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Vanisri

Vanisri

Acting

August 3, 1948 (77 years old)
Nellore, Madras Presidency, British India
Female
87 Movies

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. 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.

Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu

Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu

1989 7.2

as Chamundeshwari Devi

Age 40 (now 77)
Vasantha Maligai
Vasantha Maligai

Vasantha Maligai

1972 7.0

as Anand

Age 24 (now 77)
Bobbili Raja
Bobbili Raja

Bobbili Raja

1990 6.6

as Minister Rajeswari Devi

Age 42 (now 77)
The Sage from the Sea
The Sage from the Sea

The Sage from the Sea

1978 9.5

as Ansuya P. Rao

Age 29 (now 77)
Uyarndha Manidhan
Uyarndha Manidhan

Uyarndha Manidhan

1968 8.3
Age 20 (now 77)
Aaradhana
A

Aaradhana

1976 8.5

as Radha

Age 27 (now 77)
Srimadhvirata Parvamu
Srimadhvirata Parvamu

Srimadhvirata Parvamu

1979 8.0

as Draupadi

Age 30 (now 77)
Nalladhoru Kudumbam
Nalladhoru Kudumbam

Nalladhoru Kudumbam

1979 7.5
Age 30 (now 77)
Bangaru Babu
Bangaru Babu

Bangaru Babu

1973 7.0

as Vani

Age 24 (now 77)
Nindu Hrudayalu
Nindu Hrudayalu

Nindu Hrudayalu

1969 6.5

as Sharada

Age 20 (now 77)
Kulama Gunama
Kulama Gunama

Kulama Gunama

1971 6.5
Age 22 (now 77)
Pandava Vanavasamu
Pandava Vanavasamu

Pandava Vanavasamu

1965 6.7

as Satyabhama

Age 16 (now 77)
Private Master
Private Master

Private Master

1967 8.0
Age 19 (now 77)
Vani Rani
Vani Rani

Vani Rani

1974
Age 25 (now 77)
Jeevana Jyothi
Jeevana Jyothi

Jeevana Jyothi

1975 10.0

as Lakshmi/Sobha

Age 26 (now 77)
Thamarai Nenjam
TN

Thamarai Nenjam

1968 7.0

as Radha

Age 19 (now 77)