MUNI THE BOSS

File photo of D Ramanaidu.
Veteran film producer D Ramanaidu was today chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2009 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema during a long career of nearly half a century in which he has made scores of entertaining films and been involved with all aspects of the industry.

The award, given annually by the Government, consists of a "Swarn Kamal", a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl.

The award is given on the basis of recommendations of a committee of eminent persons. It will be presented by the President at the National Films Awards function scheduled to be held here in October this year.

Born in Karamchedu in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh in 1936, Dr. Ramanaidu entered the film industry in 1963 with his first film "Anuragam", followed by the super-hit film "Ramudu-Bheemudu" starring the legendary N T Rama Rao (NTR) in 1964.

Over the last 47 years, he has been a prolific producer of over 130 films in several Indian languages and finds mention in the Guinness Book of Records.

Apart from Telugu films, he has produced movies in Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi and Bhojpuri.

His film, "Surigadu" was selected for the Indian Panorama in 1993. "Asukh", a Bengali film won the National Award for the Best Film in 1999. He has also been honoured with several awards by the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Apart from NTR, other well-known artistes who have worked in his films include Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, Jamuna, Padmini, Sobhan Babu, Kamal Haasan, Jayaprada, Chiranjeevi, Rajnikanth, Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Rekha, Jeetendra and Sreedevi.

Dr Ramanaidu has also introduced several film directors, actors and technicians to the industry. Artistes introduced by him include Venkatesh, Harish, Vanisri, Aryan Rajesh, Tabu, Khushboo, Allari Naresh and Malasree.

Some of the well-known films produced by Dr Ramanaidu include Premanagar, Dildar, Bandish (Hindi), Srikrishna Tulabharam, Preminchu, Ramudu Bheemudu, Bobbili Raja, Ahana Pellanta, Andhra Vaibhavam, Kathanayakudu (Telugu), Asukh, Sudhu Ekbar Bolo (Bengali), Maduve Agona Baa, Thavarumane Udugore (Kannada), Vasantha Maligai, Thiru Mangalam, Thannikattu Raja (Tamil), Dharma Devatha (Oriya), Maina Mor Dhuniya (Assamese), Ashwaroodhan (Malayalam), Mazi Aai (Marathi) and Shiva (Bhojpuri).

Dr. Ramanaidu has also produced a film titled "Hamari Beti" in Hindi which focuses on how handicapped people can lead a normal life and achieve their goals. The protagonist in the film is a girl who is severely handicapped in real life. This film has been screened in International Film Festivals like Chicago and Venice.

The industry veteran has also set up studios, recording, preview and dubbing theatres and laboratories in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. He served as a Member of Parliament, representing the Bapatla constituency in Andhra Pradesh in the 13th Lok Sabha.

Dr Ramanaidu will be the 57th recipient of the award, named after DadasahebPhalke, a pioneer of the Indian film industry.

NNN