Tollywood producer Pokuri Rama Rao passes away due to Covid-19

Producer

Pokuri Rama Rao

breathed his last at a city hospital on Friday evening. He was 65. The

producer

was undergoing treatment for

Covid-19

when his health began to deteriorate and he lost the battle to the virus late on Friday. His last rites were performed on Saturday afternoon at Erragadda Smashana Vaatika.

Along with his brother Pokuri Babu Rao, Rama Rao had bankrolled several films under the banner Eetharam Films, which was founded by actor Gopichand’s father, director Tottempudi Krishna, who passed away in 1987. They won a Swarna Nandi award in 1990 for Erra Mandaram, as well as Rajata Nandi awards for Neti Bharatam and Vandematharam in 1983 and 1985 respectively. Later, when Gopichand began acting in films, the brothers even produced some of his best films like Ranam, Yagnam and Ontari.

Close friends of the producer tell us that Rama Rao preferred to keep a low-profile and work behind-the-scenes. He was meticulous with every aspect of production and would personally take care of all the shoot schedules and payments to film crew. Several film personalities expressed their condolences at his demise.