Veteran Telugu film director and screenwriter Kodi Ramakrishna passed away in a private hospital in Gachibowli today.
He had been rushed to the hospital recently after he had complained of breathlessness. He was put on a ventilator there.
He breathed his last due to a lung infection in the hospital even after experienced doctors from Chennai had been flown in to monitor him.
Earlier, he had suffered a heart attack and a paralytic attack as well.
Kodi Ramakrishna was born on July 24, 1949, in Palakollu of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. He made his directorial debut in Tollywood in 1982 with Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya starring Chiranjeevi, which went on to become a hit. Even after he crossed 60, he delivered a superhit in
Arundhati. In a 30-year career he directed over 100 films. He was conferred upon the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for his contribution in Telugu films in 2012.
Some of his works are Mangamma Gari Manavadu, Arundhati, Ankusam, Allari Pilla, Bharat Bandh, Muddula Mavayya, Thalambralu, Aahuthi, Bharatmlo Bala Chandrudu, Station Master, Maa Aavida Collector and Pelli Dongaata.
Ramakrishna made plenty of movies on social problems, too - notable among them being Ankusam, 20va Satabdam and Sathruvu. He also directed some spy films including Gudhachari No 1 and Gudachari 117.
Ramakrishna also showed a flair for supernatural fantasy films, with names like Ammoru, Devi, Devullu, Devi Putrudu,
Anji and Arundhati (which bagged ten Nandi awards) in that list.
He had also directed a few Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi films.