Bhanumati Ramakrishna | |
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Born | September 7, 1925 Doddavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Died | December 24, 2005 Chennai, India |
(aged 80)
Occupation | Actress, Singer, Writer, Director |
Spouse | P. S. Ramakrishna Rao |
Dr. Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (Telugu: భానుమతీ రామకృష్ణ) ( 7 September 1925 - 24 December 2005 ) was a noted Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book writer and songs writer. Most of her works are in Telugu and Tamil languages.
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She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up watching her father performing stage shows. Her father, Venkatasubbiah, was a staunch lover of classical music and gave her early training in music.
Bhanumathi entered the film industry in 1935, and acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil. She was also called as Ashtavadhani by the film industry people as she was a writer, actor, director, producer, singer, music director, editor and studio owner. She also had a good knowledge of Astrology and philosophy.
She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by C. Pullaiah. She had acted in Malathi Madhavam, Dharma Patni and Bhaktimala. Her first popular film was Krishna Prema. Her next popular film was Swargaseema, a milestone film in her career. She later acted in many memorable movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. In 1953, she made her directorial debut with Chandirani (made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). Her last film was made in 1998, entitled Pelli Kanuka. C. N. Annadurai gave her a title "Nadippukku Ilakkanam" (means Grammar for acting) that suits her aptly.
Apart from being an exceptional actress, she was also a very talented musician. She is one of the fine actress of Telugu film industry. She was adept in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. She gave voice to her songs despite it being the norm to use playback singers for actors. Some of her songs are still popular like Pilichina biguvatara, Kila Kila Navvulu, Oh Pavurama, Preme Nerama. She also provided music to a lot of her films.
During her later years she served on various movie related organizations. She was a Member of State Film Awards Committee for two years. She was also a Visiting Professor at the Film Institute for one year. She was Member of Children Film Society for 5 years, from 1965 to 1970.
Bhanumati was also a talented writer with a number of short stories to her credit. Her autobiography Nalo Nenu was published in Telugu and later, released in English as Musings. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy awarded her as the best short story writer for her popular short stories "Attagari Kathalu". She was a Member of Lalit Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra Pradesh for 10 years. She served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Chennai for three years.
She was an eminent social worker who was closely associated with a number of Social Service Organizations. She was the founder member and treasurer of Madras branch of Altrusa International Inc., Chicago for life long starting from 1963. She was a life member of the 'Red Cross Society'. She established an educational institution named as "Dr. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School" at Saligramam, Chennai providing free education to the poor.
During the shooting of the film Krishna Prema, she met P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an assistant director for that film. He was a film producer, director and editor of Telugu and Tamil Films. The couple later married on 8 August 1943 and later launched a popular production company, Bharani Pictures on their son's name.
She died at the age of 80 years in Chennai.
Bhanumati was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian recognition by the Government of India.
This is partial list of her films. Kindly help expanding it.
Year 1967 | Language Telegu | Co Star SV ranga Rao | Year 1968 | Film Poovum Pottum | Language Tamil | Character Padmavathi | Co-Star SV Ranga Rao | Music R Govardhan | Banner |
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1939 | Vara Vikrayam | Telugu | Kalindi | Chittor V. Nagaiah | Prabhala Satyanarayana | East India Film Company | |||
1940 | Malathi Madhavam | Telugu | East India Film Company | ||||||
1941 | Bhaktimala | Telugu | Radha | Bhaskar Films | |||||
1941 | Dharmapatni | Tamil | Famous Films | ||||||
1941 | Dharmapatni | Telugu | Famous Films | ||||||
1943 | Garuda Garvabhangam | Telugu | Pratiba | ||||||
1943 | Krishna Prema | Telugu | Chandravali | Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | Famous Films & Star Combines | ||||
1944 | Tahsildar | Telugu | Kamala | ||||||
1945 | Swargaseema | Telugu | Subbi/Sujatha Devi | Chittor V. Nagaiah | Chittor V. Nagaiah | Vijaya Studios | |||
1946 | Grihapravesham | Telugu | Janaki | Sarati Films | |||||
1947 | Ratnamala | Telugu | Ratnamala | C. S. R. Anjaneyulu | C. R. Subburaman | ||||
1948 | Raja Mukthi | Tamil | Kannika | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar | C. R. Subburaman | Narendra Pictures | |||
1949 | Laila Majnu | Telugu | Laila | A. Nageswara Rao | C. R. Subburaman | Bharani Pictures | |||
1949 | Laila Majnu | Tamil | Laila | A. Nageswara Rao | C. R. Subburaman | Bharani Pictures | |||
1949 | Nallathambi | Tamil | Pushpa | N. S. Krishnan | C. R. Subburaman | NSK Films & Uma Pictures | |||
1949 | Raksharekha | Telugu | Princess Kalavathi | ||||||
1949 | Devamanohari | Tamil | Devamanohari | C. Honnappa Bagavathar | G. Ramanathan | Arkays Pictures | |||
1949 | Apoorva Sagodharargal | Tamil | Kanchana | M. K. Radha | S. Rajeswara Rao | Gemini Studios | |||
1949 | Apoorva Sahodaralu | Telugu | Ranjana | M. K. Radha | S. Rajeswara Rao | Gemini Studios | |||
1949 | Nishaan | Hindi | Kanchana | M. K. Radha | S. Rajeswara Rao | Gemini Studios | |||
1949 | Rathnakumar | Tamil | P. U. Chinnappa Bhagavathar | G. Ramanathan & C. R. Subburaman | Murugan Talkies | ||||
1950 | Maya Rambha | Telugu | |||||||
1951 | Malleeswari | Telugu | Malleeswari | N. T. Rama Rao | Adepalli Rama Rao & S. Rajeswara Rao | Vijaya Studios | |||
1951 | Mangala | Telugu | Mangala | Gemini Studios | |||||
1951 | Mangala | Hindi | Mangala | Gemini Studios | |||||
1952 | Prema | Telugu | Mothi | A. Nageswara Rao | C. R. Subburaman | Bharani Pictures | |||
1952 | Kadhal | Tamil | Mothi | A. Nageswara Rao | C. R. Subburaman | Bharani Pictures | |||
1952 | Rani[1] | Tamil | S. Balachander | C. R. Subburaman | Jupiter Pictures | ||||
1952 | Rani[2] | Hindi | Anoop Kumar | C. R. Subburaman | Jupiter Pictures | ||||
1953 | Chandirani | Tamil | Champa & Chandi | N. T. Rama Rao | C. R. Subburaman, Assistants: |M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Bharani Pictures | |||
1953 | Chandirani | Telugu | Champa & Chandi | N. T. Rama Rao | C. R. Subburaman, Assistants:M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Bharani Pictures | |||
1953 | Chandirani | Hindi | Champa & Chandi | [Dilip Kumar]] | C. R. Subburaman, Assistants: M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Bharani Pictures | |||
1954 | Aggi Ramudu | Telugu | Saradha | N. T. Rama Rao | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Pakshiraja Studios | |||
1954 | Malaikkallan | Tamil | Poonkothai | M. G. Ramachandran | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Pakshiraja Studios | |||
1954 | Chakrapani | Telugu | Granddaughter | A. Nageswara Rao | P. Bhanumathi | ||||
1955 | Vipranarayana | Telugu | Devadevi | A. Nageswara Rao | S. Rajeswara Rao | Bharani Pictures | |||
1955 | Vipranarayana | Tamil | Devadevi | A. Nageswara Rao | S. Rajeswara Rao | Bharani Pictures | |||
1955 | Kalvanin Kadhali | Tamil | Kalyani | Sivaji Ganesan | T. Govindarajulu Naidu & Ghantasala | Revathi Productions | |||
1956 | Alibabavum Narpadhu Thirudargalum | Tamil | Marjina | M. G. Ramachandran | S. Dakshinamurthy | Modern Theatres | |||
1956 | Alibaba 40 Dongalu | Telugu | Marjina | M. G. Ramachandran | S. Dakshinamurthy | Modern Theatres | |||
1956 | Chintamani | Telugu | Chintamani | ||||||
1956 | Madurai Veeran | Tamil | Princess Bommi | M. G. Ramachandran | G. Ramanathan | Krishna Pictures | |||
1956 | Rangoon Radha | Tamil | Rangam | Sivaji Ganesan | T. R. Papa | Mekala Pictures | |||
1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Telugu | Rangasaani | N. T. Rama Rao & A. Nageswara Rao | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Vikram Productions | |||
1956 | Tenali Raman | Tamil | Krishnasani | N. T. Rama Rao & Sivaji Ganesan | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Vikram Productions | |||
1956 | Sadharam | Tamil | Sadharam | Gemini Ganesan | G. Ramanathan | Kasturi Films | |||
1956 | Thaaikkuppin Thaaram | Tamil | Sivakami | M. G. Ramachandran | K. V. Mahadevan | Devar Films | |||
1956 | Rambaiyin Kaadhal | Tamil | Ramba | K. A. Thangavelu | T. R. Papa | Kalpana Pictures | |||
1957 | Makkalai Petra Magarasi | Tamil | Rangamma | Sivaji Ganesan | K. V. Mahadevan | Sri Lakshmi Pictures | |||
1957 | Manamagan Thevai | Tamil | Sivaji Ganesan | G. Ramanathan | Bharani Pictures | ||||
1957 | Varudu Kavali | Telugu | K. Jaggaiah | G. Ramanathan | Bharani Pictures | ||||
1957 | Rani Lalithangi | Tamil | Sivaji Ganesan | G. Ramanathan | TNR Productions | ||||
1957 | Ambikapathy | Tamil | Princess Amaravati | Sivaji Ganesan | G. Ramanathan | ALS Productions | |||
1957 | Nala Damayanti | Telugu | Damayanthi | Kemparaj Urs | |||||
1957 | Sarangadhara | Telugu | Chitrangi Devi | N. T. Rama Rao | G. Ramanathan | Minerva Pictures | |||
1958 | Sarangadhara | Tamil | Chitrangi Devi | Sivaji Ganesan | G. Ramanathan | Minerva Pictures | |||
1958 | Nadodi Mannan | Tamil | Madhana | M. G. Ramachandran | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Emgeeyar Pictures | |||
1959 | Manimekalai | Tamil | Manimekalai | T. R. Mahalingam | G. Ramanathan | Shekhar Art Film | |||
1960 | Raja Bakthi | Tamil | Sivaji Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala | T. Govindarajulu Naidu | P. Rajamanickam | ||||
1960 | Raja Desingu | Tamil | Ranibhai | M. G. Ramachandran | G. Ramanathan | Krishna Pictures | |||
1961 | Batasari | Telugu | Madhavi | A. Nageswara Rao | Master Venu | Bharani Pictures | |||
1961 | Kaanal Neer | Tamil | Madhavi | A. Nageswara Rao | Master Venu | Bharani Pictures | |||
1962 | Annai | Tamil | Savithri | S. V. Ranga Rao | R. Sudharsanam | AVM Productions | |||
1963 | Kalai Arasi | Tamil | Vani & Valli | M. G. Ramachandran | K. V. Mahadevan | Sarodi Brothers | |||
1963 | Anuragam | ||||||||
1963 | Arivaali | Tamil | Sivaji Ganesan | ||||||
1963 | Penchina Prema | Telugu | |||||||
1963 | Kanji Thalaivan | Tamil | M. G. Ramachandran | ||||||
1964 | Bobbili Yudham | Telugu | Mallamma | ||||||
1964 | Vivaha Bandham | Telugu | Bharati | ||||||
1965 | Antastulu | Telugu | |||||||
1965 | Todu Needa | Telugu | |||||||
1966 | Palnati Yudham | Telugu | Nagamma | ||||||
1967 | Grihalakshmi (1967) | Telugu | Laxmi | ||||||
1971 | Mattilo Manikyam | Telugu | Lalitha | ||||||
1972 | Anta Mana Manchike | Telugu | Savitri
Kattila thottila |
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1973 | Vichitra Vivaham | ||||||||
1974 | Ammayi Pelli | Telugu | |||||||
1974 | Tatamma Kala | Telugu | |||||||
1975 | Ippadiyum Oru Penn | ||||||||
1975 | Pathu Maadha Bandham | ||||||||
1977 | Manavadi Kosam | Telugu | |||||||
1984 | Mangamma Gari Manavadu | Telugu | Mangamma | ||||||
1986 | Muddula Manavaraalu | Telugu | |||||||
1988 | Attagaru Swagatham | Telugu | |||||||
1990 | Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | Telugu | Bamma | ||||||
1992 | Chamanthi | Telugu | Bhuvaneshwari | ||||||
1992 | Peddarikam | Telugu | Adusumilli Basavapunnamma | ||||||
1992 | Samrat Ashok | Telugu
Chembaruthi Tamil |
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1998 | Pelli Kanuka | Telugu | Savithramma |
Bhanumati gave her voice for herself and many actors to sing many songs.
Year | Film | Songs | ||
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1939 | Vara Vikrayam | |||
1941 | Dharma Patni | Anuraagam Leka Anandamunda Nilu Niluma Neelavarnaa |
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1943 | Krishna Prema | |||
1945 | Swarga Seema | Oho Ho Pavurama, Oho Tapodhana | ||
1949 | Laila Majnu | Preme Neramouna Maapai Ee Pagela | ||
1951 | Malliswari | Manasuna Mallera Maalaloogene Parugulu Teeyali O Gittalu Urakalu Veyali (with Ghantasala) Pilachina Biguvatara Auraura Eda Thanunnado Baava (with Ghantasala) |
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1952 | Prema | Divya Premaku Satiaune (with Ghantasala) | ||
1953 | Chandirani | Eeroju Bhale Roju Ide Prema Idena Enduko Teliyani Ennadu Anukoni Ee Sambaraalemiti Evaraalakinturu Naamora Enaleni Vedana Kilaa Kilaa Navvulaa Kurisene Vennelaa O Taraka (with Ghantasala) |
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1954 | Chakrapani | Pakkala Nilabadi Kolichemu Uyyala Jampalaloogaravaya |
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1954 | Vipra Narayana | Raa Raa Naa Swamy | ||
1956 | Chintamani | |||
1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Kannulu Ninde Kannela Vinna Mannanaleera Raja Teerani Naa Korikale Teerenu Ee Roju |
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1961 | Batasari | Oh Baatasaari Nanu Maruvakoyi | ||
1963 | Anuragam | Sannajaji Teeveloi Sampenga Poovuloi | ||
1964 | Bobbili Yuddham | Srikara Karunalavala Venugopala | ||
1964 | Vivaha Bandham | Vinnava Vinnava Manasulona Dagivunna Madhurageeti | ||
1965 | Antastulu | Dulapara Bulloda Dummu Dulapara Bulloda Vinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa Vinaranna |
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1965 | Todu Needa | Enno Ratrulu Vastayi Kaani Idiye Toli Reyi When I was just a little girl - I asked my mother what will I be |
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1967 | Grihalakshmi | Laali Laali Gopala Bala Laali Laali Melukovayya Kaveti Ranga Sriranga |
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1971 | Mattilo Manikyam | Saranam Nee Divya Charanam | ||
1973 | Vichitra Vivaham | Ammayilu Abbayilu Naa Matalo Nijam Vintara Meeru | ||
1974 | Ammayi Pelli | Vandanamu Raghunandana Sethu Bandhana Bhakta Chandana | ||
1984 | Mangamma Gari Manavadu | Sree Suryanarayana Meluko (with Vani Jayaram) | ||
1986 | Muddula Manavaralu | |||
1990 | Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | Dilli Ki Raja Aina Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | ||
1998 | Pelli Kanuka | List of Tamil songs |