Telugu's first newsreader Santhi Swaroop has passed away. (Photo:X)
Hyderabad: Shanthi Swaroop, the pioneering Telugu news presenter who brought numerous significant events into Telugu households via television from the mid-1980s, passed away on Friday.
He was admitted to Yashoda Hospital two days prior due to a heart ailment and passed away while undergoing treatment. He is survived by two sons, and his family has opted for a strictly private ceremony to honour his memory.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed condolences, stating that Shanthi Swaroop was a household name for Telugu people for over three decades.
Shanthi Swaroop made history on November 14, 1983, at 7 pm, when he delivered the inaugural Telugu news bulletin on television. From 1983 until his retirement in 2011, he remained a stalwart in his role.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Shanthi Swaroop's former colleague at Doordarshan, Vijaya Durga, said: “He was the first one to join the experimental television programme ‘Vartha Darshini’ in late 1970s and later became the in-charge of news readers. He was one who translated and presented the speeches of Presidents and Governors on Doordarshan.”
She said Shanthi Swaroop was a specialist in delivering breaking news in the days when there were no teleprompters. He used to narrate news events impromptu by watching the visuals on screen.
Vijaya Durga also shared how Shanthi Swaroop's remarkable memory and dedication allowed him to excel, even during 72-hour shifts and his proficiency in translating English to Telugu during live broadcasts.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
Next Story
