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LeoBiography
Vanisri, (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian film actress known for her works predominately in Telugu, Tamil,Kannada and Hindi films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, including the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award. She gained attention with a supporting role in a film penned by K. Balachander titled Sukha Dukhalu, and Marapurani Kadha (1967). Vanisri has starred in super hits such as Krishnaveni, Prem Nagar, Dussehra Bullodu, Aradhana, Jeevitha Chakram, Rangula Ratnam, Sri Krishna Tulabharam, Bhakta Kannappa, Bobbili Raja, etc.
She played dual roles in Iddaru Ammayilu (1972) (Telugu remake of 1969 release Kannada film Kappu Bilupu), Ganga Manga (1973 remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta), Jeevana Jyothi (1975), and Chilipi Krishnudu (1978).She financed and starred in Shyam Benegal's only Telugu film Anugraham (1977), co-starring Smita Patil.
With actor M. G. R Vanisri acted three films, they are: Kannan En Kadhalan (1968), Thalaivan (1970), and Oorukku Uzhaippavan (1976).
She acted with Sivaji Ganesan in a 11 films such as Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Nirai Kudam (1969), Kulama Gunama (1971), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Sivakamiyin Selvan (1974), Vani Rani (Tamil remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta) (1974), Rojavin Raja (1976), Ilaya Thalaimurai (1977), Punniya Boomi (1978), Vaazhkai Alaigal (1978) and Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979). In 2013, she received the state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contribution to Telugu cinema.
In the late 1970s, Vanisri left films to get married and have a son and a daughter. Vanisri returned to film in the late 1980s acting in mother roles, such as her character in Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989). A practicing Shaivite Hindu, Vanisri is very religious. She was also in the 1999 Hindi film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal, directed by Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao.
She lost her son Abhinaya Venkatesha Karthik on 23rd May 2020 by cardiac arrest.
Awards
- Nandi Awards
- 2013 - Raghupathi Venkaiah Award.
- Filmfare Awards South
- 1973 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jeevana Tarangalu
- 1974 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Krishnaveni
- 1975 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jeevana Jyothi
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
- Kavignar Kannadasan Award in 2001
- Other honors
- Meena Kumari award at the Vamsi Awards in 2004
- Madhavapeddi Prabhavathi awards by the Siva Foundation in 2005
Selected filmography
Telugu
- Mangamma Sapatham (1965)
- Sri Krishna Tulabharam (1966)
- Kanchukota (1967)
- ""[{Marapurani Katha}] (1967)
- Ummadi Kutumbam (1967)
- Ranabheri (1968)
- [{Aasthulu Anthasthulu}] (1968)
- Lakshmi Nivasam (1968)
- Asadhyudu (1968)
- Kalisina Manusulu (1968)
- Sukha Dukhalu (1968)
- Aggi Baraata (1968)
- [{Aathmeeyulu }](1969)
- Bhale Rangadu (1969)
- Drohi (1970)
- Chitti Chellalu (1970)
- Kathanayika Molla (1970)
- Pavithra Bandham (1971)
- Dasara Bullodu (1971)
- Prema Nagar (1971)
- Vichitra Bandham (1972)
- Koduku Kodalu (1972)
- Datha Puthrudu (1972)
- Ganga Manga (1973)
- Vintha katha (1973)
- Manchivaadu (1973)
- Kannavari Kalalu (1974)
- Maya Maschindra (1975)
- [{Secretary}] (1976)
- [{Aaradhana}] (1977)
- [{Aalumagalu}] (1977)
- [{Andaman Ammayi}] (1977)
- [{Raja Ramesh}](1977)
- Devadasu Malli Puttadu (1977)
- Janma janmala bandham (1977)
- Simha Baludu (1978)
- Sahasavanthudu (1978)
- Ramachilaka (1978)
- Gorantha Deepam (1978)
- Anugraham (1978)
- Sri Vinayaka Vijayam (1980)
- Mahaa Lakshmi (1980)
- Devudu Mamayya (1981)
- Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989)
- Swathi Chinukulu (1989)
- Agni (1989)
- Rao Garintlo Rowdi (1990)
- Bobbili Raja (1990)
- Qaidi Dada (1990)
- Collector Gari Alludu (1991)
- Peddinti Alludu (1991)
- Atta Sommu Alludi Daanam (1992)
- Seetharatnam Gari Abbayi (1992)
- Evandi Aavida Vachindi (1993)
- Rajeshwari Kalyanam (1993)
- Attaku Koduku Mamaku Alludu (1993)
- Allari Alludu (1993)
- Hello Alludu (1994)
- Bombay Priyudu (1996)
- Badradri Ramudu (2004)
Tamil
- Kathal Paduthum Padu (1966) - Debut in Tamil
- Namma Veettu Lakshmi (1966)
- Kaaveri Mannan (1966)
- Thanga Thambi(1967)
- Apoorva Piravigal (1967)
- Bhakta Prahlada (1967)
- Bhavani (1967)
- Kadhalithal Podhuma (1967)
- Thamarai Nenjam (film) (1968)
- Teacheramma (1968)
- Kannan En Kadhalan (1968)
- Nervazhi (1968)
- Uyarndha Manidhan (1968)
- Manasatshi (1969)
- Annaiyum Pithavum (1969)
- Kuzhandhai Ullam (1969)
- Kanni Pen (1969)
- Atthai Magal (1969)
- Aayiram Poi (1969)
- Nirai Kudam (1969)
- Porchilai (1969)
- Thabalkaran Thangai (1970)
- Sangam (1970)
- Ethirkalam (1970)
- Thalaivan (1970)
- Aathi Parasakthi (1971)
- Nangu Suvargal (1971)
- Kulama Gunama (1971)
- Irulum Oliyum (1971)
- Velli Vizha (1972)
- Vasantha Maligai (1972)
- Avasara Kalyanam (1972)
- Deiva Kuzhandhaigal (1973)
- Sivagamiyin Selvan (1974)
- Vani Rani (1974)
- Oorukku Uzhaippavan (1976)
- Rojavin Raja (1976)
- Thaaliya Salangaiya (1977)
- Ilaya Thalaimurai (1977)
- Shri Kanchi Kamakshi (1978)
- Vaazhkai Alaigal (1978)
- Punniya Boomi (1978)
- Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979)
Kannada
- Veera Sankalpa (1964) - Debut film
- Muriyada Mane (1964)
- Mane Aliya (1964)
- Satya Harishchandra (1965)
- Pathala Mohini (1965)
- Miss Leelavathi (1965)
- Mahasathi Anasuya (1965)
- Chandrahasa (1965)
- Katari Veera (1966)
- Jaanara Jana (1967)
- Kasidre Kailasa (1971)
- Ganda Mane Makkalu (1988)
Hindi
- Kondura (1978)
- Main Tere Pyaar Mein Pagal (1999)
