Ramoji Rao, a versatile genius, left an indelible mark on the media and entertainment industries.
Hyderabad, Veteran media personality and business tycoon Ch Ramoji Rao, who died here on Saturday, was a versatile genius whose work is unparalleled in fields such as media, hospitality, NBFC, food, and retail store chains. From humble beginnings, Ramoji Rao rose to become the founder of Eenadu, the most widely circulated Telugu daily, and a media mogul. Eenadu newspaper, ETV bouquet of channels, the world’s largest film city Ramoji Film City, Dolphin group of hotels, Margadarsi Chit Fund, film production company Ushakiran Movies, Priya Foods, and others created jobs thousands and continue to have an impact on the lives of millions in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and elsewhere. Ramoji Rao had also served as chairman of the Editors Guild of India. Born on November 16, 1936, in the Krishna district of coastal Andhra Pradesh, he founded the Margadarsi Chit Fund in 1962, which now serves customers in Telangana and other states. Ramoji Rao, who came from a middle-class farming family, entered the media industry in 1969 with the launch of ‘Annadata’, a peasant magazine. He founded Eenadu in the port city of Visakhapatnam in 1974, which revolutionized the newspaper industry in undivided Andhra Pradesh and is still the most widely circulated Telugu daily with multiple editions. Eenadu became a pioneer in several ways, including Ramoji Rao, who is known for his punctuality, ensured that the newspaper reached readers before sunrise, as opposed to a delayed delivery. The use of simple Telugu, increased coverage of local news, and special editions for each district made the newspaper extremely popular among readers. Eenadu’s ‘to restore democracy’ campaign when TDP founder N T Rama Rao was ousted from power in 1984 in a bloodless coup that eventually led to NTR’s return to power is a watershed moment in Ramoji Rao’s life. Following natural disasters, funds raised through the Eenadu relief fund were used to construct permanent houses and schools in several states. Many Telugu words coined by Eenadu with the advent of the internet have entered the Telugu lexicon. ETV was one of the first Telugu satellite entertainment channels after Doordarshan’s monopoly ended. ETV quickly became a household name. ETV’s channel lineup quickly expanded to include Telugu news, as well as Kannada, Bengali, Hindi, and other languages. ‘Padutha Teeyaga’, a music show hosted by the late S P Balasubrahmanyam for nearly two decades on ETV, introduced thousands of aspiring singers. Guinness World Records recognizes Ramoji Film City as the world’s largest film city. Thousands of films, including SS Rajamouli’s famous ‘Bahubali’, in almost all Indian languages, as well as some Hindi blockbusters, have been shot at Ramoji Film City on Hyderabad’s outskirts. The Priya brand of pickles are manufactured by Priya Foods is a household name in many parts of the country and is also popular in other countries such as the United States. Ramoji Rao’s distinct style of filmmaking on a low budget, often with social themes, earned him recognition. Ramoji Rao’s films introduced or helped to establish popular film personalities such as Oscar-winning musician M M Keeravani and junior NTR. Ramoji Rao received the second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2016. He also received numerous awards and honorary doctorates from various universities.
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