Quick Facts
Biography
Vijaya Nirmala is an Indian film actress, producer and director known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema. She has directed 44 films in Telugu, and In 2002, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the female director to direct the highest number of films. In 2008, she received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contributions to Telugu cinema.
Personal life
Vijaya Nirmala was born in Tamil Nadu to a Telugu family from Andhra. Her father has worked in film production. She has a son Naresh who is also an actor, from her first marriage, after divorcing with her first husband, she started living together with actor Krishna who was already married and got married to him. .
Career
Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema at the age of eleven, as a child artist with Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and rose to stardom with Malayalam hit Bhargavi Nilayam. And in 1967, she starred again opposite Prem Nazir in Udhyogastha by P. Venu. She debuted in Telugu industry through the film Rangula Ratnam.
Her debut film in Tamil was Engaveettu Penn, which was followed by movies including Panama Paasama, En Annan, Gnanaoli, and Uyira Maanama. She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Saakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Saakshi that kindled her interest in direction. To date, she has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.
Her small screen debut came with Balaji Telefilms' Pelli Kanuka. Soon after, she launched her own banner Vijaya Krishna Movies and produced 15 films. 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). Currently the actress-director is based in Hyderabad and is managing Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.
Selected filmography
Actress
Telugu
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Bala Krishnudu |
| 1958 | Bhookailas | Goddess Seetha |
| 1965 | Manchi Kutumbam | |
| 1966 | Rangula Ratnam | |
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Padma |
| 1967 | Saakshii | |
| 1968 | Asadhyudu | Radha |
| 1968 | Bangaru Gaajulu | Radha |
| 1969 | Aatmiyulu | Saroja |
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Lawyer Vijaya |
| 1971 | Bomma Borusa | |
| 1971 | Mosagallaku Mosagadu | Radha |
| 1972 | Tata Manavadu | Rani |
| 1972 | Pandanti Kapuram | |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | |
| 1973 | Sahasame naa Oopiri | |
| 1973 | Pinni | |
| 1973 | Buddhimantudu | |
| 1973 | Patnavasam | |
| 1973 | Marina Manishi | |
| 1973 | Meena | Meena |
| 1974 | Alluri Seetarama Raju | Seeta |
| 1974 | Bantrotu Bharya | |
| 1976 | Paadipantalu | |
| 1977 | Kurukshetram | Subhadra |
| 1979 | Hema Hemeelu | Vijaya |
| 1989 | Pinni | Lakshmi |
Malayalam
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Bhargavi Nilayam | |
| 1965 | Rosie | |
| 1965 | Kalyanarathriyil | |
| 1966 | Poochakkanni | |
| 1967 | Pooja | |
| 1967 | Udhyogastha | |
| 1967 | Anweshichu Kandethiyilla | |
| 1968 | Karutha Pournami | |
| 1970 | Nishagandhi | |
| 1970 | Vivaham Swargathil | |
| 1971 | Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan | |
| 1972 | Kalippava | |
| 1972 | Pulliman | |
| 1972 | Postmane Kananilla | Nalini |
| 1973 | Thenaruvi | Sudha |
| 1973 | Kattuvithachavan | |
| 1973 | Ponnapuram Kotta | |
| 1973 | Kavitha | |
| 1974 | Durga | Thulasi |
| 1976 | Kenalum Collectorum |
Tamil
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Enga Veetu Penn | |
| 1966 | Chitthi | Saroja |
| 1967 | Pandhayam | |
| 1968 | Neelagiri Express | Geetha |
| 1968 | Panama Pasama | |
| 1968 | Siritha Mugam | |
| 1968 | Sathiyam Thavaradhey | |
| 1968 | Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi | Latha |
| 1968 | Uyira Manama | |
| 1969 | Anbalippu | Meena |
| 1970 | En Annan | Thangam |
| 1971 | Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan | |
| 1972 | Gnana Oli | |
| 1972 | Vazhaiyadi Vazhai | |
| 1974 | Puthiya Manithan | |
| 1984 | Sumangali Kolam |
Director
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Meena | Based on the novel Meena by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani which was later adapted into 2016 movie A Aa |
| 1973 | Kavitha | Malayalam |
| 1974 | Devadasu | |
| 1976 | Devude Gelichadu | Remake of Malayalam film Yakshagaanam |
| 1977 | Panchaithi | |
| 1979 | Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu | |
| 1979 | Hema Hemeelu | |
| 1980 | Ram Robert Rahim | Remake of Hindi film Amar Akbar Anthony |
| 1980 | Kiladi Krishnudu | |
| 1980 | Sirimalle Navvindi | |
| 1981 | Bhogi Mantalu | |
| 1981 | Antham Kadidi Aarambam | Remake of Kannada film Antha |
| 1982 | Doctor Cine Actor | |
| 1983 | Bezawada Bebbuli | |
| 1984 | Mukhyamantri | Remake of Kannada film Chakravyuha |
| 1985 | Lankabiddelu | |
| 1989 | Sahasame Naa Oopiri | |
| 1990 | Prajala Manishi | |
| 1994 | Yes Nenante Nene | |
| 1996 | Puttinti Gowravam | |
| 2009 | Neramu Siksha |