happy-birth-day-media-legend-ramoji-rao/ |website=Namasthe Andhra |language=te |date=16 November 2020 |access-date=6 September 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906153922/https://namasteandhra.com/happy-birth-day-media-legend-ramoji-rao/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Phadnis |first1=Aditi |date=10 June 2024 |title=Cherukuri Ramoji Rao: Bridging the divide between business and politics |url=https://www.business-standard.com/politics/cherukuri-ramoji-rao-bridging-the-divide-between-business-and-politics-124060900553_1.html |work=Business Standard |access-date=19 December 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{YouTube|iy3RyF6d5r4|Ramoji Rao's Son Suman Died'd – Sakshi TV}}</ref> Rao died from heart disease in Hyderabad, on 8 June 2024, at the age of 87.<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 June 2024|title=Media baron Ramoji Rao passes away at 87|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/ramoji-rao-dead-media-baron-9379183/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en|access-date=8 June 2024|archive-date=8 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608030601/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/hyderabad/ramoji-rao-dead-media-baron-9379183/|url-status=live}}</ref> He was cremated with state honours at Ramoji Film City, on 9 June 2024, where his memorial is expected to come up.<ref name="Ramoji Rao death: Last rites of the media baron held at Ramoji Film City; Chandrababu Naidu attends">{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=Ramoji Rao death: Last rites of the media baron held at Ramoji Film City; Chandrababu Naidu attends |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/last-rites-of-ramoji-rao-held-at-rfc-chandrababu-naidu-attends/article68269282.ece |access-date=10 June 2024 |date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610060121/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/last-rites-of-ramoji-rao-held-at-rfc-chandrababu-naidu-attends/article68269282.ece |archive-date=10 June 2024 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Films ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film title !!  Language !! class="unsortable" | Notes
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1984|| ''[[Srivariki Premalekha]]''|| rowspan="6" |[[Telugu Language|Telugu]] ||
|
|-
| ''[[Kanchana Ganga (1984 film)|Kanchana Ganga]]''||
|
|-
| ''Sundari Subbarao ''||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1985|| ''[[Mayuri (film)|Mayuri]]''||Remade in Hindi as ''[[Naache Mayuri]]''; dubbed into Malayalam and Tamil as ''Mayoori''
|
|-
| ''[[Pratighatana]]''||Remade in Malayalam as ''[[Pakarathinu Pakaram]]'' and Hindi as ''[[Pratighaat]]''
|
|-
| ''Preminchu Pelladu''||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1986|| ''[[Pakarathinu Pakaram]]''||[[Malayalam]] ||Remake of ''[[Pratighatana]]''
|
|-
| ''Mallemoggalu''|| rowspan="2" |Telugu||
|
|-
| ''Car Diddina Kapuram''||
|
|-
| ''[[Naache Mayuri]]''||[[Hindi Language|Hindi]] ||Remake of ''[[Mayuri (film)|Mayuri]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1987|| ''Chandamama Rave''||Telugu||
|
|-
| ''[[Pratighaat]]''||Hindi ||Remake of ''[[Pratighatana]]''
|
|-
| ''Premayanam''|| rowspan="20" |Telugu ||
|
|-
| 1988|| ''O Bharya Katha''||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1989|| ''[[Mouna Poratam]]''||
|
|-
| ''Paila Pacheesu''||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1990|| ''Judgement''||
|
|-
| ''Mamasri''||
|
|-
| ''Manasu Mamata'' ||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 1991|| ''Amma''||
|
|-
| ''[[Aswini (film)|Aswini]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[People's Encounter]]''||
|
|-
| ''Jagannatham & Sons''||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1992|| ''Vasundhara''||
|
|-
|[[Teja (film)|''Teja'']]
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998|| ''[[Padutha Theeyaga (film)|Padutha Theeyaga]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Daddy Daddy]]''||
|
|-
| 1999|| ''Mechanic Mamaiah''||
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2000|| ''Subhavela''||
|
|-
| ''[[Chitram]]''||Remade in Kannada as ''Chitra''
|
|-
| ''[[Moodu Mukkalaata]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Nuvve Kavali]]''||Remake of ''[[Niram]]''; remade in Hindi as ''[[Tujhe Meri Kasam]]'' and Kannada as ''[[Ninagagi]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Feluda (series)|Dr. Munshir Diary]]''||[[Bengali language|Bengali]]||[[Feluda (series)|Feluda]] Telefilm
|
|-
| ''Madhuri'' || rowspan="4" | Telugu || 
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2001|| ''[[Deevinchandi]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Ninnu Choodalani]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Akasa Veedhilo]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Chitra (2001 film)|Chitra]]'' ||[[Kannada]]||Remake of ''[[Chitram]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Anandam]]''|| rowspan="5" |Telugu||Remade in Tamil as ''[[Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Ishtam (2001 Telugu film)|Ishtam]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2002|| ''Manasuvunte Chalu''||
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/coming/manasuntechalu.html |title=Movie Preview&nbsp;— Manasunte Chalu |publisher=[[idlebrain.com]] |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050949/http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/coming/manasuntechalu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Priya Nestama]]'' ||
|
|-
| ''[[Neetho (2002 film)|Neetho]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Ninagagi]]''||Kannada|| rowspan="2" |Remake of ''[[Nuvve Kavali]]''
|
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2003|| ''[[Tujhe Meri Kasam]]''||Hindi
|
|-
| ''[[Ananda (film)|Ananda]]'' ||Kannada||Remake of Telugu film ''Anandam''
|
|-
| ''[[Oka Raju Oka Rani]]''|| rowspan="2" |Telugu||
|
|-
| ''[[Toli Choopulone]]''||
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-tolichoopulone.html |title=Movie review&nbsp;— Toli Choopulone |publisher=[[idlebrain.com]] |access-date=16 July 2015 |archive-date=3 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703012312/http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-tolichoopulone.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu]]''||[[Tamil Language|Tamil]] ||Remake of ''[[Anandam]]''
|
|-
| ''[[Bombaiyer Bombete (film)|Bombaiyer Bombete]]''||[[Bengali language|Bengali]]||[[Feluda (series)|Feluda]] Film
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2004|| ''[[Anandamanandamaye]]''||Telugu||
|
|-
| ''[[Thoda Tum Badlo Thoda Hum]]''||Hindi||
|
|-
| 2006|| ''[[Veedhi]]''||Telugu||
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ragalahari.com/functions/1799/veedhi-press-meet.aspx |title=Veedhi Press Meet |publisher=ragalahari.com |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208145042/http://www.ragalahari.com/functions/1799/veedhi-press-meet.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 2007|| ''[[Sixer (2007 film)|Sixer]]''||Kannada||
|
|-
| 2008|| ''[[Nachavule]]''|| rowspan="2" |Telugu||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2009|| ''[[Ninnu Kalisaka]]''||
|
|-
| ''[[Savaari (2009 film)|Savaari]]''||Kannada||Remake of ''[[Gamyam]]''; co-production with [[Arka Media Works]]
|
|-
| 2010|| ''[[Betting Bangaraju]]''|| rowspan="4" |Telugu||
|
|-
| 2011|| ''[[Nuvvila]]''||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015|| ''[[Beeruva]]''||Co-production with [[Anandi Art Creations]]
|<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supergoodmovies.com/61627/tollywood/anandiarts-ushakiran-film-beeruva-news-details |title=AnandiArts-UshaKiran film 'Beeruva' |publisher=supergoodmovies.com |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-date=4 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704165336/http://www.supergoodmovies.com/61627/tollywood/anandiarts-ushakiran-film-beeruva-news-details |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Dagudumootha Dandakor]]''||Remake of ''[[Saivam]]''; co-production with [[First Frame Entertainment]]
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Series title
!Language
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
|1995–1999
|[[Sneha (TV series)|''Sneha'']]
| rowspan="3" |Telugu
|
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Popula Pette]]''
|
|
|-
|2003–2007
|''[[Panchatantram]]''
|
|
|}

==Awards and honours==
{{more citations needed|section|date=June 2024}}
[[File:The 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 April 12, 2016.jpg|thumb|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
*[[Padma Vibhushan]] (2016) – Government of India

;[[National Film Awards]]
*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu]] (producer) – ''[[Nuvve Kavali]]'' (2000)

;[[Filmfare Awards South|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]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008) |trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008) |publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]] |access-date=21 August 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223135739/http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |url-status=live }}(in [[Telugu language|Telugu]])</ref>
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film -  Silver]] – [[Kanchana Ganga (1984 film)|Kanchana Ganga]] (1984)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film - Gold]] – [[Mayuri (film)|Mayuri]] (1985)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film - Silver]] – [[Mouna Poratam]] (1989)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film|Best Feature Film - Bronze]] – [[Aswini (film)|Aswini]] (1991)
*[[Nandi Award for Best Children Film|Best Children's Film - Gold]] – [[Teja (film)|Teja]] (1992)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1306286}}

{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAwardSouth}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rao, Ramoji}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:Telugu film producers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Indian mass media owners]]
[[Category:People from Krishna district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian film distributors]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Ramoji Group]]