| S. Varalakshmi | |
|---|---|
S.Varalaxmi in Mayalokam film |
|
| Born | 13 August 1925 Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh |
| Died | 22 September 2009 (aged 84) Chennai, India |
| Occupation | Singer, Actress |
| Years active | 1935 - 1992 |
| Spouse | A. L. Srinivasan |
Saridey Varalakshmi, popularly known as Telugu: ఎస్. వర లక్ష్మిS. Varalakshmi (13 August 1925 - 22 September 2009) was a veteran Telugu and Tamil actress and singer. She was popular for her roles and songs in Telugu movies like Mahamantri Timmarasu and Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam and Tamil movies like Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Savale Samali.
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Varalakshmi was born in Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India. She started her career as child artist in saint role in Balayogini (1937), when she was nine years old. Gudavalli Ramabramham was engaged by the pioneer filmmaker K. Subrahmanyam to direct the Telugu version of this movie. He spotted young Varalakshmi in Kurnool. Subramanyam later cast her in his classic Seva Sadanam (1938) with M. S. Subbulakshmi.[1] She played a young friend of the heroine (M.S.), and they became close friends. She played a young girl’s role in Parasuraman (Tamil, 1940) along with T. R. Mahalingam. T. R. Sundaram, cast her in a major role in his box office hit ‘Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani’ (1947). The title role was played by V. N. Janaki. The film was a major success and Govindan and Varalakshmi made an attractive pair. T. R. Sundaram cast her again in the lead role in ‘Bhojan’ (1948). Her first successful movie was Balaraju in 1948 produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah. She later acted with all top heroes in Telugu and Tamil industries including Sivaji Ganesan (Veerapandiya Kattabbomman), M. G. Ramachandran (Chakravarthi Thirumagal, Maattukara Velan, Needhikku Thalaivanangu), Gemini Ganesan (Poova Thalaiya), N. T. Rama Rao (Lava Kusha), A. Nageswara Rao(ANR) (Balaraju), Chittor V. Nagaiah (Naga Panchami), Ranjan (En Magan) and R. S. Manohar (Maamiyaar). She was also famous for her voice, and sung her songs in all movies she acted. Her roles as Sivaji's wife in Veerapandiya Kattabomman, and important roles in Poova Thalaiyaa, Savale Samali, Maattukkara Velan, Raja Raja Chozhan and Neethikku thalaivanangu won her critical acclaim as a talented singer and actress in Tamil movies. In her later career, she acted in mother and aunt roles. She married film producer A. L. Srinivasan and has two children. She continued to act after marriage in senior roles in Telugu and Tamil cinema.
Varalakshmi was bedridden during the last 6 months of her life after she fell and injured her back. She died on 22 September 2009.[2]
She has received several awards commending her service to Tamil cinema. The most recent ones were:
Note: The lists are not comprehensive.
| Year | Film | Language | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Balayogini | Telugu | Child Saint |
| 1938 | Seva Sadan | Tamil | |
| 1939 | Raitu Bidda | Telugu | Beggar Girl |
| 1940 | Illalu | Telugu | |
| 1945 | Mayalokam | Telugu | |
| 1947 | Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani | Tamil | |
| 1947 | Palnati Yudham | Telugu | Maanchala |
| 1948 | Balaraju | Telugu | Sita |
| 1948 | Bhojan | Tamil | |
| 1948 | Chakradhari | ||
| 1949 | Jeevitham | Telugu | Lakshmi |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | |
| 1950 | Vali Sugriva | ||
| 1954 | Ethirparadathu | Nalini | |
| 1954 | Sati Sakkubai | Sakkubai | |
| 1956 | Kanakatara | Telugu | |
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Telugu | |
| 1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Durga | |
| 1957 | Sati Savitri | Savitri | |
| 1958 | Mangalya Balam | Telugu | |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Jakkamma |
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Sri Mahalaxmi |
| 1961 | Krishna Prema | Telugu | |
| 1962 | Mahamantri Timmarusu | Telugu | Tirumaladevi |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | Telugu | Bhoodevi |
| 1963 | Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham | Telugu | Satyabhama |
| 1964 | Babruvahana | Telugu | Chitrangada |
| 1964 | Bavru Vahana | Tamil | |
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Telugu | Chandramathi |
| 1966 | Shri Krishna Pandaviyam | Telugu | Kunti |
| 1967 | Apoorva Piravaigal | Tamil | |
| 1967 | Bhama Vijayam | ||
| 1967 | Shri Krishnavataram | Telugu | Draupadi |
| 1969 | Aadarsa Kutumbam | Telugu | |
| 1970 | Drohi | ||
| 1971 | Bomma Borusa | Telugu | Parvathamma |
| 1971 | Prem Nagar | Telugu | |
| 1971 | Sri Krishna Satya | Telugu | |
| 1972 | Bala Bharatam | Telugu | Gandhari |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | Telugu | |
| 1973 | Nathayil Muthu | Varadhachari's Wife | |
| 1975 | Abhimanavathi | Telugu | Mother of Krishna |
| 1975 | Yashoda Krishna | Telugu | |
| 1977 | Daana Veera Soora Karna | Telugu | Kunthi |
| 1979 | Kavariman | Tamil | |
| 1983 | Neti Bharatam | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Guna | Tamil | Mannonmani |
| Year | Film | Language | Songs | Music | Co-Singer! |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Mayalokam | Telugu | Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | ||
| 1947 | Palnati Yudham | Telugu | Chandamama O Chandamama Jaalirada Neeku Naameeda |
Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | |
| 1947 | Palnati Yudham | Telugu | Oho Charusheela Oho Veerabala | Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | Akkineni |
| 1947 | Aayiram Thalai Vangi Aboorva Chithamani | Tamil | Kathal Aginen | ||
| 1948 | Bhojan | Tamil | Bhagyasali Puvimel Naane | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1948 | Balaraju | Telugu | Evarine Nenevarine Vagavagala Nenevarine |
C. R. Subburaman, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and Ghantasala | |
| 1948 | Balaraju | Telugu | O Balaraja Jaalileda Balaraja |
C. R. Subburaman, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and Ghantasala | |
| 1948 | Balaraju | Telugu | Roopama Neeyaraya Nijaroopamu Neeyaraya | C. R. Subburaman, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and Ghantasala | |
| 1949 | Jeevitham | Telugu | Anandamouga Palleseema Daanadharmakillu Maa Palleseema | R. Sudharsanam | |
| 1949 | Navajeevanam | Tamil | Eedilla Kathalar Name | Ghantasala | Ghantasala |
| 1950 | Macha Regai | Tamil | Odathe | C. R. Subburaman | T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | C. R. Subburaman | ||
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Azhagana Thadi Raja | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Nane Rani | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Avarthane | T. G. Linggappa | |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Vinmugil Kaana | T. G. Linggappa | |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Oh Jegamathil Inbam Kanbathellam | T. G. Linggappa | T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Pulli Maanai Pole | T. G. Linggappa | T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Kanneerthano | T. G. Linggappa | T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1951 | Mohanasundaram | Tamil | Kanavilum Unai Maraven | T. G. Linggappa | T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1952 | Velaikkaran | Tamil | Nane Rani | R. Sudaharsanam | |
| 1952 | Manavathy | Tamil | O Saratha | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | |
| 1953 | Maamiyaar | Tamil | Arul Purivay | C. N. Pandurangan | |
| 1953 | Maamiyaar | Tamil | Vazviniley Nannalithuve | C. N. Pandurangan | A. M. Rajah |
| 1953 | Shyamala | Tamil | Puthu Vazhvu | ||
| 1953 | Shyamala | Tamil | Thaye Sangari | M. S. Sarojini | |
| 1954 | Sati Sakkubai | Telugu | |||
| 1955 | Nam Kuzhanthai | Tamil | Ulagam Pora Thisai | ||
| 1955 | Nam Kuzhanthai | Tamil | Ithayathile | ||
| 1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Tamil | Ematramthana En Vazhvile | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Tamil | Nalangittu Parpomadi | G. Ramanathan | A. P. Komala |
| 1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Tamil | Sollaley Vilakka Theriyale | G. Ramanathan | P. Leela |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Singara Kanne Un Thenoorum Sollale | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Manam Kanintharul Vel Muruga | G. Ramanathan | V. N. Sundaram |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Takku Takku Ena Adikkadi Thudikkum | G. Ramanathan | P. Suseela & A. P. Komala |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | Thanimai Nernthatho | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | Muthu Pugazh Padaitha | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | Radha Jayalakshmi |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | Thendral Vanthu Veesatho | M. S. Viswanathan & T. K. Ramamoorthy | T. S. Bagavathi |
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Sri Devini Needu Deverini Sarisaatileni Sowbhagyavatini |
Pendyala Nageswara Rao | |
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Varala Beramaya Vanaram Beramaya | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | |
| 1962 | Mahamantri Timmarusu | Telugu | Leela Krishna Nee Leelalu Ne Leelaganaina Teliyanuga |
Pendyala Nageswara Rao | |
| 1962 | Mahamantri Timmarusu | Telugu | Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | P. Susheela |
| 1962 | Vadivukku Valaikaappu | Tamil | Thaamatham Seiyathe Thozhi | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Telugu | He Chandrachooda Madanantaka Shoolapane | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | Ghantasala |
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai | Tamil | Velli Malai Mannava | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1967 | Neethikku Thalai Vanagu | Tamil | Intha Pachai Kuzhantaikku Sevvanthi Poovinil | ||
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | Tamil | Anbe Sivam Endru Paduvome | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | |
| 1973 | Rajaraja Cholan | Tamil | Eduthnatharadi Thillayile | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | Sirkazhi Govindarajan |
| 1973 | Rajaraja Cholan | Tamil | Thanjai Preiya Koyil Pallandu Vaazhgave | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | Sirkazhi Govindarajan & T. R. Mahalingam |
| 1973 | Thirumala Deivam | Tamil | Neela Nira Megamellaam Neeye Kanna | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | |
| 1977 | Sri Krishna Leelai | Tamil | Nalla Naal | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1979 | Kavariman | Tamil | Sollavallaayo Kiliye | Ilaiyaraja | |
| 1991 | Guna | Tamil | Unnai Naan Ariven | Ilaiyaraja | |
| 19 | Ilangeswaran | Tamil | Jothimayamana | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu |