Veteran director Kodi Ramakrishna passes away; Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, among others mourn loss of 'legend'

Considered among the finest directors in South cinema, Kodi Ramakrishna passed away on Friday. Soon after his demise, tributes started pouring in from some of the well-known stars of the South industries. 

Ramakrishna reportedly passed away at AIG Hospital in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Reports of the filmmaker being admitted after complaining of breathlessness and being in critical condition had surfaced earlier.

Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Rana Daggubati, Nani, Kalyamram Nandamuri, Sudheer Babu, Lakshmi Manchu, among others took to Twitter to express their grief, pay respects and convey condolences to the family, calling him a 'legend', 'pioneer', his death a 'huge loss' to the industry and his films 'path-breaking.'

Kodi Ramakrishna’s career spanned almost three decades and his works, which consisted of more than 50 films, were predominantly in Telugu cinema, apart from a few ventures in Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. Some of his well-known films were 'Arundhati' (2009), 'Gudachari No.1' (1983) and 'Murali Krishnudu' (1988). 

He was known to have directed films across various genres. Dramas like ‘Intlo Ramayya Veedhilo Krishnayya’ (1982), ‘Mangamma Gari Manavadu’ (1984), ‘Thalambralu’ (1986), ‘Aahuthi’ (1987), ‘Bharatamlo Bala Chandrudu’ (1988), ‘Station Master’ (1988), ‘Muddula Mavayya’ (1989), ‘Maa Aavida Collector’ (1996), ‘Pelli’ (1997), and ‘Dongaata’ (1997) are among his known works.  

Ramakrishna portrayed social problems well in ‘Ankusham’ (1989), ‘20va Shatabdam’ (1990), ‘Bharat Bandh’ (1991), and ‘Sathruvu’ (1991). Spy films like ‘Gudachari No.1’ (1983), and ‘Gudachari 117’ (1989) and fantasy films like ‘Ammoru’ (1995), ‘Devi’ (1999), ‘Devullu’(2000), ’Devi Putrudu’ (2001), ‘Anji’ (2004), and ‘Arundhati’ (2009) showcased his versatlity.