
Acting
Vanisri
Born 1948-08-03 · Nellore, Madras Presidency, British India
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.
Acting credits
NRRamudu (Taraka Rathna) is a youngster and also a 'chekka bhajana' performer in Bhadrachalam. When his grandmother forces him to get married, he falls in love with a 'chekka bhajana' learner Seeta (Radhika) and marries her. Immediately after the marriage, Seeta gives a slip to Ramudu and returns to her homeland Germany.The real reason for Seeta's act is due to an advice from her astrologer. He said that her first marriage would not work out. Her marriage is fixed with her bava Ravi and she loves him too. But she does not want any complications in her marital life. Hence she marries Ramudu at Bhadrachalam and ditches him to go back to Germany and marry Ravi so that her second marriage would be fruitful. The rest of the story is all about how Ramudu with his chekkalu and Lord Rama's vermilion (kunkuma) fly to Germany to fight his aunt Jagadamba (Vani Sri) and bring back her daughter and his wife Seeta.
Badradri Ramudu
2004
9.0No synopsis available yet.
Vintha Katha
1973
Lakshmi adopts her sister Sudha's daughter, Shanti, on whom she dotes. However, when Shanti is about to get married, Sudha returns into their lives, wreaking havoc.
Swathi Chinukulu
1989
8.0Sridhar, who is appointed as a home tutor to teach a girl belonging to a rich family, falls in love with his student.
Private Master
1967
Story of a woman who falls in love with a man who's in love with her friend. She sacrifices her love and writes weekly stories in a magazine about her own life. Will she be able to find love in the end? Will her character in the story be able to find love?
Thamarai Nenjam
1968
No synopsis available yet.
Oorukku Uzhaippavan
1976
10.0A woman is attached to her brother-in-law's son and is unable to cope with his death. She becomes mentally unstable and is kept in a medical facility, while her own child is raised by her relatives.
Jeevana Jyothi
1975
No synopsis available yet.
Prananiki Pranam
1990
7.0A popular actress runs from her scheming uncle and finds shelter in the house of a respected man, Buchi Babu. While they begin to fall in love, misunderstandings cause them to separate.
Bangaru Babu
1973
Mohana, who loves Raj, and Thangaraj, who loves Geetha, join forces and go to great lengths to separate Geetha and Raj who are about to get married.
Kadhalithal Podhuma
1967
A united family of two brothers and a sister along with their parents move to a town. Elder brother (Suryam - Ram Mohan) finds easy way to get rich and marries the daughter of a rich politician and abandons his family. After their father expires, tragedy hits the family. The younger brother Vasu (Chandra Mohan) sticks with the family to take care of his mother (Anjali Devi) and sister (Vijaya Nirmala).
Rangula Ratnam
1966
NRNo description
Chakravakam
1974
Telugu old mythological movie.
Satya Harishchandra
1965
9.0Both Radha and Nirmala love a young man named Gopi. But Nirmala's father wants to make Gopi marry Nirmala in order to grab his property. But she realizes that Gopi and Radha are in love and tries to unite them.
Dasara Bullodu
1971
8.0Venu Gopal is an engineer who travels to various places as part of his projects. In his travel he meets a girl Neela. They both fall in love, and get married. But Venu's uncle wants him to marry his daughter. So he makes various plans and creates mis-understanding between Venu and Neela.
Bangaru Panjaram
1969
Gummadi leaves his young son, Raja, and daughter, Shanti, to fend for themselves after the death of his wife. Raja takes care of his little sister while vowing to find his father.
Chitti Chellelu
1970
Directed by K Balachander, Music by M.S. Viswanathan, and starring Vanishree, Vijayalalitha, Jaishankar.
Nangu Suvargal
1971
10.0The story of the famous Siva devotee, Kanappa.
Bhakta Kannappa
1976
No synopsis available yet.
Marapurani Katha
1967
Raghu and Shekhar come to the big city to make a life for themselves, but they get robbed. Raghhu sets his sights on an heiress but decides to marry her dishonestly. Will Shekhar stand by or attempt to intervene?
Avasara Kalyanam
1972
No synopsis available yet.
Koduku Kodalu
1972
8.0No synopsis available yet.
Kanne Manasulu
1966
No synopsis available yet.
Stree Janma
1967
8.0Suryam and Seetha struggle to survive after the death of their father, Veerayya. Jagannadham, their father's employer, takes them into their house, but things do not go as planned
Aathmeeyulu
1969