From humble beginning to Padma Vibhushan: Media Moghul Ramoji Rao soared high with grit, determination

HYDERABAD: The man in the white safari and shoes, Cherukuri Ramoji Rao churned out so many journalists in print, electronic, and digital media through Eenadu Journalism School and otherwise, that one could easily find trace of their Eenadu roots in their profiles.

His penchant for perfection in reporting news, his way of proofreading every page of his newspaper, and his daily, weekly, and quarterly reviews will be remembered by those who have worked in his organisation.

He didn’t have a degree in journalism. He came from Pedaparupudi village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, from an agricultural family. Ramoji Rao was born on 16th November 1936 to Cherukuri Venkata Subamma and Cherukuri Venkata Subbaiah. He has two Ranganayakamma and Rajyalakshmi.

Ramoji Rao‘s successful venture ‘Annadata’ in print and TV format received many awards and the rural staffers' recognition because of his love for farming. His ‘Priya’foods also is an agro-based venture. The only failed venture was Krishna Fruit Products Ltd which produced ‘Soma’ a fruit drink.

Ramoji was married to Rama Devi. His two sons Suman Prabhakar and Kiran Prabhakar took up the work of his range of businesses. Ramoji started a school in the name of his wife close to Ramoji Film City on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The Brave Heart Media mogul who built the Margadarsi Chit Fund company later diversified to the hospitality industry through Dolphin hotels and movie making. Several of his films received four Filmfare awards and national awards. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan for the dedicated work he did in journalism and literature.

He built the world’s largest film studio “Ramoji Film City” which started in 1996 in Hyderabad. He later ran all the 12 ETV channels with RFC as their headquarters.

He started ETV in 1995 which has a fanbase across many states such as Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka Odisha. Annadata portrayed the life of farmers and new methods of cultivation of different crops. This was the first TV show that started on the welfare of farmers and ranked the highest TRP during the time. E TV channel still is the best producing popular shows Dhee, Jabardast, Abhiruchi, and other shows.

It was Eenadu, that changed the journey of news and media in the southern part of the country since its inception in 1974. Ramoji successfully split the district news from main pages by separate additions, which were now discontinued due to the spiraling cost of the newsprint.

Ramoji Rao started his own film distribution company Mayuri Film Distributors involved in the distribution of films after production. He introduced ‘Sitara’ magazine for reviewing Telugu movies, people of the 90s used to wait for the weekly Sitara magazine. He also successfully ran two magazines Vipula and Chatura for many years.

Important Facts about Ramoji Rao

Name: Cherukuri Ramoji Rao

Date of Birth: November 16, 1936

Birth Place: Pedaparupudi, Krishna District

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Awards: Filmfare Awards, National Film Award, Padma Vibhushan

Parents: Venkata Subbamma and Cherukuri Venkata Subbaiah

Siblings: Rajyalakshmi and Ranganayakamma

Spouse: Rama Devi

Children: Suman Prabhakar and Kiran Prabhakar

Favourite sport: Cricket

Dateline of a legend

1) Education: Gudivada Municipal High School, College education in Gudivada College.

2) First job: Artist in an ad agency in New Delhi

3) Marriage: With Tatineni Ramadevi on 19th August 1961.

4) 1962: Started Margadarsi Chit Fund

5) 1965: Started Kiran Ads

6) 1967-69: Vasundhara Fertilisers in Khammam

7) 1969: Annadata Magazine for farmers

8) 1970: Images Advertising Agency started

9) 1972-73: Dolphin hotels started in Visakhapatnam

10) 1974: Eenadu daily launched in Visakhapatnam

11) 1974: Margadarsi Marketing Private Limited launched.

12) 1975: Eenadu started in Hyderabad.

13) 1976: Sitara magazine was started for cinema lovers.

14) 1978: Chatura and Vipula magazines started.

15) 1980: Priya Foods launched.

16) 1983: Usha Kiran Movies launched for film production.

17) 1990: Started Eenadu Journalism School

18) 1996: Ramoji Film City

19) 2002: ETV launched with six regional channels.

20) 2002: Ramadevi Public School started.