Vijaya Nirmala | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Nidudavolu Nirmala (1946-02-20)20 February 1946 |
| Died | 27 June 2019(2019-06-27) (aged 73) |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | Naresh (son)[1] |
| Family | SeeNidudavolu Family Ghattamaneni Family |
Vijaya Nirmala (bornNidudavolu Nirmala; 20 February 1946 – 27 June 2019) was an Indian actress, director, and producer known for her works predominantly inTelugu cinema along with a fewMalayalam andTamil films. In a career spanning over six decades, she acted in more than 200 films and directed 44 films. In 2002, she entered theGuinness Book of World Records as the female director who has directed the most number offilms in the world.[2][3] In 2008, she received theRaghupathi Venkaiah Award for lifetime achievement in Telugu cinema.[4]
Born as Nirmala, she ventured into acting as a child artist with films likeMacha Rekai (1950) andPanduranga Mahatyam (1957). She debuted as a lead actress in the 1964 Malayalam filmBhargavi Nilayam which became one of the biggest hits of that year. She then acted in the Tamil filmEnga Veettu Penn (1965) produced byVijaya 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 withRangula Ratnam (1966).[3][5]
She made her directorial debut in Telugu withMeena (1973) and went on to direct over 44 films. She acted with her husbandKrishna in over 40 films fromSakshi (1967) toSri Sri (2016) and the duo was considered as a hit pair. She launched her ownproduction house – Vijaya Krishna Movies and went on to produce 15 films under the banner. She also handled the operations ofPadmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Tele Films.[3] Her sonNaresh is also a noted actor inTelugu cinema.[5]
She was born as Nidudavolu Nirmala on 20 February 1946 into aTelugu Brahmin family settled inTamil Nadu who were originally fromNarasaraopet.[6] Her father was a film producer. Her paternal uncle was scholar and literary historianNidudavolu Venkatarao.[7] ActressJayasudha is Venkatrao's granddaughter while singerR. Balasaraswathi Devi is her paternal aunt's daughter.[7]
Vijaya Nirmala was married to Krishna Murthy and had a sonNaresh, who is also an actor.[5] She later married actorKrishna.[8]
Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema as a child artist with the Tamil movieMacha Rekai (1950). At age eleven, she debuted in Telugu films withPanduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred oppositePrem Nazir and rose to stardom with the Malayalam filmBhargavi Nilayam.[9] Also, in 1967, she starred again oppositePrem Nazir inUdhyogastha, byP. Venu. She debuted in theTelugu industry in the filmRangula Ratnam (1966).[10]
Her first film inTamil wasEnga Veettu Penn (1965),[2] which was followed byPanama Pasama (1968),Uyira Maanama (1968),En Annan (1970), andGnana Oli (1972). She met her second husband Krishna on the sets ofSakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It wasSakshi 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 withMeena and directed 40 films inTelugu and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh).[2] The actress-director was based inHyderabad and managedPadmalaya Studios andPadmalaya Telefilms Ltd.[12][11][13]
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Kavitha | Malayalam |
| Meena | Based on the novelMeena byYaddanapudi Sulochana Rani which was later adapted into 2016 movieA Aa[24] | |
| 1974 | Devadasu | |
| 1976 | Devude Gelichadu | Remake of Malayalam filmYakshagaanam |
| Kavitha | ||
| 1977 | Panchayathi | |
| 1978 | Rowdy Rangamma | |
| 1979 | Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu | |
| Sanku Theertham | ||
| Hema Hemeelu | ||
| 1980 | Ram Robert Rahim | Remake of Hindi filmAmar Akbar Anthony |
| Kiladi Krishnudu | ||
| Sangham Chekkina Silpalu | ||
| Sirimalle Navvindi | ||
| 1981 | Bhogi Mantalu | |
| Antham Kadidi Aarambam | Remake of Kannada filmAntha | |
| 1982 | Doctor Cine Actor | |
| 1983 | Bezawada Bebbuli | |
| 1984 | Mukhyamantri | Remake of Kannada filmChakravyuha |
| 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 |
| International | |
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| National | |
