Garikapati Varalakshmi

Garikapati Varalakshmi (27 September 1926 – 26 November 2006) was an Indian actress, stage artist, singer, and director who worked in Telugu and Tamil films.

Early life and career Varalakshmi was born in 1926 in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father was a pehelwan. She started acting on stage in Vijayawada when she was 11 years old. She acted along with stage actors Thungala Chalapathi and Dasari Kotiratnam and became popular for her roles in plays like Sakkubai and Rangoon Rowdy.

Her first two movie roles aged 14 were in Barrister Parvatheesam, produced by Raghupathy Prakash, and Bondam Pelli, produced by H. M. Reddy. These two movies were released together as a two-in-one movie. She then moved to Bombay to sing in the chorus for Naushad in 1942. As her career as a singer was not successful, she returned to Madras in 1946. She married the filmmaker and studio-owner K. S. Prakash Rao. Her husband and she acted in and produced a controversial and popular movie, Drohi in which she played the part of an arrogant daughter.

Drohi was followed by popular movies like Kula Gotralu, Kanna Talli and Pelli Chesi Choodu in which she acted with all the top heroes of Indian films of the 1940s and 1950s in Telugu and Tamil, playing roles ranging from the loving woman and arrogant sister to the mother-in-law. She also directed a social movie, Moogajeevulu. She got involved in politics and supported M.G.R for a short time and was an active member of Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali.

Personal life She was the mother of two children, one daughter Kovelamudi Kanaka Durga and a son Kovelamudi Siva Prakash who became a famous cameraman. She is also the step-mother of the famous director Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao. Her granddaughter Manasa acted in the film Nandanavanam 120km.

Filmography Note: The list is not comprehensive.

Actress

Year Film Language Character 1940 Barrister Parvateesam Telugu 1940 Bondam Pelli Telugu 1941 Dakshayagnam Telugu 1942 Bhakta Prahlada Telugu 1946 Vanarani Telugu 1948 Vindhyarani Telugu 1948 Drohi Telugu Saroja 1950 Maaya Rambha Tamil Rambha 1950 Maaya Rambha Telugu Rambha 1950 Modati Rathri Telugu 1950 Lakshmamma Tamil 1950 Sri Lakshmamma Katha Telugu Pichamma 1950 Swapna Sundari Tamil Rani 1950 Swapna Sundari Telugu Rani 1951 Anni Tamil 1951 Deeksha Telugu 1951 Niraparadhi Tamil Tara 1951 Nirdoshi Telugu Tara 1952 Manavathi Tamil 1952 Manavathi Telugu 1952 Kalyanam Panni Paar Tamil 1952 Pelli Chesi Choodu Telugu Ammadu 1953 Naa Chellelu Telugu 1953 Kanna Talli Telugu Shanta 1953 Petra Thai Tamil Santa 1953 Prapancham Telugu 1953 Paropakaram Tamil 1953 Paropakaram Telugu 1954 Jyoti Telugu 1954 Kudumbam Tamil Seetha 1954 Menarikam Telugu Seetha 1954 Maa Gopi Telugu 1954 Palle Paduchu Telugu 1955 Ante Kavali Telugu 1955 Gulebakavali Tamil Queen Bakavali 1955 Jaya Gopi Tamil 1955 Pasupu Kunkuma Telugu 1956 Balasanyasamma Katha Telugu 1956 Marumalarchi Tamil 1956 Melukolupu Telugu 1956 Naan Petra Selvam Tamil Gowri 1956 Paasavalai Tamil 1956 Vazhvile Oru Naal Tamil Janaki/Kaladevi 1957 Dhampathyam Telugu 1957 Dongallo Dora Telugu Kamini 1957 Pakka Thirudan Tamil Kamini 1957 Aravalli Tamil Queen Aravalli 1957 Karpurakarasi Tamil Chandrika 1957 Uthama Illalu Telugu Chandrika 1957 Pathini Deivam Tamil Sivagami 1958 Raja Nandini Telugu Vimala 1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Tamil Kaikeyi 1958 Dongalunnaru Jagratha Telugu 1958 Thirudargal Jakkirathai Tamil 1958 Mangalya Balam Telugu Seeta 1958 Manjal Mahimai Tamil Seeta 1959 Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal Tamil Seeta 1960 Renukadevi Mahatyam Telugu 1960 Sivagami Tamil Sivagami 1961 Bikari Ramadu Telugu 1961 Iddaru Mitrulu Telugu 1961 Nagarjuna Kannada Uluchi 1962 Bhishma Telugu 1962 Kalimi Lemulu Telugu Manikyamba 1962 Kula Gothralu Telugu 1962 Padandi Munduku Telugu 1962 Nagarjuna Telugu 1963 Anuragam Telugu 1965 Aavadhellaam Pennaale Tamil 1965 Antastulu Telugu Roopa Devi 1965 Sumangali Telugu 1965 Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum Tamil Alamelu 1965 Paditha Manaivi Tamil 1965 Veera Abhimanyu Tamil Draupadi 1965 Veerabhimanyu Telugu Draupadi 1966 Aata Bommalu Telugu 1966 Aastiparulu Telugu Rajyalakshmi 1966 Letha Manasulu Telugu Kanaka Durgamma 1967 Pattathu Rani Tamil 1967 Rahasyam Telugu Chandramma 1968 Amayakudu Telugu 1968 Harichandra Tamil 1968 Bangaru Sankelu Telugu 1968 Mooga Jeevulu Telugu 1968 Veeranjaneya Telugu Mandodari 1969 Jagath Kiladeelu Telugu 1971 Mooga Prema Telugu 1971 Pavitra Bandham Telugu Durgamma 1971 Anuradha Telugu Rukmini 1971 Veettukoru Pillai Tamil 1972 Vazhaiyadi Vazhai Tamil 1973 Doctor Babu Telugu Parvathi 1973 Samsaram Sagaram Telugu 1973 Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Tamil 1974 Chakravakam Telugu 1974 Premalu Pellillu Telugu 1974 Tulasi Telugu 1974 Vani Rani Tamil 1975 Babu Telugu 1975 Kathanayakuni Katha Telugu Pulatla Tayaramma 1975 Rajyanlo Rabandulu Telugu 1975 Vayasochina Pilla Telugu 1976 Athavarillu Telugu 1976 Ee Kalapu Pillalu Telugu 1976 Mahatmudu Telugu Parvathamma 1976 Manchiki Maro Peru Telugu 1976 Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club Telugu 1977 Unnai Suttrum Ulagam Tamil 1978 Gorantha Deepam Telugu 1978 Nindu Manishi Telugu 1980 Kiladi Krishnudu Telugu 1980 Sirimalle Navvindi Telugu 1986SirivennelaTelugu

Director Moogajeevulu (1968)

Discography

Year Film Language Song Co-singers Music director1940 Barrister Parvateesam Telugu Premaye Jagathi Demudu Kopparapu Subba Rao Poyira Priyuda London Poyira 1948 DrohiTelugu Nede Theere Naa Vaancha Pendyala Nageswara Rao Premaye Kaadha Sadha Vilaasi M. S. Rama Rao Chakkaligintalu Leva Leva Poovu Cheri Palumaaru Ghantasala Nee Tetalenide Chitraniki Geetu Trinamo Panamo Veyyandi Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Padandira Padandira Padandira Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Manovanchalu Eenaati Koolipoye Cakkaru Kottuku Vachava Kasturi Siva Rao Sari Sari Matala Mootha 1950 Maaya Rambha Tamil Ogirala Ramachandra Rao 1950 Maaya Rambha Telugu Ragamutho Nanu Kanuma Ogirala Ramachandra Rao Veera Rasikulu Kalarasikulu 1950 Modhati RathriTelugu Cheliya Ee Sumamu Ye Rangu Pendyala Nageswara Rao Taguna Pagaboona Penchina Mamatho Yemo Chandrudela M. S. Rama Rao & R. Balasaraswathi Devi Oyi Naa Raja Oyyaree Raja Sannagaa Tinnagaa Raraa Kasturi Siva Rao Oho Bava Oyi Bava Madhavapeddi Satyam Eduru Ledika Naakeduru Ledika Aasalu Baasi Naa Aasalu Baasi Manasidemo Ooyalalooge M. S. Rama Rao & Kasturi Siva Rao1950 Swapna Sundari Tamil Sagasam Therinthathaiya Un C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye Maranthatheno Manathu 1950 Swapna Sundari Telugu Nee Sari Neevele C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye Marali Ravo Manasu Ledo 1950 Vaali Sugreeva Telugu Ahaha Mohana Prema Pooje S. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala Naa Aashaajyothiye Aaripovunaa Priyatama Naa Hrdaya Mandara 1951 AnniTamil Pon Vilaindhathu Jai Enboam Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pendyala Nageswara Rao Enna Aambule Nee Enna Aambule Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pongalo Pongal Pongi Varudhamma Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Ennamma Ennamma Kanne Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Kanne Paapaa Kaniye Paapaa Rama Harae Jaya Rama Harae Anbu Kanindhaal Poodevi 1951 DheekshaTelugu Pasidi Pantaku Jai Anara Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pendyala Nageswara Rao Chalnathalli Bhudevi Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Chinninanna Chittinanna Sri Ramasitaramakapadarava Ammagari Illu Dharmalogillu 1951 Niraparadhi Tamil Sarasa Sangeethamadhe H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala Naane Raaniye 1951 Nirdoshi Telugu Nene Janaga Nerajanaga H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala Sakha Naa Raju 1952 Manavathi Telugu Melukolipega Thane Melukolipega H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao Rao Elaravo Etannunavo O Na Sakhi Pona Sakhi 1953 Pelli Chesi Choodu Telugu Raadhanuraayedavaku Ghantasala, Joga Rao & P. Leela Ghantasala 1953 Kanna Talli Telugu Sirikin Cheppadu Shangkacahkra Pendyala Nageshwara Rao 1953 Manjari Telugu Paripalayam Janani Karunamayi Bhavani H. R. Padmanabha Sastry 1953 Rohini Tamil G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt 1953 Rohini Telugu Bratuke Shidhilamai Poye G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt1954 Jyothi Telugu Chitti Potti Papallara Pendyala Nageswara Rao Deshmunu Premichumanna 1955 Ante Kaavali Telugu O Vedalipoye Premika Pendyala Nageswara Rao Nijamena Nijamena Nee Raoyi Itu Raoyi M. S. Rama Rao