Veteran Bombay-Karnataka exhibitor and distributor Ramesh N. Raiker breathed his last today (1st April) in a hospital in Bangalore. He had not been keeping well since several months. The count of the white blood cells in his body had declined considerably, because of which his immunity had become very low. A lot of other complications followed. He was 75 and is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters. His son, Samarth, and nephew, Kishore Raiker, were associated with him in the exhibition and distribution businesses of Bombay-Karnataka.
Ramesh Raiker’s body will be brought to Hubli from Bangalore. His last rites will be performed in Hubli tonight.
Ramesh Raiker owned Apsara and Sudha cinemas in Hubli, and many other cinemas in Belgaum, Dharwar, Bijapur, Karwar, Sirsi, Ankola and Dandeli. It would not be wrong to say that he was the uncrowned king of distribution and exhibition businesses in Bombay-Karnataka. An extremely honest person, Ramesh rose in life by sheer dint of hard work and because of his integrity.
Bombay distributor Dilip Dhanwani, who was very close to Ramesh Raiker, fondly recalled, “Ramesh was a gem of a person.” Dhanwani had initiated Ramesh Raiker into distribution business and had, in fact, christened his distribution company as Raiker Theatres.
