Daggubati Ramanaidu, 79 years this Cinema Polymath lived. But forever he will continue to live in our hearts. Lets have a look at Dr. Ramanaidu’s achievements and his contribution to Indian Film Industry.
1. A MULTI LINGUAL INDIAN FILM PRODUCER.
The founder of Suresh Productions has the distinction of producing movies in more than 12 Indian languages. These include Punjabi, English, Malayalam, Oriya, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Marathi and Bengali.
His Bollywood film Hamari Beti has been screened at International Film Festivals in Chicago and Venice. The movie focused on how handicapped people can lead a normal life and achieve their goals. Surigadu movie was selected for the Indian Panorama in 1993. Asukh, a self-produced Bengali film, won the National Award for the Best Film in 1999.
2. A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER.
Dr. Ramanaidu holds the Guinness Book Of World Records for the most number of films produced by an individual. He produced more than 150 films in multiple languages.
3. POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
Dr. Ramanaidu was a polymath with his involvement in Politics and Public service. He joined the Telugu Desam Party and served as a Member Of Parliament for the Bapatla Constituency of Guntur District in the 13th Lok Sabha term from 1999–2004.
4. THE HONORARY ‘PADMA BHUSHAN’ RECIPIENT.
On 26 January 2013, Dr. Ramanaidu was conferred with the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India. He was awarded with Padma Bhushan by Pranab Mukherjee, in recognition for his contribution to Telugu Cinema. The Andhra Pradesh Government nominated him along with director Bapu for the award in November 2012.
5. OF THE SEVERAL LAURELS HE HAS RECEIVED, DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD IS ONE.
In 2009, he received India’s most coveted award in Cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in the film industry. Indeed a deserved one for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
6. A DOCTORATE.
He received an honorary doctorate from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati for his outstanding contribution to the film industry.
7. A PHILANTHROPIST.
Ramanaidu had contributed a substantial part of his earnings to numerous philanthropic purposes. It includes the Ramanaidu Charitable Trust that was founded in 1991 by him.
He diverted his money to develop ‘old age homes’ by donating 10 acres of prime land near Narsapur. The land being with pollution free environment, fertile soil, nestled amidst hills adjacent to the highway of Hyderabad/Medak with comfortable and modern amenities.
In addition, he has earmarked 5 acres of land to rehabilitate the handicapped and another 5 acres of land for orphanage. A number of bus shelters have been constructed in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana. Also, many voluntary organizations and needy people have received donations and benefited from Ramanaidu’s Trust.
Also seen in Picture are then TDP Minister KCR, Kodela, Venkatesh and RaNa.
In the same manner, he has also donated Rs.45 Lakh for welfare activities under Janmabhoomi Programme in his Bapatla constituency. This shows his concern for the people and their needs and the list of his donations is endless.
8. A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO AN INSTITUTE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT.
Vignana Jyothi is a registered society that was initiated in 1991 by group of like-minded Industrialists, Academicians, Professionals and Non Residential Indians. With the intention of imparting quality education and contributing towards the economic stability of the society, Vignana Jyothi has achieved academic excellence through the establishment of relevant and successful Institutions. Despite their experimentation in the educational field being quite successful, the members felt that they had not reached their goals in terms of the Farming and Agricultural community.
Thus, Dr. Ramanaidu with his generosity contributed a land of 33 acres at Tuniki Village, Kowdipally Mandal, Medak District. The Society decided to set up a Rural Development Institute and named it ‘Dr D. Rama Naidu Vignana Jyothi Institute of Rural Development’.
The VNR VJIET college is also under the same leadership of Dr. Ramanaidu.
9. DR. RAMANAIDU WAS AN ACTOR HIMSELF.
Lead actors of that time such as Adurthi Subbarao, S V Ranga Rao and Gummadi spent much time with Dr. Ramanaidu in his house building a rapport. Through these connections, he obtained his first role in Nammina Bantu.
From here, it became his hobby to play minor roles in few of the films. For the first time, he played a full-length role in a film Hope. It’s a movie which dealt with teenage suicides and it’s link to educational stress in South India. The movie also won the National Film Award on Other Social Causes in the year 2007.
10. BUILT FILM STUDIOS, THEATRES, LABS AND ALSO A FILM SCHOOL TO NURTURE THE ART OF FILMMAKING.
After having produced up to 74 films from 1993 to 2005 in several languages, while shooting for the movie Secretary, he visited Hyderabad. And during the shoot, he thought of building a studio in Hyderabad. Back then, Hyderabad was an underdeveloped, hilly area and many criticized him for risking his fortune on building a studio there. Nevertheless, this is what happened after that –
- 1988 – Brahma Putrudu was a huge commercial blockbuster and helped him pay off the debts for his studio.
- 1989 – He launched Ramanaidu Studios. It was so well equipped that when someone walked in with a script, it was said that they came out with the final copy ready for release.
- 1990 – Ramanaidu Colour Lab was launched.
- 1994 – He launched Cine Village in Nanakramguda, which was used by the entire industry for outdoor shoots.
- 2008 – He launched his film school to foster talent in every facet of filmmaking.
11. AN ENVIOUS TRACK RECORD FOR HAVING INTRODUCED NUMEROUS FILM DIRECTORS AS WELL AS ARTISTES AND TECHNICIANS.
During his career as a producer, he introduced more than 24 directors and several actors and music directors, who have since become very famous and owe their success to him.
Some famous names among the galaxy of artistes who made it big eventually include – N T Rama Rao, A Nageswara Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan, Jayaprada, Chiranjeevi, Rajnikanth, Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Rekha, Jeetendra, Sridevi, Venkatesh, Harish, Vanisri, Tabu, Khushboo, Allari Naresh and Malashree.
We can’t imagine the Film Industry without these Stars and Star Directors.
In his entire career, this Silver Screen Stalwart has been associated with every aspect of filmmaking, thereby delivering a bouquet of entertaining films to the people.
And for this, he will always be remembered. May your soul rest in peace, Sir.
Southie Writer: Vaishnavi Ray
