It was an outpouring of grief as several prominent personalities from the film industry and beyond paid tribute to senior actor Ranganath (pictured), who passed away on Saturday night, following a tragic suicide.
On Sunday, Ranganath’s body was shifted to the Telugu Film Chamber where many celebrities — including Chiranjeevi, Murali Mohan, Jamuna, Thammareddy Bharadwaj, Giribabu, and others paid their tributes.
Ranganath’s daughter and son Neraja, Nagendra
He was a man of enormous knowledge: Chiranjeevi
I knew Ranganath from the beginning of my career. We both acted in the film, Love In Singapore (1979). He was the main lead and I played the second lead. For the shoot, we spent nearly a month in Singapore and it was a great experience. He used to tell us so many things about so many issues — he had enormous knowledge! He also read a lot of literature.
Recently, a few months ago, when I met him I asked him how he was. He said ‘life was going on’ and he told me that he was writing poems. Now, I hear this news and I’m in shock.Ranganath and Chiranjeevi teamed up for several movies.
Chiranjeevi and Murali Mohan
‘The Industry has lost a very good talent’
I knew Ranganath from the very start of his career. Incidentally, I was one of the members in the selection panel responsible for Ranganath’s selection for the film, Chandana, where he played the lead character. You know, he was a well-educated person, an overall nice human being and was always focused only on his work. After his film, Jamindarugari Ammayi which was a big hit all eyes were on him. He acted in my film, Viswanathanayakaudu a historic flick. I last saw him when he attended my birthday celebrations. Today, I will say this... the industry has lost a great talent.
It’s because of loneliness: Giribabu
We both started our careers with just a year of difference. I started one year earlier, that’s all. We used to be in touch and even recently we spoke. He was depressed after the loss of his wife. I had asked him to go stay with his son or daughter, but he stayed alone. That loneliness made him take this decision. After he lost his wife, the children should have stayed with him. And he was not caught in some financial mess either. He was well settled. Even though he hardly did films, he was busy with serials and was also acting in a few commercials. His financial status was good. Actor Giribabu and Ranganath had been close friends for over 40 years.
Giribabu, Paruchuri Gopala Krishna
‘I knew him from his ticket collector days’
I met him before he entered films — he was a ticket collector in the Railways. We were at an outdoor shoot, and I met Ranganath on the way back. He was a very good human being and I never thought I would end up acting with the same guy I had met in a train. He was a good husband, loving father and many other good things. I did know about his wife’s accident, which had left her bed-ridden and I know how much he took care of her. But he always helped people in need. I just can’t explain in words how sad I am.
Sarada played the lead opposite Ranganath in the hit, Jamindarigari Ammayi.
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