Hyderabad: Noted Telugu filmmaker and former minister Dasari Narayana Rao was cremated today with full state honours. Rao, who directed 150 films during his eventful career, died in a city hospital on Tuesday evening. He was suffering from kidney and heart problems and had recently under gone cardiac surgery.
Known for his multi-faceted personality, 75-year-old Rao had also acted in several films and was extremely popular in the industry for his attitude towards junior artists and film industry workers.
Film studios, theatres, movie shoots and all other film-related activities remained shut on Wednesday as mark of respect for him.
Thousands of people attended his funeral at his farmhouse in Moinabad near Hyderabad. His funeral procession started from the Film Chamber office in Jubilee Hills and in an open vehicle proceeded to Moinabad.
Policemen did a gun salute as part of state honours as his elder son, Taraka Prabhu, lit the pyre.
Rao, who belonged to politically influential Kapu community in coastal Andhra, had entered politics about two decades ago and joined the Congress party. He served as a minister of state in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Rao, whose career as a director started with Tata Manavadu in 1972, is credited with many hits during a career spanning nearly half a century. He had the distinction of working with the two reigning super stars of Telugu film industry in 70s and 80s and hits such as Sardar Papa Rayudu and Bobbili Puli with NTR and Meghasandesam, and Premabhishekam with Akkineni Nageswara Rao.
Osey Ramulamma with Vijayashanti was also among his hits.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh K Chandrasekhar Rao and N Chandrababu Naidu expressed their grief over Rao’s death.
