Vanisri
Acting • Born 1948-08-03
Biography
Vanisri, (born Rathna Kumari) is an Indian film actress known for her works predominately in Telugu and Tamil, and a few Kannada and Hindi films. In a film career spanning forty years, she has received three Filmfare Awards South, including the Nandi Awards and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award. She gained attention with a supporting role in a film penned by K. Balachander titled Sukha Dukhalu, and Marapurani Kadha (1967). Vanisri has starred in super hits such as Krishnaveni, Prem Nagar, Dussehra Bullodu, Aradhana, Jeevitha Chakram, Rangula Ratnam, Sri Krishna Tulabharam, Bhakta Kannappa, Bobbili Raja, etc. If there was a star heroine in the Telugu film industry, who ruled on par with the heroes, it must be only Vanisri. She was the only actress during that period who commanded a higher remuneration than her male co stars. She played dual roles in Iddaru Ammayilu (1972) (Telugu remake of 1969 release 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. She acted with Sivaji Ganesan in a number of films such as Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Nirai Kudam (1969), Vasantha Maligai (1972), Sivakamiyin Selvan (1974), Vani Rani (Tamil remake of the Hindi film Seeta Aur Geeta) (1974) and Nallathoru Kudumbam (1979). In 2013, she received the state Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contribution to Telugu cinema. In the late 1970s, Vanisri left films to get married and have a son and a daughter. Vanisri returned to film in the late 1980s acting in mother roles, such as her character in Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989). A practicing Shaivite Hindu, Vanisri is very religious. She was also in the 1999 Hindi film Main Tere Pyar Mein Pagal, directed by Telugu director K. Raghavendra Rao.
Filmography
83 credits
Agni
Movie • 1989
Seeta Mahalakshmi
Vintha Katha
Movie • 1973
Srimadhvirata Parvamu
Movie • 1979
Draupadi
Collector Gari Alludu
Movie • 1992
Jeevana Jyothi
Movie • 1975
Lakshmi/Sobha
Annaiyum Pithavum
Movie • 1969
Vani Rani
Movie • 1974
Vichitra Jeevitham
Movie • 1978
Gowri
Adi Parasakthi
Movie • 1971
Punniya Boomi
Movie • 1978
Vaazhkai Alaigal
Movie • 1978
Ilaya Thalaimurai
Movie • 1977
Rojavin Raja
Movie • 1976
Kulama Gunama
Movie • 1971
Uyarndha Manidhan
Movie • 1968
Nalladhoru Kudumbam
Movie • 1979
Vasantha Maligai
Movie • 1972
Anand
Flowing Against
Movie • 1977
Radha
Thamarai Nenjam
Movie • 1968
Radha
Velli Vizha
Movie • 1972
Punnagai
Movie • 1971
Kuzhandai Ullam
Movie • 1969
Porsilai
Movie • 1969
Evandi Aavida Vachindi
Movie • 1993
Sathyavati
Oorukku Uzhaippavan
Movie • 1976
Thalaivan
Movie • 1970
Kannan En Kadhalan
Movie • 1968
Qaidi Dada
Movie • 1990
Gorantha Deepam
Movie • 1978
Padmavati
Pooja
Movie • 1975
Gouri
Aakasa Ramanna
Movie • 1965
Jagath Kantrilu
Movie • 1971
Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
Movie • 1989
Chamundeshwari Devi
Bobbili Raja
Movie • 1990
Minister Rajeswari Devi
Bombay Priyudu
Movie • 1996
Sukha Dukhalu
Movie • 1968
Nangu Suvargal
Movie • 1971
Who is she?
Movie • 1966
Latha
Aggi Barata
Movie • 1966
Maavaari Manchithanam
Movie • 1979
Simha Baludu
Movie • 1978
Sati Savithri
Movie • 1978
Pathala Mohini
Movie • 1965
Mohini
Rangula Ratnam
Movie • 1966
vasu's wife
Lakshmi Nivasam
Movie • 1968
Asha
Nindu Hrudayalu
Movie • 1969
Sharada
The Sage from the Sea
Movie • 1978
Ansuya P. Rao
Allari Alludu
Movie • 1993
Akhilandeswari Devi
Nyaya Tharasu
Movie • 1989
Bhavani Ammal
Aayiram Poi
Movie • 1969
Malathi, Chinnadurai's daughter
Aaradhana
Movie • 1976
Radha
Prema Nagar
Movie • 1971
Pandava Vanavasamu
Movie • 1965
Satyabhama
Nirai Kudam
Movie • 1969
Chithra
Eduruleni Manishi
Movie • 1975
Latha
Peddinti Alludu
Movie • 1991
Bala Tripura Sundari
Attaku Koduku Mamaku Alludu
Movie • 1992
Private Master
Movie • 1967
Chelleli Kapuram
Movie • 1971
Dasara Bullodu
Movie • 1971
Bangaru Babu
Movie • 1973
Vani
Aastiparulu
Movie • 1966
Special appearance
Seetharatnam Gari Abbayi
Movie • 1992
Seeetharathnamma
Bangaru Panjaram
Movie • 1969
Neela
Kasidre Kailasa
Movie • 1971
Shakuntala
Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu
Movie • 1979
Devi Parvati
Rajeswari Kalyanam
Movie • 1993
Mangamma Sapatham
Movie • 1965
Chanchala
Kathanayika Molla
Movie • 1970
Molla
Aathmeeyulu
Movie • 1969
Jaya
Rampur Ka Raja
Movie • 1993
Chakravakam
Movie • 1974
Devarani
Kaadhal Paduthum Paadu
Movie • 1966
Suguna
Warning To Youth
Movie • 1992
Avasara Kalyanam
Movie • 1972
Vasanthi
Kanne Manasulu
Movie • 1966
Marapurani Katha
Movie • 1967
Stree Janma
Movie • 1967
Phani
Life Cycle
Movie • 1971
Suseela
Maya Maschindra
Movie • 1975
Goddess Lakshmi / Tilottama Devi
Jeevana Tarangalu
Movie • 1973
Roja
Bhakta Kannappa
Movie • 1976
Leela
Satya Harishchandra
Movie • 1965
Matangi