Chennai, Jan 5 (IANS): Well-known Telugu playwright and dialogue writer Ganesh Patro passed away Monday at a private hospital here, actor-politician Chiranjeevi said. He was 69.

Patro, who wrote dialogues for Chiranjeevi's acclaimed film "Rudraveena", passed away while undergoing treatment for cancer.

Mourning his loss, Chiranjeevi told reporters: "It's extremely sad that we've lost another member of our industry to cancer. Ganesh Patro was a prolific writer and his dialogues for my film 'Rudraveena' will stay in my memory forever."

Born in 1945, Patro started his career as a playwright. He debuted as a writer in 1976 Telugu drama "Athavarillu".

Known for his long association with late filmmaker K. Balachander, he wrote dialogues for some of the auteur's best films such as "Marocharitra", "Idhi Katha Kadu" and "Rudraveena".

Patro also penned dialogues for over 20 Telugu films of filmmaker Kodi Ramakrishna.

The prolific writer has over 50 films to his credit, his last being 2013 Telugu drama "Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu".