Vanisri

Vanisri (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian actress known for her works predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films. In a film career spanning 40 years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award.

She played dual roles in Iddaru Ammayilu (1972) (Telugu remake of 1969 Kannada film Kappu Bilupu), Ganga Manga (1973 remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta), Jeevana Jyothi (1975), and Chilipi Krishnudu (1978). She financed and starred in Shyam Benegal's only Telugu film Anugraham (1977), co-starring Smita Patil.

With actor M. G. R Vanisri acted in three films: Kannan En Kadhalan (1968), Thalaivan (1970), and Oorukku Uzhaippavan (1976).

She acted in 20 Telugu films with Akkineni Nageshwara Rao and 18 Telugu films with Super Star Krishna such as Marapurani Katha, Ganga Manga, Cheekati velugulu, Illu Illalu. She acted with Sivaji Ganesan in 10 films such as Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Nirai Kudam (1969), Kulama Gunama (1971), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Sivakamiyin Selvan (1974), Vani Rani (Tamil remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta) (1974), Rojavin Raja (1976), Ilaya Thalaimurai (1977), Punniya Boomi (1978), and Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979).

Personal life Vanisri married Dr. Karunkaran in 1978 and left the film industry. The couple became parents to a son and a daughter. Vanisri returned to acting in mother roles from 1989, such as her character in Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989). She was appeared in the 1999 Hindi film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal, by famous Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao.

Awards and honours

Year Award Award category Awarded work 1973 Filmfare Awards South Best Actress – Telugu Jeevana Tarangalu 1974 Krishnaveni 1975 Jeevana Jyothi 2001 Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Kavignar Kannadasan AwardContribution to film industry 2004 Vamsi Awards Meena Kumari Award 2005 Madhavapeddi Prabhavathi Awards Madhavapeddi Prabhavathi Award by the Siva Foundation 2013 Nandi Awards Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

Filmography