Ramanaidu: Doyen of Telugu cinema

Though it didn’t rake in the revenue, he followed it up by producing the hugely successful ‘Ramudu Bheemudu’ (1964) which had Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao essaying dual roles. And from then on, there was no looking back for the producer. ‘Pratigna Palana’, ‘Sri Krishna Tulabaram’, ‘Soggadu’, ‘Prem Nagar’, ‘Devatha’, ‘Indrudu Chandrudu’, ‘Prema’, ‘Bobbili Raja’, ‘Dharma Chekram’ and ‘Ganesh’ were some among his many blockbusters

More than 150 films, world class film studios, processing labs and a film institute, producer Daggubati Ramanaidu had done everything possible in the world of Telugu cinema. In a career spanning more than five decades, he has introduced 21 directors, 12 heroines and six heroes to tinsel town, a feat which itself is a record. More importantly he was someone who diverted the money that he earned through films back to the development of films.

Starting his film career in early 60s as a production supervisor for ‘Nammina Bantu’ which was shot predominantly at his home turf Karamchedu, Prakasam district, Ramanaidu went on to forge a bond with the film star Akkineni Nageswara Rao, thanks largely to his management skills. He even made a blink and miss appearance in the film. After a year he decided to test his luck as a producer by shifting to then Madras. ‘Anuragam’ (1963), starring Jaggaiah and Bhanumati, was his first film.

Though it didn’t rake in the revenue, he followed it up by producing the hugely successful ‘Ramudu Bheemudu’ (1964) which had Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao essaying dual roles. And from then on, there was no looking back for the producer. ‘Pratigna Palana’, ‘Sri Krishna Tulabaram’, ‘Soggadu’, ‘Prem Nagar’, ‘Devatha’, ‘Indrudu Chandrudu’, ‘Prema’, ‘Bobbili Raja’, ‘Dharma Chekram’ and ‘Ganesh’ were some among his many blockbusters.

Someone who believed in paper work and in bound script, Ramanaidu always said the key to his success was that he put story first. “A story should select the actor not otherwise,” he had said many a time. “Though God was not kind on me as far as education was concerned, he was kind enough to bestow me the skill of identifying good scripts,” he had said. Talking about the producer, superstar Rajinikanth once said, “He was someone who monitored every production activity vigilantly, there lay his success secret.”

Echoing a similar view, Dasari once said, “He had this rare trait of treating every film as his first.” While he has given the baton of film production to his elder son Suresh in 90s, he still went on to produce films like ‘Todi Kodallu’, ‘Preyasi Raave’, ‘Preminchu’ and ‘Madhumasam’ on his own against family wishes and let the world know that he still has it in him to deliver a hit.

No wonder his contributions to cinema were recognised as he received top honours like Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest film honour and Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award. While he had a brush with politics in late 90s, he was also known for philanthropic angle. His trust, The Ramanaidu Charitable Trust, has taken exceptional steps to provide and support various schools, colleges, old age homes and hospitals across the Telugu-speaking states. A family man to the core, he always ensured that his personal life was never intruded, a trait which his three children- Suresh, Venkatesh and Lakshmi- inherited from him.

By:Nagaraj Goud