Media Mogul Ramoji Rao Passes Away

Chairman of the Eenadu group and media mogul Cherukuri Ramoji Rao passed away in the early hours of Saturday in a city hospital. He was 88.

Rao was admitted to a corporate hospital in Hyderabad on June 5 after he complained of difficulty in breathing. He breathed his last at 4.50 AM this morning while undergoing treatment there. His body was shifted to his residence in Film City.

Ramoji Rao was born on November 16, 1936, to Cherukuri Venkatasubba Rao and Subbamma in Pedaparupudi village of Krishna district in Andhra Pradesh.

He was the third-born after elder sisters Rajyalakshmi and Ranganayakamma. The family members named Ramoji after his grandfather Ramaiah. He was said to be a unique and creative person from childhood.

Ramoji Rao launched Telugu daily Eenadu on August 10, 1974, in Visakhapatnam. Within four years of its launch, Eenadu became a favorite of readers. The paper gained popularity with modernity - in terms of language, presentation and technology as much as in terms of journalism.

Later, Rao launched Eenadu editions in every single district of the then united Andhra Pradesh. He also launched Newstime, an English daily, but it was shut down later.

Rao also created a benchmark with Annadaata, an agriculture magazine, in the country. He however decided to shut it down in 2022 after running it for more than 50 years.

He expanded his media and entertainment business by making movies under the Ushakiron Movies banner and setting up the Ramoji Film City on the outskirts of Hyderabad. His group also started a bouquet of TV channels in multiple languages and States, and digital properties as well.

In 1962, Rao entered financial services by founding Margadarsi Chit fund which helped finance a number of businesses. Margadarsi became the leading chit fund company in the country, serving lakhs of clients for over 60 years. Thousands of people got job and employment opportunities through this organisation.

The Ramoji group is also in the hospitality business, owning many hotels in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including the Dolphin Hotel in Visakhapatnam. The group also owns Kalanjali, a retail chain known for artifacts and handcraft furniture.

In 2016, Rao was honoured with Padma Vibhushan for his work and contribution to literature, journalism and education.