Vijaya Nirmala

Vijaya Nirmala (born Nirmala Samarthi; 20 February 1946 – 27 June 2019) was an Indian actress, director, and producer known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning over six decades, she acted in more than 200 films and directed 44 films. In 2002, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the female director who has directed the most number of films in the world. In 2008, she received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for lifetime achievement in Telugu cinema.

Born as Nirmala, she ventured into acting as a child artist with films like Macha Rekai (1950) and Panduranga Mahatyam (1957). She debuted as a lead actress in the 1964 Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam which became one of the biggest hits of that year. She then acted in the Tamil film Enga Veettu Penn (1965) produced by Vijaya Productions. She added Vijaya to her name as a mark of gratitude to the production house that gave her a break as an artiste. She debuted as a leading lady in Telugu with Rangula Ratnam (1966). Her father was a sound engineer at Vauhini Studios. Actress Jayasudha is her paternal grand niece, and singer R. Balasaraswathi Devi is her cousin (paternal aunt's daughter). She later married actor Krishna.

Career Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema as a child artist with the Tamil movie Macha Rekai (1950). At age eleven, she debuted in Telugu films with Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and rose to stardom with the Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam. Also, in 1967, she starred again opposite Prem Nazir in Udhyogastha, by P. Venu. She debuted in the Telugu industry in the film Rangula Ratnam (1966).

Her first film in Tamil was Enga Veettu Penn (1965),

Selected filmography Telugu

Malayalam Year Film Role 1964 Bhargavi Nilayam Bhargavi 1965 Rosie Leena Kalyanarathriyil Karthika 1966 Poochakkanni Maheshwari 1973 Pooja Radha Udhyogastha Sujatha Anweshichu Kandethiyilla Radhika 1968 Karutha Pournami Janamma 1974 Nishagandhi Padmini Vivaham Swargathil Lisy 1976 Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan Omana 1973 Kalippava Rani Pulliman Devika Postmane Kananilla Nalini Thenaruvi Sudha Kattuvithachavan Lakshmi Ponnapuram Kotta Kanni Kavitha Kavitha 1974 Durga Thulasi 1978 Kenalum Collectorum Indhulekha

Tamil Year Film Role 1950 Macha Rekai Young Mahalingam 1965 Enga Veetu Penn 1966 Chitthi Saroja 1967 Pandhayam 1968 Neelagiri Express Geetha Panama Pasama Kannamma aka Baby Siritha Mugam Sathiyam Thavaradhey Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi Latha Uyira Manama 1969 Anbalippu Meena 1970 En Annan Thangam 1971 Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan 1972 Gnana Oli 1974 Puthiya Manithan 1984 Sumangali Kolam

Director Year Film Notes 1973 Kavitha Malayalam Meena Based on the novel Meena by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani which was later adapted into 2016 movie A Aa 1974 Devadasu 1976 Devude Gelichadu Remake of Malayalam film YakshagaanamKavitha 1977 Panchayathi 1978 Rowdy Rangamma 1979 Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu Sanku Theertham Hema Hemeelu 1980 Ram Robert Rahim Remake of Hindi film Amar Akbar Anthony Kiladi Krishnudu Sangham Chekkina Silpalu Sirimalle Navvindi 1981 Bhogi Mantalu Antham Kadidi Aarambam Remake of Kannada film Antha 1982 Doctor Cine Actor 1983 Bezawada Bebbuli 1984 Mukhyamantri Remake of Kannada film Chakravyuha Mukkopi 1985 Lanke Bindelu Surya Chandra 1988 Collector Vijaya 1989 Sahasame Naa Oopiri Ajatha Satruvu 1990 Prajala Manishi 1991 Vadina Maata 1992 Mogudu Pellala Dongaata 1994 Yes Nenante Nene 1996 Puttinti Gowravam Rendu Kutumbala Katha 2009 Neramu Siksha