Thousands bid tearful adieu to tinsel town’s captain

Luminaries from various walks of life pay floral tributes to the departed soul Dasari Narayana Rao

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday paid floral tributes to the mortal remains of eminent film director-producer-actor and former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao at Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce at Jubilee Hills here.

Recalling his association with the legendary director, Chandrababu Naidu said he was not able to digest the fact that Dasari Narayana Rao was no more. He said Dasari’s death was a void for the Telugu people and film industry and he would remain in their hearts forever. Naidu said Narayana Rao was born in Palakollu in West Godavari district and rose to Himalayan heights by dint of hard work. He also recalled that Dasari had spared no effort for the welfare of the weaker and downtrodden section and even launched movements for their sake.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister recalled that Narayana Rao never compromised over his ideals and was outspoken and called a spade a spade. Naidu described the departed multifaceted personality as an institution and rendered valuable services to the film industry.

Expressing shock on hearing the demise of Dasari Narayana Rao, prominent cine director Raghavendra Rao, after paying floral tributes to the body of Dasari Narayana Rao, said the departed leader proved himself as the captain of the film industry.

He conveyed his sympathies to the sorrowing family members of Rao. Similarly, another ace film director and Phalke Awardee K Viswanath, actors Pawan Kalyan, Junior NTR, Allu Arjun, Trivikram Srinivas, Jagapathi Babu, directors S V Krishna Reddy, Atchi Reddy and a large number of film personalities paid tributes to film industry’s captain. Daggubati Venkatesh, Narayana Murthy, Vijayachander, Naga Babu, Mohan Babu, Dil Raju, Nassar and several others mourned Dasari and bemoaned his loss.

Speaking after paying floral tributes to Dasari’s mortal remains at the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, superstar Ghattamaneni Krishna recalled his 50 years’ association with the departed soul, who introduced many an artiste to the film industry. He said Dasari started his film directorial career with much acclaimed ‘Taata Manavadu’ picture which ran for 25 weeks. He never looked back since then, he added.

Sorrowing Vijayanirmala, wife of superstar Krishna, said she was very lucky to have acted in films under Narayana Rao’s able direction. But his departure from this world left a huge blow to the cine industry and its workers. She recalled that Dasari was the only director, who called her as his beloved sister.

TPCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Dasari Narayana Rao extended his services relentlessly besides film industry. After paying tributes to mortal remains of Dasari Narayana Rao, who worked as Union Minister, Uttam said the party would remember his services to the people. He informed that the party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi had extended deep condolences to the demise of Dasari. He said the TPCC was also extending deep sympathies to the family members of Dasari.

AICC secretary V Hanumantha Rao said it was not possible to fill the gap created by Dasari. Dasari reflected the lives of poor and Dalits in his films, he said, praying that Dasari’s soul may rest in peace.