Vijaya Nirmala

Vijaya Nirmala (Telugu: విజయ నిర్మల) is a South Indian actress and director. In 2002, the Guinness Book of Records named her as the female director who had made the highest number of films. She has directed 47 movies.^[1][2]

Career

Vijaya Nirmala's entry into the film industry was as a child artiste in Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957) at the age of 7. In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir in the landmark Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam.^[3] She debuted in Telugu industry through the film Rangula Ratnam.^[4] Her debut film in Tamil was Engaveettu Penn,^[2] which was followed by movies including Panama Paasama, En Annan, Gnanaoli, and Uyira Maanama. She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Saakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Saakshi, that kindled her interest in direction.^[2]

To date, she has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.^[2] Her small screen debut came with Balaji Telefilms Pelli Kanuka. Soon after, she launched her own banner Vijaya Krishna Movies and produced 15 films. She made her directional debut with a Malayalam film with a budget of 3 lakhs. She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena and directed 40 films in Telugu and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh).^[2] Currently the actress-director is based in Hyderabad and is managing Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.^[5]

Vijaya Nirmala has a son Naresh who is also an actor, from her first marriage. In 1969, she married actor Krishna. She has indicated that she has an amiable relationship with her husband's first wife Indira and her children.^[6]

Vijaya Nirmala received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for 2008 regarding her contributions to Telugu film industry.^[7]

Filmography

This is selected filmography of Vijaya Nirmala. Kindly help expanding it.

References