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{{Short description|Indian film producer (1936–2015)}}
{{family name hatnote|Daggubati|lang=Telugu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = D. Ramanaidu
| image = RamaNaidu.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Daggubati Ramanaidu
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|06|06|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Karamchedu]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br />(now in [[Andhra Pradesh]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|02|18|1936|06|06|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = [[Film producer]]
| spouse = Rajeshwari
| children = 3 including [[D. Suresh Babu]], [[Venkatesh (actor)|Venkatesh]]
| awards = {{plainlist|
* [[Padma Bhushan]] (2012)
* [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] (2009)}}
| relatives = See [[Daggubati–Akkineni family]]
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| constituency = [[Bapatla (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bapatla]]
| termstart = 6 October 1999
| termend = 16 May 2004
| predecessor = [[N. Janardhana Reddy]]
| successor = [[Daggubati Purandeswari]]
| party = [[Telugu Desam Party]]
}}
'''Daggubati Ramanaidu''' (6 June 1936 – 18 February 2015) was an Indian film producer known for his work in [[Telugu cinema]]. He founded [[Suresh Productions]] in 1964 which became of one of the largest film production companies in India.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 December 2010 |title=Cinema exhibitors say future looks bleak with multiplex entry |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-corporate/article1027579.ece |access-date=27 July 2012 |publisher=[[Business Line]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 September 2004 |title=Telugu film industry to set up monitoring cells to curb piracy |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2004/09/29/stories/2004092902631700.htm |access-date=27 July 2012 |publisher=[[Business Line]]}}</ref> He was one of the most influential movie moguls in [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Rama Naidu: Movie mogul who modernised film-making in the south |newspaper=The Hindu |date=18 February 2015 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movie-mogul-who-modernised-filmmaking-in-the-south/article6909753.ece}}</ref> He was placed in the ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book of World Records]]'' for the most films produced by an individual, with more than 150 films in all official [[Languages of India|Indian languages]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chakravarthy |first=Venkatesh |date=2015-03-04 |title=Dream merchant |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/dream-merchant/article6951600.ece |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |language=en}}</ref> He also served as a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]] for the [[Bapatla (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bapatla constituency]] in [[Andhra Pradesh]] in the [[13th Lok Sabha]] from 1999 to 2004.

In 2012, Ramanaidu was conferred with the third-highest civilian award of India, the [[Padma Bhushan]], in recognition for his contribution to Indian cinema.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/regional/veteran-southern-producer-d-rama-naidu-gets-padma-bhushan_126902.html|title=Veteran southern producer D. Rama Naidu gets Padma Bhushan|work=Zee News|date=26 January 2013}}</ref> In 2009, he was conferred with the [[Dada Saheb Phalke Award]], the highest award for films in Indian cinema. He has also received the [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]], and the [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South]] for his work in [[Telugu cinema]]. Ramanaidu contributed a substantial part of his earnings to numerous philanthropic purposes under the "Ramanaidu Charitable Trust" that was founded in 1991.<ref>{{cite news|title=Of course, I am happy with the award. And I am equally happy that I am still doing films|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Padma-Bhushan-for-Rama-Naidu/articleshow/18189778.cms|access-date= 26 January 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=26 January 2013}}</ref>

==Early life==
Daggubati Ramanaidu was born on 6 June 1936<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.takkari.net/2015/02/tollywood-producer-daggubati-rama-naidu.html?m=1 |title=Veteran Producer No More |access-date=February 18, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218143816/http://www.takkari.net/2015/02/tollywood-producer-daggubati-rama-naidu.html?m=1 |archive-date=18 February 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> in a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] [[Kamma (caste)|Kamma]] family in [[Karamchedu]], a village in [[Prakasam district]] in the present day [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name=rediff>{{cite web|last1=Rajamani|first1=Radhika|title=D Ramanaidu: From rice grower to number one filmmaker|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/d-ramanaidu-from-rice-grower-to-number-one-filmmaker/20150218.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=18 February 2015|access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> He completed his schooling in the village and had his college education in [[Chirala]] and later graduated from [[Presidency College, Chennai]].<ref name=hans>{{cite news|title=Ramanaidu's epic journey|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-02-19/Ramanaidus-epic-journey-132375|access-date=19 February 2015|work=[[The Hans India]]|date=19 February 2015}}</ref>

He started his career as a rice-mill owner and later got into the transport business.<ref name="IE1">{{cite news|title=Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee Dr Ramanaidu Passes Away|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Dadasaheb-Phalke-Awardee-Dr-Ramanaidu-Passes-Away/2015/02/19/article2675728.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220003714/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/Dadasaheb-Phalke-Awardee-Dr-Ramanaidu-Passes-Away/2015/02/19/article2675728.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 February 2015|access-date=19 February 2015|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|date=19 February 2015}}</ref> During this time, his father joined with a relative and co-produced the Telugu film ''[[Nammina Bantu]]'' (1958), starring [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] and [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]]. He performed the dupe of Nageswara Rao in the film. Nageswara Rao advised him to go to [[Madras]] (now Chennai) and work with film-makers.<ref name="hans" /> He closed down his rice mill as he was not happy with it, and moved to Madras in 1962. He intended to start a brick business, but later switched to real estate. His frequent visits to the "Andhra Club" got him acquainted with the Telugu film fraternities.<ref name="rediff" />

==Film career==
In 1963, Ramanaidu partnered with his friends Tagirisa Hanumantha Rao, Yarlagadda Lakshmaiah Chowdary and co-produced the commercially unsuccessful ''Anuragam'' (1963). Following that, he established his own production house [[Suresh Productions]], and produced ''[[Ramudu Bheemudu]]'' (1964).<ref name=rediff /> Until the early 1970s, he kept to Telugu cinema and made films such as ''Pratigna Palana'' (1965), ''Sri Krishna Tulabharam'' (1966), ''Shree Janma'' (1967), ''Paapa Kosam'' (1968) and ''Sepoy Chinnaiah'' (1969). ''Ramudu Bheemudu'' remained his only box office success during this period.<ref name=hans /> While in Madras, he partnered with [[B. Nagi Reddy]]'s sons and formed a company called "Vijaya Suresh Combines" and made some films under that house.<ref name=rediff />

In 1971, he produced ''[[Prem Nagar (1971 film)|Prem Nagar]]'', starring [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] and [[Vanisri]]. The film went on to become a "blockbuster" and its success prompted Tamil and Hindi remakes entitled ''[[Vasantha Maligai]]'' (1972) and ''[[Prem Nagar (1974 film)|Prem Nagar]]'' (1974), respectively. Both versions were produced by him and became equally successful.<ref name="hans" /> ''Namma Kuzhaindagal'', ''Tirumangalyam'', ''Madhurageetham'', ''[[Kuzhanthaikkaga]]'' and ''[[Deivapiravi (1985 film)|Deivapiravi]]'' are some of his Tamil productions that were made during the 1970s and 80s.<ref name="rediff" />

As all the studios were based in Madras at that date, he started "Ramanaidu Studios" in [[Hyderabad]] with the help of the [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|state government]] in 1983.<ref name="DFF">{{cite web|title=46th National Film Festival|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|access-date=19 February 2015|pages=62–63|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203091624/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hindu1">{{cite news|last1=Reddy|first1=R. Ravikanth|title=Legendary filmmaker Ramanaidu is no more|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/cine-producer-ramanaidu-no-more/article6909040.ece|access-date=19 February 2015|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 February 2015}}</ref> While frequently making films in Telugu and Tamil, he branched out into the [[Kannada cinema|Kannada]], [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]], [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]], [[Cinema of Maharashtra|Marathi]], [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali]], [[Oriya cinema|Oriya film]], [[Gujarati cinema|Gujarati]], [[Bhojpuri cinema|Bhojpuri]], [[Assamese cinema|Assamese]] and [[Punjabi cinema|Punjabi]] industries.<ref>{{cite news|title='D Ramanaidu: From rice grower to number one filmmaker'|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/d-ramanaidu-from-rice-grower-to-number-one-filmmaker/20150218.htm}}</ref> His Hindi films include ''[[Dildaar]]'', ''[[Tohfa]]'', ''[[Anari (1993 film)|Anari]]'', ''[[Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain]]'' and ''[[Aaghaaz]]''.<ref name="rediff" />

As of 2015, he had made more than 130 films in 13 [[Languages of India|Indian languages]]. The feat earned him a place in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' in 2008.<ref name="HT">{{cite news|last1=Burman|first1=Jivraj|title=D Rama Naidu enters Guinness book|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/d-rama-naidu-enters-guinness-book/article1-267196.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150219195311/http://www.hindustantimes.com/regional/d-rama-naidu-enters-guinness-book/article1-267196.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 February 2015|access-date=19 February 2015|work=[[The Hindustan Times]]|date=4 January 2008}}</ref> Ramanaidu also acted in a few films, mostly his own productions. He played a full-length role for the first time in the 2007 Telugu film ''[[Hope (2006 film)|Hope]]''. The film, which dealt with teenage suicides arising out of educational stress among students, won the [[National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues|award for Best Film on Other Social Issues]] at the [[54th National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|title='We would have won more national awards'|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/we-would-have-won-more-national-awards/article1277749.ece|access-date=19 February 2015|work=The Hindu|date=15 June 2008}}</ref>

==Family and personal life==
{{Main|Akkineni–Daggubati family}}
Ramanaidu got married in 1958 and had three children, two sons and a daughter. His elder son [[D. Suresh Babu]] is a producer and his younger son [[Venkatesh (actor)|Venkatesh]] is an actor in Telugu cinema.<ref name=DFF /> He had eight grandchildren, two of whom – [[Rana Daggubati|Rana]] and [[Naga Chaitanya]] – are actors in Telugu cinema.<ref name=rediff />

Ramanaidu was a member of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] and represented [[Bapatla (Lok Sabha constituency)|Baptala constituency]] of [[Guntur district]] in the [[13th Lok Sabha]] from 1999 to 2004. He lost the 2004 election for the same seat in the [[14th Lok Sabha]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032155210500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324085301/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032155210500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 March 2009 |title=Keen contest on the cards in Bapatla |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=23 January 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/13/stories/2009041354990500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417062302/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/13/stories/2009041354990500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2009 |title=Ramanaidu denies joining Congress |date=13 April 2009 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=23 January 2010}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Dr. D. Ramanaidu, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 05, 2013.jpg|thumb|President [[Pranab Mukherjee]] presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Ramanaidu, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 5 April 2013]]

'''Civilian Honors'''
*[[Padma Bhushan]] - 2012

'''[[National Film Awards]]'''
*[[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali]] – ''[[Asukh]]'' (1999)<ref name=DFF />
*[[National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues]] - ''[[Hope (2006 film)|Hope]]'' (2006)
*[[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] - 2009<ref name=hindu1/>

'''[[Nandi Awards]]'''
* [[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film]] - ''Andhra Vaibhavam''{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
* [[Nandi Award for Best Feature Film]] - ''[[Preminchu]]'' (2001)<ref name=TOI>{{cite news|last1=Rao|first1=Sushil|title=Ramanaidu was a filmmaker like no other| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/Ramanaidu-was-a-filmmaker-like-no-other/articleshow/46292840.cms?|access-date=20 February 2015|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 February 2015}}</ref>
* [[Raghupathi Venkaiah Award]] - 2006<ref>{{cite news|title=NTR award for Waheeda Rehman|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article1230659.ece|access-date=19 February 2015|work=The Hindu|date=1 April 2008}}</ref>

'''Tamil Nadu State Film Awards'''
*[[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film]] (Third prize) – ''[[Namma Kuzhanthaigal]]'' (1970)<ref name=Anandan>{{cite book|last=Anandan|first=Film News|title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru (Tamil film history and its achievements)|year=2004|language=ta|publisher=Sivagami Publications|page=7−19}}</ref>
*Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film (Second prize) – ''Madhurageetham'' (1977)<ref name=Anandan />

'''[[Filmfare Awards South]]'''
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Film]] – ''[[Jeevana Tarangalu]]'' (1973)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/21st-annual-filmfare-awards-south-winners | title=21st Annual Filmfare Awards South Winners | date=6 August 2024 }}</ref>
*Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Film – ''[[Soggadu (1976 film)|Soggadu]]'' (1976)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/sobhan-received-best-actor-award-for-soggadu | title=Sobhan Received Best Actor Award for Soggadu | date=3 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/1976-filmfare-telugu-winners | title=1976 Filmfare Telugu Winners | date=15 November 2022 }}</ref>
*[[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South]] (2000)<ref>{{cite web|title=Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years...|url=http://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html|website=[[Filmfare]]|date=10 July 2014|access-date=20 February 2015}}</ref>

'''Other Honors'''
* [[Honorary doctorate]] from [[Sri Venkateswara University]], [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupati]]<ref>{{cite web|title=D. Ramanaidu: Multilingual film producer dies in Hyderabad|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-and-current-affairs/story/multilingual-film-producer-d-ramanaidu-dies-in-hyderabad-240883-2015-02-18|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=19 February 2015|date=18 February 2015|archive-date=1 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001212959/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/multilingual-film-producer-d.-ramanaidu-dies-in-hyderabad/1/419622.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death==
In January 2014, it was reported that Ramanaidu had been diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]]. He died on 18 February 2015, at the age of 78, in [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]].<ref name=IE>{{cite news|title=D Ramanaidu, Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, passes away|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/veteran-film-producer-d-ramanaidu-passes-away/|access-date=18 February 2015|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=18 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=H Hooli|first1=Shekhar|title=Telugu Producer D Rama Naidu Passes Away: Movie Mogul's Death Shocks Tollywood Celebs|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/telugu-producer-d-rama-naidu-passes-away-movie-moguls-death-shocks-celebs-fans-623854|website=[[International Business Times]]|access-date=18 February 2015|date=18 February 2015}}</ref> All of the big [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] contemporaries like [[Chiranjeevi]], [[Nandamuri Balakrishna|Balakrishna]], [[Nagarjuna (actor)|Nagarjuna]], [[Rajasekhar (actor)|Rajasekhar]], [[Ravi Teja]], [[K. Raghavendra Rao]], [[Mahesh Babu]], [[Pawan Kalyan]], [[Ram Charan]], [[Allu Arjun]], and [[N. T. Rama Rao Jr.|NTR Jr.]] paid their last respects to him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/daggubati-venkatesh-nagarjuna-chiranjeevi-ravi-teja-pay-their-last-respect-to-late-movie-mogul-d-ramanaidu-475551/|title=Daggubati Venkatesh, Nagarjuna, Chiranjeevi, Ravi Teja pay their last respect to late movie mogul D Ramanaidu|date=19 February 2015|website=Bollywood Life}}</ref>

==Partial filmography==

===Telugu===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* ''[[Ramudu Bheemudu]]''
* ''[[Pratiganapalana]]''
* ''[[Prema Nagar]]''
* ''[[Jeevana Tarangalu]]''
* ''[[Chakravakam (1974 Telugu film)|Chakravakam]]''
* ''[[Soggadu (1976 film)|Soggadu]]''
* ''[[Agni Poolu (film)|Agni Poolu]]''
* ''[[Devata (1982 film)|Devata]]''
* ''[[Mundadugu]]''
* ''[[Sangharshana]]''
* ''[[Kathanayakudu (1984 film)|Kathanayakudu]]''
* ''[[Kaliyuga Pandavulu]]''
* ''[[Ramu (1987 film)|Ramu]]''
* ''[[Aha Naa Pellanta (1987 film)|Aha Naa Pellanta]]''
* ''[[Chinababu]]''
* ''[[Brahma Puthrudu]]''
* ''[[Prema (1989 film)|Prema]]''
* ''[[Indrudu Chandrudu]]''
* ''[[Bobbili Raja]]''
* ''[[Coolie No. 1 (1991 film)|Coolie No. 1]]''
* ''[[Super Police]]''
* ''[[Dharma Chakram]]''
* ''Oho Naa Pellanta''
* ''[[Preminchukundam Raa]]''
* ''[[Ganesh (1998 film)|Ganesh]]''
* ''[[Preyasi Rave]]''
* ''[[Kalisundam Raa]]''
* ''[[Jayam Manadera]]''
* ''[[Preminchu]]''
* ''[[Nee Premakai]]''
* ''[[Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu]]''
* ''[[Hari Villu]]''
* ''[[Vijayam (film)|Vijayam]]''
* ''[[Neeku Nenu Naaku Nuvvu]]''
* ''[[Malliswari (2004 film)|Malliswari]]''
* ''[[Soggadu (2005 film)|Soggadu]]''
* ''[[Nireekshana (2005 film)|Nireekshana]]''
* ''[[Sri Krishna 2006]]''
* ''[[Madhumasam]]''
* ''[[Tulasi (2007 film)|Tulasi]]''
* ''[[Kousalya Supraja Rama (2008 film)|Kousalya Supraja Rama]]''
* ''[[Baladoor]]''
* ''[[Bendu Apparao R.M.P]]''
* ''[[Aalasyam Amrutam]]''
* ''[[Mugguru]]''
* ''[[Masala (2013 film)|Masala]]''
* ''[[Nenem…Chinna Pillana?]]''
* ''[[Bhimavaram Bullodu]]''
* ''[[Drushyam]]''
* ''[[Gopala Gopala (2015 film)|Gopala Gopala]]''
{{div col end}}

===Tamil===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* ''[[Vasantha Maligai]]''
* ''[[Thanikattu Raja]]''
* ''[[Kuzhanthaikkaga]]'' (1968)
* ''[[Deivapiravi (1985 film)|Deivapiravi]]'' (1985)
{{div col end}}

===Hindi===
*''[[Dildaar]]''
*''[[Tohfa]]''
*[[Anari (1993 film)|''Anari'']]
*''[[Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Daggubati Ramanaidu}}
*{{IMDb name|0619656|D. Rama Naidu}}

{{Dadasaheb Phalke Award}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}
{{Raghupathi Venkaiah Award Recipients}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAwardSouth}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramanaidu, Daggubati}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Akkineni–Daggubati family|D. Ramanaidu]]
[[Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Film producers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:India MPs 1999–2004]]
[[Category:Telugu politicians]]
[[Category:Telugu Desam Party politicians]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:People from Prakasam district]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards South winners]]
[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:Tamil film producers]]
[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners]]
[[Category:Telugu film producers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in India]]

D. Ramanaidu - Revision history

Itssuvam at 02:29, 3 March 2026