Teary Farewell To Tollywood’s Patriarch Dasari Narayana Rao

Amid countless teary eyed people, that included everyone from high and mighty to hoi polloi and from film stars to politicians, the mortal remains of Tollywood's towering film-maker and former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao have been consigned to flames. His pyre was lit by his son Taraka Prabhu at the Moinabad farmhouse of the director. Quite poignantly, the pyre was arranged by the side of the memorial of Dasari Padma, the director's wife who died a few years ago.

Dasari, who made over 150 films and scripted over 250 films and directed many actors from newcomers to veterans like NTR and ANR, passed away at KIMS Hospital on Tuesday evening. He was suffering from infection of the oesophagus where a surgery was performed recently. He suffered cardiac arrest even as he was under medical treatment.

Earlier on Wednesday, his mortal remains were brought to the Film Chamber of Commerce to enable people to have a last darshan. In the afternoon, the cortege departed for Moinabad farm house. He was given a state funeral.