Mr. Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, a respected media baron and the founder of Eenadu and Ramoji Film City Hyderabad, passed away on 8th June 2024 at 3:45 am. He was 87 years old. Ramoji was admitted to Hyderabad’s Star Hospital on 5th June 2024 after experiencing breathing difficulties and was receiving treatment there.

Ramoji had previously been diagnosed and successfully treated for colon cancer a few years ago, but the cause of his death remains unknown.

Born on 16th November 1936 in Pedaparupudi, Andhra Pradesh, to a farmer's family, Ramoji’s parents named him Ramayya after his deceased grandfather. Later, he changed his name to Ramoji. He completed his B.Sc degree from Gudivada College and began his career in media as an artist for an advertising agency in Delhi.

Ramoji went on to establish and lead the Ramoji Group, which includes numerous media entities such as the Eenadu newspaper, the ETV Network of television channels, Usha Kiran Movies film production company, and Mayuri Film Distributors. However, the Ramoji Group is best known for creating and managing the world’s largest integrated film studios and production facilities, the renowned Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.

Ramoji was the chairman of the Editors Guild of India and was known for his unique style of making social-themed movies on a low budget, winning many awards. In 2016, he received India’s second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan, from then-president Pranab Mukherjee.

Many prominent figures, including PM Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, and Andhra Pradesh’s former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, described Rao as a revolutionary visionary of Indian media. They expressed their grief over his death and offered condolences to his family, friends, and admirers.

Ramoji was cremated with state honors following an order from Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The arrangements for his funeral and cremation were personally supervised by Telangana’s Chief Secretary Mrs. A. Santhi Kumari, Ranga Reddy District Collector K. Shashanka, and Cyberabad Joint Commissioner of Police Avinash Mohanty.

ISH offers its condolences to Ramoji’s family and friends and hopes that his soul rests in peace.

Now, as promised, let’s learn more about the renowned Ramoji Film City.

Ramoji Film City is located in Abdullahpurmet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, and was established in 1996 because Ramoji Rao wanted to build a studio similar to those in the US. He lived there too. The film city spans 1,666 acres and is certified by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest film city.

Famous Indian Art Director Nitish Roy designed the entire complex, ensuring that no trees or mountainous terrain were removed from the land. Ramoji Film City features a variety of sets, including forests, gardens, hotels, a railway station, an airport, apartment blocks, mansions, police stations, hospitals, courtrooms, workshops, temples, and historical and mythological sets. It also includes a central kitchen, restaurants, six hotels, 47 sound studios, and vintage and AC internal bus services for production houses and tourists.

With more than 1,200 employees and 8,000 agents, Ramoji Film City handles 400-500 movie shootings and post-productions every year. The movie “Maa Naannaku Pelli,” released in 1997, was the first film shot there. Since then, hundreds of Bollywood and regional cinema movies have been filmed at Ramoji Film City, including Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, Chennai Express, The Dirty Picture, Hanu-Man, KGF Chapter 2, Pushpa: The Rise, RRR, Sita Ramam, and Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se.

Ramoji Film City is also a popular thematic tourist destination and amusement park, attracting around 15 lakh tourists every year.

Would you like to visit Ramoji Film City? Tell us in the comments

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• ramoji rao
• ramoji film city
• hyderabad

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