Multilingual Indian film producer Dr Daggubbati Ramanaidu has passed away. He was suffering from cancer for the past few months and the legendary filmmaker has breathed his last today.
He was the founder of Suresh Productions and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most films produced by an individual, having produced more than 150 films in 13 Indian languages. Ramanaidu served as Member of Parliament from Telugu Desam Party from 1999 to 2004.
In 2012, Ramanaidu was conferred with the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, the Padma Bhushan, in recognition for his contribution to Telugu cinema. In 2009 he received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in the film industry for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
Ramanaidu had contributed a substantial part of his earnings to numerous philanthropic purposes including the Ramanaidu Charitable Trust that was founded in 1991. Ramanaidu’s sudden demise is a major loss for the entire Telugu film industry.