After a spate of deaths shook the fraternity last year, the Telugu film industry woke up to another loss. Film producer KC Sekhar Babu died of a heart attack on Saturday morning. The 70-year-old producer had produced movies in the 1980's and 90's icluding Gopal Rao Gari Ammayi, Chilakamma and Sardar. His biggest hit was the Chiranjeevi starrer Mutha Mesthri.
Hailing from Kolavennu village in Krishna district, Babu’s family was into film distribution. After assisting his father for a few years, he turned producer in 1973 with “Mamatha” which starred actor Krishna. Though he had been part of the industry for decades, he produced only a few films which included one in Hindi and two in Tamil.
Mr. Babu who was well-versed with the industry issues also held positions in the producers Council and the AP Film Chamber of Commerce.
Members of the film industry made a beeline to his residence in Journalists colony to pay tributes. His close friends remembered him as a very warm person who always had a smile on his face.
Actor and politician Chiranjeevi who consoled the family members of Babu said that they were family friends who kept in touch even though they did not work together in recent times. He fondly remembered the producer showing his gratitude and saying that the actor encouraged him by accepting to work in Mutha Mesthri.
TDP MP and actor Murali Mohan said Babu was a friendly person and his demise was a big loss to the industry.
Actor Allu Arjun got emotional and said that he was close to the producer and his family right from his Chennai days.
Others who visited him included director Raghavendra Rao, producer C. Kalyan and others. He is survived by wife and two children.
The body of the deceased producer was likely to be kept at the film chambers on Sunday after which the final rites would be performed at a cremation ground in Jubilee Hills.
