This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2011)

This page relates to the famous south indian actress, Vanisri

Vanisree‌
Born	Ratna Kumari (1948-08-03) August 3, 1948 (age 63) Nellore, India
Occupation	Actor
Height	5ft 6in

Vanisri or Ratna Kumari (born 3 August 1948), also known as Vanisree or Vanishree (Telugu: వాణిశ్రీ) , is a popular Telugu actress in the mid 1960s to the late 1970s. Her portfolio also includes Kannada and Tamil films.

Early life[link]

Vanisri was born in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India in 1948. Actor S V Ranga Rao gave her screen name Vanisri.

Career[link]

Her first film was Marapurani Kadha. She gained attention with a supporting role in a film penned by K. Balachander titled Sukha Dukhalu, where the famous song "Idi Mallela Velayani" was picturized on her. She became a heroine and held the top spot through most of the 1970s.

Vanisri had several super hit and silver jubilee movies, such as Krishnaveni, Prem Nagar, Dasara Bullodu, Aradhana, Jeevitha Chakram, Rangula Ratnam, Sri Krishna Tulabharam, Bhakta Kannappa, and Bobbili Raja, etc. She played dual roles in Iddaru Ammayilu (1972), 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 (1974) and Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979). 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). She was also in the 1999 hindi film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal directed by Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao. She often portrays arrogant mothers-in-law or aunts. Vanisri has acted in television serials as well.

She also worked as politician in Congress party.

Personal life[link]

Vanisri is married and has a daughter and a son. She lives in Chennai.^[1]

Awards[link]

• 1973 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jeevana Tarangalu
• 1974 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Krishnaveni
• 1975 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Jeevana Jyothi
• Kavignar Kannadasan Award in 2001
• Meena Kumari award at the Vamsi Awards in 2004
• Madhavapeddi Prabhavathi awards by the Siva Foundation in 2005

Filmography[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2009)

Uppalapati Venkata Krishnam Raju (born 20 January 1940) is a former popular Telugu film actor. He was popularly known as 'Rebel Star' for his rebellious acting style

Krishnam Raju starred in more than 183 Telugu films in his career and was a prominent actor of the 1970s and 1980s in Tollywood. He entered the films in 1966 with Chilaka Gorinka produced and directed by Kotayya Pratyagatma. He won 5 Filmfare Awards including Filmfare Lifetime achievement Award and 2 Nandi Awards .^[1]

After late 1990s he became active in politics. He joined Bharatiya Janata Party and was elected to 12th and 13th Lok Sabha from Kakinada and Narasapur constituencies. He served as a minister of state for external affairs in the Third Vajpayee Ministry from 1999 to 2004. On 24 March 2009 he has joined Praja Rajyam Party founded by southern megastar Chiranjeevi. In 2009 State assembly elections he contested for M.P. seat from Rajamundry constituency and had Murali Mohan as a major opponent who's contesting on behalf of Telugu Desam Party (TDP). While both were film actors, both of them lost election to incumbent MP, Undavalli Arun Kumar of Indian National Congress.^[2]

Filmography[link]

Awards and Recognition[link]

[edit] Filmfare Awards

• 2006 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award (South)

Filmfare Best Actor Award (Telugu)

Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu)

[edit] Nandi Awards

Nandi Award for Best Actor

See also[link]

• Cinema of Andhra Pradesh
• Prabhas
• Bharatiya Janata Party

References[link]

External links[link]

• www.idlebrain.com
• Krishnamraju Profile
• Krishnam Raju at the Internet Movie Database

Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar,^[1] commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan (1 October 1927 – 21 July 2001),^[1][2][3] was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century^[4] and was one of the most respected film actors in India.^[5] He was well known for his versatility and acting skills with numerous roles depicted on screen.^[6] He progressed from a stage actor since his childhood to the filmdom with such an authority that the Tamil cinema considered as the golden era. In a career spanning close to five decades he has acted in nearly 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.^[7]

Ganesan was the first Indian film actor to win a "Best Actor" award in an International film festival, the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in Cairo, Egypt in 1960. Many leading South Indian film actors have stated that their acting was influenced by Ganesan.^[8][9][10] He was also the first Indian actor to be made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.^[11]

Ganesan is remembered as the iconic figure of Tamil cinema.^[12][13] He is referred to as "The Marlon Brando of Indian Cinema".^[14][15] From Parasakthi onwards, he has won the President's Award for more than 12 times.^[16] During end of his career, Ganesan was conferred the highest and the most prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his contribution to Indian cinema in 1997.^[17][18] In spite of his celebrated film career, his short stint in politics became a futile attempt.^[19]

Early life[link]

Ganesan was born on October 1, 1928^[1][2][3] to Chinnaiya Manrayar and Rajamani in a Tamil middle-class Kallar family in Villupuram. His ancestors were from a village called Surakottai in the Thanjavur District.^[20] His father was arrested on the day Ganesan was born for taking part in an anti-British campaign in Viluppuram.^[1][21]

Ganesan's inspiration for acting was inborn; when he got a chance to act on stage for a touring drama company he took it without his father's consent at the age of seven.^[7] At the age of 10, he moved to Tiruchirappalli and joined a drama troupe in Sangiliyandapuram and began to perform in stage plays.^[22] From the drama troupe trainers he was very lucky enough to learn acting and dancing skills. He was trained in Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Manipuri.

Ganesan was an intellectual boy who could remember lengthy lines easily and could present them to the audience brilliantly with perfection. This made him hero of the troupe in the long run. His outstanding portrayal of the character of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the stage play Shivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam earned him the title "Sivaji"^[7] which was conferred on him at a public function presided over by E. V. Ramasamy, a social reformer. Since then, he was referred by the name "Sivaji".^[23]

Film career[link]

Early career: 1952–1959[link]

Ganesan and C. N. Annadurai in the play Sivaji Kanda Hindu Rajyam in Chennai in 1945

Two factors can be attributed the entry of Ganesan into films: The principal artists in Tamil films during the 1940s and 1950s were Telugus, whose acting was not matched by their dialogue delivery in Tamil. (In fact, Sivaji Ganesan lent his voice to Mukkamala Krishna Murthy, a Telugu actor, for a Tamil film, Niraparathi. The film was well-received by the Tamil audience.) Secondly, the 1950s saw the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of C. N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi. Their transformation of language skills to films through script writing, ensured their instant acceptance.^[19] Gansesan's entry in to films at this stage of popularity was easy and inevitable, and he could establish himself in a better position.

Ganesan made his acting debut in the 1952 Tamil film Parasakthi, co-starring actress Pandari Bai.^[24] The script was written by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi.^[23][24][25] Since actors who are well-trained in classical dance can effectively showcase expressions called Nava Rasa on their faces, Ganesan went on to become one of the popular actors in Tamil cinema in the 1950s. His unique voice had a greater appeal. His style of dialogue delivery with a long spell of dialogues — like a poetry recitation with much clarity — earned him critical recognition.

Andha Naal (1954) was a trendsetter in Tamil cinema because it had no songs^[26] and Ganesan played an anti-hero. The film won the president's silver medal the following year. The same year he co-starred with his rival M. G. Ramachandran in Koondukkili where he played the antagonist.^[27]

Donning versatile roles: 1959–1964[link]

His role in the film Veerapaandiya Kattabomman won him the Best Actor Award at the Afro-Asian Film Festival held in March 1960 at Cairo.^[23][28] Incidentally, Ganesan was also the first Indian actor to get an award for Best Actor abroad.^[29] He has worked with many actresses, including Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Pandaribai, Vyjayanthimala, Savithri, Padmini, Devika, B. Sarojadevi, K. R. Vijaya, Vanisri and J. Jayalalitha of his time. He also co-starred with other actors such as Gemini Ganesan, S.S.Rajendran, Muthuraman, M. R. Radha and S. V. Ranga Rao in numerous films in which he played the main lead.