- Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
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Bhanumati Ramakrishna Born September 7, 1925
Doddavaram, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaDied December 24, 2005 (aged 80)
Chennai, IndiaOccupation Actress, Singer, Writer, Director Spouse P. S. Ramakrishna Rao Dr. Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (Telugu: భానుమతీ రామకృష్ణ) ( 7 September 1925 - 24 December 2005 ) was a noted Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book writer and songs writer. Most of her works are in Telugu and Tamil languages.
Contents
Early life
She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up watching her father performing stage shows. Her father, Venkatasubbiah, was a staunch lover of classical music and gave her early training in music.
Career
Bhanumathi entered the film industry in 1935, and acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil. She was also called as Ashtavadhani by the film industry people as she was a writer, actor, director, producer, singer, music director, editor and studio owner. She also had a good knowledge of Astrology and philosophy.
Vara Vikrayam film poster, the debut film of Bhanumathi
Film career
She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by C. Pullaiah. She had acted in Malathi Madhavam, Dharma Patni and Bhaktimala. Her first popular film was Krishna Prema. Her next popular film was Swargaseema, a milestone film in her career. She later acted in many memorable movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. In 1953, she made her directorial debut with Chandirani (made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). Her last film was made in 1998, entitled Pelli Kanuka. C. N. Annadurai gave her a title "Nadippukku Ilakkanam" (means Grammar for acting) that suits her aptly.
Apart from being an exceptional actress, she was also a very talented musician. She is one of the fine actress of Telugu film industry. She was adept in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. She gave voice to her songs despite it being the norm to use playback singers for actors. Some of her songs are still popular like Pilichina biguvatara, Kila Kila Navvulu, Oh Pavurama, Preme Nerama. She also provided music to a lot of her films.
During her later years she served on various movie related organizations. She was a Member of State Film Awards Committee for two years. She was also a Visiting Professor at the Film Institute for one year. She was Member of Children Film Society for 5 years, from 1965 to 1970.
Literary career
Bhanumati was also a talented writer with a number of short stories to her credit. Her autobiography Nalo Nenu was published in Telugu and later, released in English as Musings. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy awarded her as the best short story writer for her popular short stories "Attagari Kathalu". She was a Member of Lalit Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra Pradesh for 10 years. She served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Chennai for three years.
Philanthropy
She was an eminent social worker who was closely associated with a number of Social Service Organizations. She was the founder member and treasurer of Madras branch of Altrusa International Inc., Chicago for life long starting from 1963. She was a life member of the 'Red Cross Society'. She established an educational institution named as "Dr. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School" at Saligramam, Chennai providing free education to the poor.
Personal life
During the shooting of the film Krishna Prema, she met P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an assistant director for that film. He was a film producer, director and editor of Telugu and Tamil Films. The couple later married on 8 August 1943 and later launched a popular production company, Bharani Pictures on their son's name.
She died at the age of 80 years in Chennai.
Awards
Bhanumati was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian recognition by the Government of India.
- Padma Shri, in 1966
- Rashtrapati Award from Govt of India for Best Actress - Antastulu, Palanati Yuddham
- Kalaprapoorna, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, in 1975
- Kalaimamani (connoisseur of arts), Government of Tamilnadu, in 1983
- Honorary Doctorate, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, in 1984
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 1986
- Best Director, Nandi Award, in 1986
- Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1998 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
- NTR National Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 2000
- Padma Bhushan, prestigious national award in 2003
- She won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema for her Naalo Nenu in 1994.
Filmography
This is partial list of her films. Kindly help expanding it.
Year Film Language Character Co-Star Music Banner 1939 Vara Vikrayam Telugu Kalindi Chittor V. Nagaiah Prabhala Satyanarayana East India Film Company 1940 Malathi Madhavam Telugu East India Film Company 1941 Bhaktimala Telugu Radha Bhaskar Films 1941 Dharmapatni Tamil Famous Films 1941 Dharmapatni Telugu Famous Films 1943 Garuda Garvabhangam Telugu Pratiba 1943 Krishna Prema Telugu Chandravali Galipenchala Narasimha Rao Famous Films & Star Combines 1944 Tahsildar Telugu Kamala 1945 Swargaseema Telugu Subbi/Sujatha Devi Chittor V. Nagaiah Chittor V. Nagaiah Vijaya Studios 1946 Grihapravesham Telugu Janaki Sarati Films 1947 Ratnamala Telugu Ratnamala C. S. R. Anjaneyulu C. R. Subburaman 1948 Raja Mukthi Tamil Kannika M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar C. R. Subburaman Narendra Pictures 1949 Laila Majnu Telugu Laila A. Nageswara Rao C. R. Subburaman Bharani Pictures 1949 Laila Majnu Tamil Laila A. Nageswara Rao C. R. Subburaman Bharani Pictures 1949 Nallathambi Tamil Pushpa N. S. Krishnan C. R. Subburaman NSK Films & Uma Pictures 1949 Raksharekha Telugu Princess Kalavathi 1949 Devamanohari Tamil Devamanohari C. Honnappa Bagavathar G. Ramanathan Arkays Pictures 1949 Apoorva Sagodharargal Tamil Kanchana M. K. Radha S. Rajeswara Rao Gemini Studios 1949 Apoorva Sahodaralu Telugu Ranjana M. K. Radha S. Rajeswara Rao Gemini Studios 1949 Nishaan Hindi Kanchana M. K. Radha S. Rajeswara Rao Gemini Studios 1949 Rathnakumar Tamil P. U. Chinnappa Bhagavathar G. Ramanathan & C. R. Subburaman Murugan Talkies 1950 Maya Rambha Telugu 1951 Malleeswari Telugu Malleeswari N. T. Rama Rao Adepalli Rama Rao & S. Rajeswara Rao Vijaya Studios 1951 Mangala Telugu Mangala Gemini Studios 1951 Mangala Hindi Mangala Gemini Studios 1952 Prema Telugu Mothi A. Nageswara Rao C. R. Subburaman Bharani Pictures 1952 Kadhal Tamil Mothi A. Nageswara Rao C. R. Subburaman Bharani Pictures 1952 Rani[1] Tamil S. Balachander C. R. Subburaman Jupiter Pictures 1952 Rani[2] Hindi Anoop Kumar C. R. Subburaman Jupiter Pictures 1953 Chandirani Tamil Champa & Chandi N. T. Rama Rao C. R. Subburaman, Assistants: |M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Bharani Pictures 1953 Chandirani Telugu Champa & Chandi N. T. Rama Rao C. R. Subburaman, Assistants:M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Bharani Pictures 1953 Chandirani Hindi Champa & Chandi N. T. Rama Rao C. R. Subburaman, Assistants: M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Bharani Pictures 1954 Aggi Ramudu Telugu Saradha N. T. Rama Rao S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Pakshiraja Studios 1954 Malaikkallan Tamil Poonkothai M. G. Ramachandran S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Pakshiraja Studios 1954 Chakrapani Telugu Granddaughter A. Nageswara Rao P. Bhanumathi 1955 Vipranarayana Telugu Devadevi A. Nageswara Rao S. Rajeswara Rao Bharani Pictures 1955 Vipranarayana Tamil Devadevi A. Nageswara Rao S. Rajeswara Rao Bharani Pictures 1955 Kalvanin Kadhali Tamil Kalyani Sivaji Ganesan T. Govindarajulu Naidu & Ghantasala Revathi Productions 1956 Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum Tamil Marjina M. G. Ramachandran S. Dakshinamurthy Modern Theatres 1956 Alibaba 40 Dongalu Telugu Marjina M. G. Ramachandran S. Dakshinamurthy Modern Theatres 1956 Chintamani Telugu Chintamani 1956 Madurai Veeran Tamil Princess Bommi M. G. Ramachandran G. Ramanathan Krishna Pictures 1956 Rangoon Radha Tamil Rangam Sivaji Ganesan T. R. Papa Mekala Pictures 1956 Tenali Ramakrishna Telugu Rangasaani N. T. Rama Rao & A. Nageswara Rao M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Vikram Productions 1956 Tenali Raman Tamil Krishnasani N. T. Rama Rao & Sivaji Ganesan M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy Vikram Productions 1956 Sadharam Tamil Sadharam Gemini Ganesan G. Ramanathan Kasturi Films 1956 Thaaikkuppin Thaaram Tamil Sivakami M. G. Ramachandran K. V. Mahadevan Devar Films 1956 Rambaiyin Kaadhal Tamil Ramba K. A. Thangavelu T. R. Papa Kalpana Pictures 1957 Makkalai Petra Magarasi Tamil Rangamma Sivaji Ganesan K. V. Mahadevan Sri Lakshmi Pictures 1957 Manamagan Thevai Tamil Sivaji Ganesan G. Ramanathan Bharani Pictures 1957 Varudu Kavali Telugu K. Jaggaiah G. Ramanathan Bharani Pictures 1957 Rani Lalithangi Tamil Sivaji Ganesan G. Ramanathan TNR Productions 1957 Ambikapathy Tamil Princess Amaravati Sivaji Ganesan G. Ramanathan ALS Productions 1957 Nala Damayanti Telugu Damayanthi Kemparaj Urs 1957 Sarangadhara Telugu Chitrangi Devi N. T. Rama Rao G. Ramanathan Minerva Pictures 1958 Sarangadhara Tamil Chitrangi Devi Sivaji Ganesan G. Ramanathan Minerva Pictures 1958 Nadodi Mannan Tamil Madhana M. G. Ramachandran S. M. Subbaiah Naidu Emgeeyar Pictures 1959 Manimekalai Tamil Manimekalai T. R. Mahalingam G. Ramanathan Shekhar Art Film 1960 Raja Bakthi Tamil Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala T. Govindarajulu Naidu P. Rajamanickam 1960 Raja Desingu Tamil Ranibhai M. G. Ramachandran G. Ramanathan Krishna Pictures 1961 Batasari Telugu Madhavi A. Nageswara Rao Master Venu Bharani Pictures 1961 Kaanal Neer Tamil Madhavi A. Nageswara Rao Master Venu Bharani Pictures 1962 Annai Tamil Savithri S. V. Ranga Rao R. Sudharsanam AVM Productions 1963 Kalai Arasi Tamil Vani & Valli M. G. Ramachandran K. V. Mahadevan Sarodi Brothers 1963 Anuragam 1963 Arivaali Tamil Sivaji Ganesan 1963 Penchina Prema Telugu 1963 Kanji Thalaivan Tamil M. G. Ramachandran 1964 Bobbili Yudham Telugu Mallamma 1964 Vivaha Bandham Telugu Bharati 1965 Antastulu Telugu 1965 Todu Needa Telugu 1966 Palnati Yudham Telugu Nagamma 1967 Grihalakshmi (1967) Telugu Laxmi 1971 Mattilo Manikyam Telugu Lalitha 1972 Anta Mana Manchike Telugu Savitri Kattila thottila
1973 Vichitra Vivaham 1974 Ammayi Pelli Telugu 1974 Tatamma Kala Telugu 1975 Ippadiyum Oru Penn 1975 Pathu Maadha Bandham 1977 Manavadi Kosam Telugu 1984 Mangamma Gari Manavadu Telugu Mangamma 1986 Muddula Manavaraalu Telugu 1988 Attagaru Swagatham Telugu 1990 Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata Telugu Bamma 1992 Chamanthi Telugu Bhuvaneshwari 1992 Peddarikam Telugu Adusumilli Basavapunnamma 1992 Samrat Ashok Telugu Chembaruthi Tamil
1998 Pelli Kanuka Telugu Savithramma Playback singer
Bhanumati gave her voice for herself and many actors to sing many songs.
Year Film Songs 1939 Vara Vikrayam 1941 Dharma Patni Anuraagam Leka Anandamunda
Nilu Niluma Neelavarnaa1943 Krishna Prema 1945 Swarga Seema Oho Ho Pavurama, Oho Tapodhana 1949 Laila Majnu Preme Neramouna Maapai Ee Pagela 1951 Malliswari Manasuna Mallera Maalaloogene
Parugulu Teeyali O Gittalu Urakalu Veyali (with Ghantasala)
Pilachina Biguvatara Auraura
Eda Thanunnado Baava (with Ghantasala)1952 Prema Divya Premaku Satiaune (with Ghantasala) 1953 Chandirani Eeroju Bhale Roju Ide Prema Idena
Enduko Teliyani Ennadu Anukoni Ee Sambaraalemiti
Evaraalakinturu Naamora Enaleni Vedana
Kilaa Kilaa Navvulaa Kurisene Vennelaa
O Taraka (with Ghantasala)1954 Chakrapani Pakkala Nilabadi Kolichemu
Uyyala Jampalaloogaravaya1954 Vipra Narayana Raa Raa Naa Swamy 1956 Chintamani 1956 Tenali Ramakrishna Kannulu Ninde Kannela Vinna Mannanaleera Raja
Teerani Naa Korikale Teerenu Ee Roju1961 Batasari Oh Baatasaari Nanu Maruvakoyi 1963 Anuragam Sannajaji Teeveloi Sampenga Poovuloi 1964 Bobbili Yuddham Srikara Karunalavala Venugopala 1964 Vivaha Bandham Vinnava Vinnava Manasulona Dagivunna Madhurageeti 1965 Antastulu Dulapara Bulloda Dummu Dulapara Bulloda
Vinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa Vinaranna1965 Todu Needa Enno Ratrulu Vastayi Kaani Idiye Toli Reyi
When I was just a little girl - I asked my mother what will I be1967 Grihalakshmi Laali Laali Gopala Bala Laali Laali
Melukovayya Kaveti Ranga Sriranga1971 Mattilo Manikyam Saranam Nee Divya Charanam 1973 Vichitra Vivaham Ammayilu Abbayilu Naa Matalo Nijam Vintara Meeru 1974 Ammayi Pelli Vandanamu Raghunandana Sethu Bandhana Bhakta Chandana 1984 Mangamma Gari Manavadu Sree Suryanarayana Meluko (with Vani Jayaram) 1986 Muddula Manavaralu 1990 Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata Dilli Ki Raja Aina Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata 1998 Pelli Kanuka List of Tamil songs Producer
- Ratnamala
- Prema
- Chakrapani (1954)
- Laila Majnu
- Batasari
- Vipra Narayana.
References
Categories:- 1925 births
- 2005 deaths
- Andhra University alumni
- Female film directors
- Indian female singers
- Indian film actors
- Indian film producers
- Indian singers
- Indian women film directors
- People from Guntur
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan
- Recipients of the Padma Shri
- Telugu actors
- Telugu cinema
- Telugu people
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