Vijaya Nirmala

Vijaya Nirmala
Born 20 February 1946
Spouse(s) Late K. S. Murthy (ex husband)
Krishna (husband)
Children Vijaya Naresh (son)

Vijaya Nirmala (Telugu: విజయ నిర్మల) is an Indian film actress, producer and director known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema. She has directed 44 films in Telugu, and In 2002, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the female director to direct the highest number of films.[1] In 2008, she received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contributions to Telugu cinema.[2]

Personal Life

Vijaya Nirmala was born in Tamil Nadu to a Telugu family from Andhra. Her father has worked in film production. She has a son Naresh who is also an actor, from her first marriage, after the demise of her first husband, she married actor Krishna.[3]

Career

Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema at the age of eleven, as a child artist with Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and rose to stardom with Malayalam hit Bhargavi Nilayam.[4] And in 1967, she starred again opposite Prem Nazir in Udhyogastha by P. Venu. She debuted in Telugu industry through the film Rangula Ratnam.[5]

Her debut film in Tamil was Engaveettu Penn,[1] 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.[1] To date, she has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.[1]

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 directorial debut with a Malayalam film on 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).[1] Currently the actress-director is based in Hyderabad and is managing Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.[6]

Selected filmography

Year Film Language Role
1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Telugu Bala Krishnudu
1958 Bhookailas Telugu Goddess Seetha
1964 Bhargavi Nilayam Malayalam[7] Bhargavi
1965 Enga Veetu Penn Tamil
1965 Manchi Kutumbam Telugu
1965 Rosie Malayalam
1965 Kalyanarathriyil Malayalam
1966 Chitthi Tamil
1966 Poochakanni Malayalam
1966 Rangula Ratnam Telugu
1967 Poola Rangadu Telugu Padma
1967 Saakshi Telugu
1967 Pooja Malayalam
1967 Udhyogastha Malayalam
1967 Anweshichu Kandethiyilla Malayalam
1968 Karutha Pournami Malayalam
1968 Asadhyudu Telugu Radha
1968 Bangaru Gaajulu Telugu Radha
1968 Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi Tamil Latha
1969 Aatmiyulu Telugu Saroja
1970 Nishagandhi Malayalam
1970 Vivaham Swargathil Malayalam
1970 Akka Chellelu Telugu Lawyer Vijaya
1971 Bomma Borusa Telugu
1971 Mosagallaku Mosagadu Telugu Radha
1971 Ana Valarthiya Vanambadiyude Makan Malayalam
1972 Tata Manavadu Telugu Rani
1972 Pandanti Kapuram Telugu
1972 Kalipava Malayalam
1972 Pulliman Malayalam
1972 Postmane Kanmanilla Malayalam Nalini
1973 Thenaruvi Malayalam
1973 Kattu Vithachavan Malayalam
1973 Ponnapuram Kotta Malayalam
1973 Kavitha Malayalam
1973 Devudu Chesina Manushulu Telugu
1973 Sahasame naa Oopiri Telugu
1973 Pinni Telugu
1973 Buddhimantudu Telugu
1973 Patnavasam Telugu
1973 Marina Manishi Telugu
1973 Meena Telugu
1974 Durga Malayalam
1974 Alluri Seetarama Raju Telugu Seeta
1976 Paadipantalu Telugu
1977 Kurukshetram Telugu Subhadra
1989 Pinni Telugu Lakshmi

See also

References