FamilyThe last rites for industrialist and media mogul Cherukuri Ramoji Rao took place at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad on Sunday morning. The funeral rites were held with state honours of the Telangana government.
Several dignitaries, family members and employees of his group of institutions, besides countless followers bid a tearful adieu on Sunday to media legend Ramoji Rao, Padma Vibhushan awardee and chairman of the Ramoji Group of Companies, who passed away at a hospital here a day earlier.
The mortal remains of the doyen of cinema and media were consigned to flames as the funeral was held with full state honours at Ramoji Film City, with his son and Eenadu managing director Cherukuri Kiran Rao lighting the pyre.
TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was among those who shouldered the bier of the media tycoon when it was brought from his residence to Smruthi Vanam, a place within the Film City earmarked by Ramoji Rao in his lifetime for his funeral.
Earlier, scores of dignitaries, followers, and well-wishers were allowed to have a final glimpse of the deceased. Family members and people, including employees of ETV Bharat and other verticals under Ramoji Group, bid an emotional adieu to the legend who revolutionised the news and entertainment industry.
The final rites were an amalgam of incantations, emotions, tears and heartbreak as Cherukuri Kiran Rao led the rituals. Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, leaders of various political parties, film personalities and eminent people from various walks of life attended the last rites.
Former Chief Justice of India N. V. Ramana, Telangana ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, Seethakka and Jupally Krishna Rao, TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh, Raghurama Krishna Raju, BRS leaders E. Dayakar Rao, Nama Nageswar Rao, Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao, BJP leaders G. Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Sujana Chowdary and others attended the final rites.
The Andhra Pradesh government had also nominated three senior IAS officers to attend his funeral. And the state government had announced that it would observe State mourning on Sunday and Monday (June 9-10). Top leaders of the country, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, on Saturday condoled the death of Rao.