Tearful adieu to media baron Ramoji Rao

The mortal remains of media baron Ch. Ramoji Rao who was also the Chairman of the Ramoji Group was consigned to flames at the Ramoji Film City on Sunday.
The funeral was held with full state honours at the Ramoji Film City here in the presence of his family, friends and well-wishers. Ramoji’s son Kiron lit the pyre.
Ramoji Rao, who revolutionised the news and entertainment industries, died at a hospital here early on Saturday. He was 88.
A host of dignitaries, including former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao and D. Seethakka, Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, former Union Minister Sujana Choudhary, MLAs Prathipati Pullarao, Chintamaneni Prabhakar, Raghuramakrihna Raju, Arimilli Radhakrishna, Venigandla Ramu and TDP leaders along with members of the film fraternity and others paid their respects to Ramoji Rao.
Chandrababu Naidu who joined in carrying the bier said later in a post on ‘X,’ “My heart is filled with deep sorrow as I took part in the final rites and bid adieu to Telugu doyen Ramoji Rao. He may not be among us now but he will continue to inspire and lead us.
 His glory shines eternally like the rays of dawn.”
Ramoji Rao, who created a sensation in the media industry in undivided Andhra Pradesh with his Eenadu newspaper and ETV group of TV channels was a recipient of Padma Vibhushan.
The Andhra Pradesh government decided to observe state mourning on June 9 and 10.
During the mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the state and there will be no official entertainment programmes, an official communication said.