Hyderabad. Renowned media personality and chairman of Ramoji Group, Ramoji Rao was cremated in Hyderabad on Sunday. He was cremated with full state honours at Ramoji Film City. His son Kiran lit the pyre.
Ramoji Rao, chairman of Ramoji Group, who brought about a major change in the world of news and entertainment, died in a hospital here on Saturday morning. He was 88 years old. Many leaders including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu attended Ramoji Rao’s funeral. Ramoji Rao had revolutionized the media world in undivided Andhra Pradesh by starting the newspaper ‘Eenadu’ and ETV channel group. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan. The Andhra Pradesh government has declared state mourning on June 9 and 10.
An official message said that during the state mourning, the national flag will fly at half-mast across the state and no official celebrations will be held. Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and D. Sitakka, members of the film fraternity and others paid tribute to Ramoji Rao.
Chandrababu Naidu joined in carrying his bier. In a post on the social media platform ‘X’, he said, “With a heavy heart, I attended the funeral and bid a final farewell to Telugu legend Ramoji Rao. He is no longer among us, but he will continue to inspire us as a guide. “