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Vijaya Nirmala

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Vijaya Nirmala
Born
Nidudavolu Nirmala

(1946-02-20)20 February 1946
Died27 June 2019(2019-06-27) (aged 73)
Spouses
  • K. S. Murthy
    (died)
  • Krishna
ChildrenNaresh (son)[1]
FamilySee Nidudavolu Family
Ghattamaneni Family

Vijaya Nirmala (born Nidudavolu Nirmala; 20 February 1946 – 27 June 2019) was an Indian actress, director, and producer known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning over six decades, she acted in more than 200 films and directed 44 films. In 2002, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the female director who has directed the most number of films in the world.[2][3] In 2008, she received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for lifetime achievement in Telugu cinema.[4]

Born as Nirmala, she ventured into acting as a child artist with films like Macha Rekai (1950) and Panduranga Mahatyam (1957). She debuted as a lead actress in the 1964 Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam which became one of the biggest hits of that year. She then acted in the Tamil film Enga Veettu Penn (1965) produced by Vijaya Productions. She added Vijaya to her name as a mark of gratitude to the production house that gave her a break as an artiste. She debuted as a leading lady in Telugu with Rangula Ratnam (1966).[3][5]

She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena (1973) and went on to direct over 44 films. She acted with her husband Krishna in over 40 films from Sakshi (1967) to Sri Sri (2016) and the duo was considered as a hit pair. She launched her own production house – Vijaya Krishna Movies and went on to produce 15 films under the banner. She also handled the operations of Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Tele Films.[3] Her son Naresh is also a noted actor in Telugu cinema.[5]

Early life

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She was born as Nidudavolu Nirmala on 20 February 1946 into a Telugu Brahmin family settled in Tamil Nadu who were originally from Narasaraopet.[6] Her father was a film producer. Her paternal uncle was scholar and literary historian Nidudavolu Venkatarao.[7] Actress Jayasudha is Venkatrao's granddaughter while singer R. Balasaraswathi Devi is her paternal aunt's daughter.[7]

Personal life

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Vijaya Nirmala was married to Krishna Murthy and had a son Naresh, who is also an actor.[5] She later married actor Krishna.[8]

Career

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Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema as a child artist with the Tamil movie Macha Rekai (1950). At age eleven, she debuted in Telugu films with Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and rose to stardom with the Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam.[9] Also, in 1967, she starred again opposite Prem Nazir in Udhyogastha, by P. Venu. She debuted in the Telugu industry in the film Rangula Ratnam (1966).[10]

Her first film in Tamil was Enga Veettu Penn (1965),[2] which was followed by Panama Pasama (1968), Uyira Maanama (1968), En Annan (1970), and Gnana Oli (1972). She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Sakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Sakshi that kindled her interest in direction. She has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.[citation needed]

Her small screen debut came with Balaji Telefilms' Pelli Kanuka. Soon after, she launched her own banner Vijaya Krishna Movies and produced 15 films.[11] She added Vijaya to her name as a gratitude to the production house.[5] She made her directorial debut with a Malayalam film on a budget of 3 lakhs. She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena and directed 40 films in Telugu and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh).[2] The actress-director was based in Hyderabad and managed Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.[12][11][13]

Selected filmography

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Telugu

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Year Film Role Notes
1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Bala Krishnudu
1958 Bhookailas Goddess Seetha
1966 Rangula Ratnam
1967 Poola Rangadu Padma
Sakshi
1968 Manchi Kutumbam
Asadhyudu Radha
Bangaru Gaajulu Radha
1969 Aatmiyulu Saroja
Muhurtha Balam[14] Kamala
Takkari Donga Chakkani Chukka Geeta
1970 Akka Chellelu Lawyer Vijaya
Vidhi Vilasam[15] Nirmala
Thaali Bottu Nirmala
1971 Bomma Borusa
Anuradha[16] Anuradha
Mosagallaku Mosagadu Radha
1972 Tata Manavadu Rani
Kathula Rathaiah
Bhale Mosagadu[17] Rani, Agent 117
Pandanti Kapuram
1973 Devudu Chesina Manushulu
Sahasame Naa Oopiri
Pinni
Buddhimantudu
Patnavasam
Manchi Vallaki Manchivadu Saakhi
Marina Manishi
Meena Meena
1974 Alluri Seetarama Raju Seeta
Devadasu Parvathy
Dhanavanthulu Gunavanthulu Padma
Bantrotu Bharya
1975 Mallela Manasulu[18] Radha Devi
1976 Padi Pantalu[19] Radha
1977 Kurukshetram Subhadra
1978 Patnavasam[20] Geetha
1979 Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu Gowri, Uma Devi Dual Role
Hema Hemeelu Vijaya
1988 Collector Vijaya
1989 Atha Mechina Alludu[21] Parvathi
Pinni
Sahasame Naa Oopiri Lakshmi
Gandipeta Rahasyam
1990 Prajala Manishi[22] Jhansi
2005 Sravanamasam
2009 Neramu Siksha Archana
2016 Sri Sri Sumathi

Malayalam

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Year Film Role
1964 Bhargavi Nilayam[23] Bhargavi
1965 Rosie Leena
Kalyanarathriyil Karthika
1966 Poochakkanni Maheshwari
1973 Pooja Radha
Udhyogastha Sujatha
Anweshichu Kandethiyilla Radhika
1968 Karutha Pournami Janamma
1974 Nishagandhi Padmini
Vivaham Swargathil Lisy
1976 Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan Omana
1973 Kalippava Rani
Pulliman Devika
Postmane Kananilla Nalini
Thenaruvi Sudha
Kattuvithachavan Lakshmi
Ponnapuram Kotta Kanni
Kavitha Kavitha
1974 Durga Thulasi
1978 Kenalum Collectorum Indhulekha

Tamil

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Year Film Role
1950 Macha Rekai Young Mahalingam
1965 Enga Veetu Penn
1966 Chitthi Saroja
1967 Pandhayam
1968 Neelagiri Express Geetha
Panama Pasama Kannamma aka Baby
Siritha Mugam
Sathiyam Thavaradhey
Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi Latha
Uyira Manama
1969 Anbalippu Meena
1970 En Annan Thangam
1971 Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan
1972 Gnana Oli
1974 Puthiya Manithan
1984 Sumangali Kolam

Director

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Year Film Notes
1973 Kavitha Malayalam
Meena Based on the novel Meena by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani which was later adapted into 2016 movie A Aa[24]
1974 Devadasu
1976 Devude Gelichadu Remake of Malayalam film Yakshagaanam
Kavitha
1977 Panchayathi
1978 Rowdy Rangamma
1979 Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu
Sanku Theertham
Hema Hemeelu
1980 Ram Robert Rahim Remake of Hindi film Amar Akbar Anthony
Kiladi Krishnudu
Sangham Chekkina Silpalu
Sirimalle Navvindi
1981 Bhogi Mantalu
Antham Kadidi Aarambam Remake of Kannada film Antha
1982 Doctor Cine Actor
1983 Bezawada Bebbuli
1984 Mukhyamantri Remake of Kannada film Chakravyuha
Mukkopi
1985 Lanke Bindelu
Surya Chandra
1988 Collector Vijaya
1989 Sahasame Naa Oopiri
Ajatha Satruvu
1990 Prajala Manishi
1991 Vadina Maata
1992 Mogudu Pellala Dongaata
1994 Yes Nenante Nene
1996 Puttinti Gowravam
Rendu Kutumbala Katha
2009 Neramu Siksha

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mahesh Babu with father Krishna & wife Namrata Shirodkar pay their last respects to legendary Vijaya Nirmala". 27 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Vijayanirmala enters the Guinness". The Hindu. 30 April 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c CH, Murali Krishna (27 June 2019). "Actor-director Vijaya Nirmala passes away". Cinema Express.
  4. ^ "Ex-actress, director Vijaya Nirmala dies at 73". The Times of India. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Y, Sunita Chowdhary (27 June 2019). "Vijaya Nirmala: A full life, in retrosp". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Actor-director Vijaya Nirmala passes away". Cinema Express. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b kavirayani, suresh (30 June 2019). "Jayasudha remembers aunt Vijaya Nirmala". Deccan Chronicle.
  8. ^ "Bestowed with bliss". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 4 August 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009.
  9. ^ B. Vijayakumar (16 November 2009). "Bhargavi Nilayam 1948". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
  10. ^ "Ragupathi Venkaiah Award to Vijaya Nirmala". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Veteran director and actor Vijaya Nirmala passes away at 73". The News Minute. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  12. ^ "About Us". Padmalaya Telefilms. Archived from the original on 11 February 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  13. ^ "Actress-Director Vijaya Nirmala Dies At 75; Jr NTR And Others Post Tributes". NDTV.com. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Muhurtha Balam Cast and Crew".
  15. ^ "Vidhi Vilasam (1970)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Anuradha 1971 Telugu Movie Cast Crew, Actors, Director, Anuradha Producer, Banner, Music Director, Singers & Lyricists". MovieGQ. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Bhale Mosagadu (1972)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Mallela Manasulu on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Padi Pantalu (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Patnavasam (1978)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Atha Mechina Alludu (1989)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Prajala Manishi (1990) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Makers release statement regarding Neelavelicham songs copyright claims". Cinema Express. 2 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. ^ Kavirayani, Suresh (2 June 2016). "A.. Aa.. movie review: Trivikram is back with a bang". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
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