<p>Ace Kannada film producer and actor Malashri’s husband Koti Ramu, who was being treated at MS Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru for Covid-19, passed away on Monday night. He was 53. </p>.<p>“He was admitted to the hospital four days ago after he contracted the virus. He breathed his last at around 8 pm,” Hanumanthu, the producer’s relative, told DH. </p>.<p>Kannada and Culture Minister Aravind Limbavali, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar and several others condoled Ramu’s death. <br />Ramu produced about 39 films in Kannada under the banner Ramu Enterprises. He ventured into the Kannada film industry as a distributor in the early 90s. He achieved great success with ‘Chaitrada Premanjali’. </p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/two-week-close-down-in-karnataka-starting-april-27-night-979033.html">Two-week 'close-down' in Karnataka starting April 27 night</a></strong></p>.<p>He had a penchant for producing mostly action films. 'Goilbar' (1993) was his first film as a producer, while his last was ‘99’ (2019) a remake of Tamil film '96'.</p>.<p>Films bankrolled by Ramu like 'Golibar' (1993), 'Lockup Death' (1994), 'AK-47' (1999), 'Kalasipalya' (2004) and 'Shivajinagara' (2014) became blockbusters.</p>.<p>Due to the big budget of over Rs one crore for a film 25 years ago, he was popularly known as 'Koti' (crore) Ramu.</p>.<p>He had invested in 'Mangalya Bandhana' (1993), which had Malashri in the lead role. The two fell in love and tied the knot after the film. The couple have a daughter, Ananya and son Aryan. Ramu's last rites will be held at Kodigehalli in Kunigal Taluk, Tumakaru, on Tuesday. </p>.<p>He produced many films of Malashri like 'Hello Sister' (1995), 'Lady Commissioner' (1997), 'Chamundi' (2000), 'Durgi' (2004), 'Shakti' (2011), 'Veera', 'Election' (2013) and 'Ganga' (2015). <br /> </p>
<p>Ace Kannada film producer and actor Malashri’s husband Koti Ramu, who was being treated at MS Ramaiah Hospital in Bengaluru for Covid-19, passed away on Monday night. He was 53. </p>.<p>“He was admitted to the hospital four days ago after he contracted the virus. He breathed his last at around 8 pm,” Hanumanthu, the producer’s relative, told DH. </p>.<p>Kannada and Culture Minister Aravind Limbavali, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar and several others condoled Ramu’s death. <br />Ramu produced about 39 films in Kannada under the banner Ramu Enterprises. He ventured into the Kannada film industry as a distributor in the early 90s. He achieved great success with ‘Chaitrada Premanjali’. </p>.<p><strong>Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/two-week-close-down-in-karnataka-starting-april-27-night-979033.html">Two-week 'close-down' in Karnataka starting April 27 night</a></strong></p>.<p>He had a penchant for producing mostly action films. 'Goilbar' (1993) was his first film as a producer, while his last was ‘99’ (2019) a remake of Tamil film '96'.</p>.<p>Films bankrolled by Ramu like 'Golibar' (1993), 'Lockup Death' (1994), 'AK-47' (1999), 'Kalasipalya' (2004) and 'Shivajinagara' (2014) became blockbusters.</p>.<p>Due to the big budget of over Rs one crore for a film 25 years ago, he was popularly known as 'Koti' (crore) Ramu.</p>.<p>He had invested in 'Mangalya Bandhana' (1993), which had Malashri in the lead role. The two fell in love and tied the knot after the film. The couple have a daughter, Ananya and son Aryan. Ramu's last rites will be held at Kodigehalli in Kunigal Taluk, Tumakaru, on Tuesday. </p>.<p>He produced many films of Malashri like 'Hello Sister' (1995), 'Lady Commissioner' (1997), 'Chamundi' (2000), 'Durgi' (2004), 'Shakti' (2011), 'Veera', 'Election' (2013) and 'Ganga' (2015). <br /> </p>