The entire Telugu film industry turned out in strength to bid adieu to M.S. Narayana, one of the greatest comedians the industry has seen in the past few decades, at the cremation grounds in Erragadda.
As flames leapt up and engulfed the mortal remains, slogans hailing Narayana rent the air. Practically everyone present fought back their tears. They included actors Mahesh Babu, Ramcharan Tej, Junior N.T. Rama Rao, Allu Arjun, Venkatesh, directors Trivikram Srinivas and Srinu Vytla, producer D. Suresh Babu and comedian turned MLA Babu Mohan, to name a few.
Sans exception, everyone connected with humour in films was there. Earlier, at about 10.45 a.m., the body was taken out in a motorcade from his residence in Venkatagiri on Road No. 10, Jubilee Hills. By the time it wended its way to the Erragadda cremation grounds it was just past noon.
Even those who paid their respects at the corporate hospital and his residence yesterday were present to bid adieu to Bokka Venkata Rao, the name of the unforgettably comic character that Narayana played in the Mahesh Babu-starrer 'Dookudu'.