Veteran filmmaker Rama Naidu succumbs to cancer

Hyderabad, Feb 18: The 78-year-old veteran film producer Daggubati Rama Naidu died of cancer. At the time of his death, he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Founder of Suresh Productions, Rama Naidu holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most films produced by an individual. He is said to have produced over 150 films in at least 13 Indian languages. The Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee also served as an MP from the Bapatala constituency of Guntur District in the 13th Lok Sabha from 1999–2004. Ramanaidu was conferred with the third highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan, in recognition for his contribution to Telugu cinema in 2012. In 1964, he produced his first film 'Raamudu Bheemudu' under the Suresh Productions banner. Following its success he continued to produce several successful films. He was born on June 6, 1936 at Karamchedu and his parents were Lakshmi Devamma and Daggubati Venkateswarlu. He married Daggubati Rajeswari in 1958. He leaves behind his wife and children Daggubati Suresh Babu, Daggubati Venkatesh and Lakshmi Daggubati.