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Vanisri

Actor

Vanisri

Born August 3, 1948 in Nellore, Madras Presidency, British India90 films

Vanisri, (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian film actress known for her works predominately in Telugu and Tamil, and a few Kannada and Hindi films. In a film career spanning forty 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. If there was a star heroine in the Telugu film industry, who ruled on par with the heroes, it must be only Vanisri. She was the only actress during that period who commanded a higher remuneration than her male co stars.

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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. She acted with Sivaji Ganesan in a number of films such as Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Nirai Kudam (1969), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Sivakamiyin Selvan (1974), Vani Rani (Tamil remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta) (1974) 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.

Filmography

90 films as actor
  1. 2004Badradri Ramudu
  2. 1996Bombay Priyudu
  3. 1993Allari AlluduAkhilandeswari Devi
  4. 1993Evandi Aavida VachindiSathyavati
  5. 1993Rajeswari Kalyanam
  6. 1993Rampur Ka Raja
  7. 1992Collector Gari Alludu
  8. 1992Attaku Koduku Mamaku Alludu
  9. 1992Seetharatnam Gari AbbayiSeeetharathnamma
  10. 1991Peddinti AlluduBala Tripura Sundari
  11. 1990Bobbili RajaMinister Rajeswari Devi
  12. 1990Prananiki PranamJustice Jayanti Devi
  13. 1990Qaidi Dada
  14. 1989Nyaya TharasuBhavani Ammal
  15. 1989Swathi Chinukulu
  16. 1989AgniSeeta Mahalakshmi
  17. 1989Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki MoguduChamundeshwari Devi
  18. 1979Sri Vinayaka VijayamuDevi Parvati
  19. 1979Srimadhvirata ParvamuDraupadi
  20. 1979Nalladhoru Kudumbam
  21. 1979Maavaari Manchithanam
  22. 1978Simha Baludu
  23. 1978Punniya Boomi
  24. 1978Vichitra JeevithamGowri
  25. 1978Vaazhkai Alaigal
  26. 1978Chilipi KrishnuduVani / Rani
  27. 1978Sati SavitriSavitri
  28. 1978Gorantha DeepamPadmavati
  29. 1978The Sage from the SeaAnsuya P. Rao
  30. 1977Ilaya Thalaimurai
  31. 1977Flowing AgainstRadha
  32. 1977Thaaliya SalangaiyaChandra
  33. 1976Rojavin Raja
  34. 1976Oorukku Uzhaippavan
  35. 1976Bhakta KannappaLeela
  36. 1976AaradhanaRadha
  37. 1975Eduruleni ManishiLatha
  38. 1975PoojaGouri
  39. 1975Maya MaschindraGoddess Lakshmi / Tilottama Devi
  40. 1975Jeevana JyothiLakshmi/Sobha
  41. 1974Vani RaniVani / Rani
  42. 1974ChakravakamDevarani
  43. 1973Vintha Katha
  44. 1973Jeevana TarangaluRoja
  45. 1973Bangaru BabuVani
  46. 1972Koduku KodaluShobha
  47. 1972Vasantha MaligaiAnand
  48. 1972Velli Vizha
  49. 1972Avasara KalyanamVasanthi
  50. 1971Jagath Kantrilu
  51. 1971Chelleli Kapuram
  52. 1971Punnagai
  53. 1971Adi Parasakthi
  54. 1971Prema Nagar
  55. 1971Kasidre KailasaShakuntala
  56. 1971Kulama GunamaLalitha
  57. 1971Nangu Suvargal
  58. 1971Dasara Bullodu
  59. 1971Life CycleSuseela
  60. 1970Chitti ChelleluSantha
  61. 1970Thalaivan
  62. 1970Kathanayika MollaMolla
  63. 1969Nirai KudamChithra
  64. 1969AathmeeyuluJaya
  65. 1969Aayiram PoiMalathi
  66. 1969Nindu HrudayaluSharada
  67. 1969Bangaru PanjaramNeela
  68. 1969Porsilai
  69. 1969Kuzhandai Ullam
  70. 1969Annaiyum Pithavum
  71. 1968Uyarndha Manidhan
  72. 1968Lakshmi NivasamAsha
  73. 1968Thamarai NenjamRadha
  74. 1968Kannan En Kadhalan
  75. 1968Sukha Dukhalu
  76. 1967Kadhalithal PodhumaMohana
  77. 1967Private Master
  78. 1967Stree JanmaPhani
  79. 1967Marapurani Katha
  80. 1966AastiparuluSpecial appearance
  81. 1966Kaadhal Paduthum PaaduSuguna
  82. 1966Kanne Manasulu
  83. 1966Who is she?Latha
  84. 1966Aggi Barata
  85. 1966Rangula Ratnamvasu's wife
  86. 1965Pathala MohiniMohini
  87. 1965Aakasa Ramanna
  88. 1965Satya HarishchandraMatangi
  89. 1965Mangamma SapathamChanchala
  90. 1965Pandava VanavasamuSatyabhama