S. Varalakshmi
| S. Varalakshmi | |
|---|---|
|
S. Varalakshmi (left), N.T. Ramarao (center), Savitri (right) in 1960 Telugu film Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | |
| Born |
13 August 1925 Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh |
| Died |
22 September 2009 (aged 84) Chennai, India |
| Occupation | Singer, actress |
| Years active | 1935–1992 |
| Spouse(s) | A. L. Srinivasan |
Saridey Varalakshmi (13 August 1925 – 22 September 2009), popularly known as S. Varalakshmi, was a veteran Telugu and Tamil actress and singer. She was popular for her roles and songs in Telugu movies like Mahamantri Timmarasu and Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam and Tamil movies like Veerapandiya Kattabomman and in Poova Thalaiya.
Life
Varalakshmi was born in Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India. She started her career as child artist in saint role in Balayogini (1937), when she was nine years old. Gudavalli Ramabramham was engaged by the pioneer filmmaker K. Subrahmanyam to direct the Telugu version of this movie. He spotted young Varalakshmi in Kurnool. Subramanyam later cast her in his classic Seva Sadanam (1938) with M. S. Subbulakshmi.[1] She played a young friend of the heroine (M.S.), and they became close friends. She played a young girl's role in Parasuraman (Tamil, 1940) along with T. R. Mahalingam. T. R. Sundaram, cast her in a major role in his box office hit 'Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani' (1947). The title role was played by V. N. Janaki. The film was a major success and Govindan and Varalakshmi made an attractive pair. T. R. Sundaram cast her again in the lead role in 'Bhojan' (1948). Her first successful movie was Balaraju in 1948 produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah. She later acted with all top heroes in Telugu and Tamil industries including M K Tyagaraja Bhagavatar in the classic Tamil film by B A Subba Rao called 'Syamala' in 1953; Sivaji Ganesan (Veerapandiya Kattabbomman), M. G. Ramachandran (Chakravarthi Thirumagal, Maattukara Velan, Needhikku Thalaivanangu), Gemini Ganesan (Poova Thalaiya), N. T. Rama Rao (Satya Harischandra), A. Nageswara Rao(ANR) (Balaraju), Chittor V. Nagaiah (Naga Panchami), Ranjan (En Magan) and R. S. Manohar (Maamiyaar). She was also famous for her voice, and sung her songs in all movies she acted. Her roles as Sivaji's wife in Veerapandiya Kattabomman, and important roles in Poova Thalaiya, Savale Samali, Maattukkara Velan, Shivaji's sister in Raja Raja Chozhan and Neethikku thalaivanangu won her critical acclaim as a talented singer and actress in Tamil movies. In her later career, she acted in mother and aunt roles. She married film producer A. L. Srinivasan, an elder brother of Kavignar Kannadasan; they had two children named Nalini and Muruga She continued to act after marriage in senior roles in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She sang many beautiful songs in Tamil films.
Her son, S. Murugan, died after suffering cardiac arrest in Chennai on 22 October 2013. He lived for 48 years.
Her daughter Nalini is a homemaker with 2 children.
Death
Varalakshmi was bedridden during the last 6 months of her life after she fell and injured her back. She died on 22 September 2009.[2]
Honors and awards
She has received several awards commending her service to Tamil cinema. The most recent ones were:
- Sivaji Ganesan Memorial Award Presented by the Sivaji Family in Oct 2007
- Kavignar Kannadasan Award presented by the Tamil Nadu Government in 2004
Filmography
Note: The lists are not comprehensive.
| Year | Film | Language | Character | Songs | Music Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Balayogini | Telugu | Child Saint | ||
| 1938 | Sevasadanam | Tamil | |||
| 1939 | Raithu Bidda | Telugu | Beggar Girl | ||
| 1940 | Illalu | Telugu | |||
| 1940 | Parasuramar | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | ||
| 1940 | Sathi Murali | Tamil | |||
| 1944 | Jagathalaprathapan | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | ||
| 1945 | Mayalokam | Telugu | Galipenchala Narasimha Rao | ||
| 1947 | Palnati Yudham | Telugu | Maanchala | * Chandamama O Chandamama Jaalirada Neeku Naameeda * Oho Charusheela Oho Veerabala | Galipenchala Narasimha Rao |
| 1947 | Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani | Tamil | * Kaadhal Aaginen | G. Ramanathan | |
| 1947 | Thulasi Jalandar | Tamil | M. D. Parthasarathi | ||
| 1948 | Balaraju | Telugu | Seetha | * Evarine Nenevarine Vagavagala Nenevarine * O Balaraja Jaalileda Balaraja * Roopama Neeyaraya Nijaroopamu Neeyaraya | C. R. Subburaman, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and Ghantasala |
| 1948 | Bhojan | Tamil | * Bhagyasali Puvimel Naane | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1948 | Chakradhari | Tamil | M. D. Parthasarathi | ||
| 1948 | Kaamavalli | Tamil | C. N. Pandurangan | ||
| 1949 | Jeevitham | Telugu | Lakshmi | * Anandamouga Palleseema Daanadharmakillu Maa Palleseema | R. Sudharsanam |
| 1949 | Navajeevanam | Tamil | * Eedilla Kathalar Name (with Ghantasala) | Ghantasala | |
| 1950 | Macha Regai | Tamil | * Odathe (with T. R. Mahalingam) | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1950 | Swapna Sundari | Telugu | C. R. Subburaman | ||
| 1950 | Vaali Sugreeva | Telugu | |||
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | * Azhagana Thadi Raja * Nane Rani | C. R. Subburaman | |
| 1951 | Mohana Sundaram | Tamil | Visalakshi | * Avarthane * Vinmugil Kaana * Oh Jegamathil Inbam Kanbathellam (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Pulli Maanai Pole (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Kanneerthano (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Kanavilum Unai Maraven (with T. R. Mahalingam) | T. G. Linggappa |
| 1952 | Velaikkaran | Tamil | * Nane Rani | R. Sudaharsanam | |
| 1952 | Manavathi | Tamil | * O Saratha | Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao | |
| 1953 | Maamiyaar | Tamil | * Arul Purivay * Vazviniley Nannalithuve (with A. M. Rajah) | C. N. Pandurangan | |
| 1953 | Shyamala | Tamil | Shyamala | * Puthu Vazhvu * Thaye Sangari (with M. S. Sarojini) | |
| 1954 | Edhir Paradhathu | Tamil | Nalini | C. N. Pandurangan | |
| 1954 | Sati Sakkubai | Telugu | Sakkubai | ||
| 1955 | Nam Kuzhanthai | Tamil | * Ulagam Pora Thisai * Ithayathile | ||
| 1956 | Kanakatara | Telugu | |||
| 1956 | Naga Panchami | Telugu | |||
| 1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Tamil | Dhurga | * Ematramthana En Vazhvile * Nalangittu Parpomadi (with A. P. Komala ) * Sollaley Vilakka Theriyale (with P. Leela) | G. Ramanathan |
| 1957 | Sati Savitri | Telugu | Savithri | ||
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Tamil | Queen Jakkamma | * Singara Kanne Un Thenoorum Sollale * Vetrri Vadivelane.... Manam Kanintharul Vel Muruga (with V. N. Sundaram) * Takku Takku Ena Adikkadi Thudikkum (with P. Suseela & A. P. Komala) | G. Ramanathan |
| 1959 | Veerapandya Kattabrahmana | Telugu | Queen Jakkamma | * Chinnari Thalli * Vijaya Varadayaka.... Prabho Krupakara (with B. Gopalam) * Takku Takku Bada Bada (with S. Janaki & A. P. Komala) | G. Ramanathan |
| 1959 | Sivagangai Seemai | Tamil | * Thanimai Serndhadho * Muthu Pugazh Padaitha (with Radha Jayalakshmi) * Thendral Vanthu Veesatho (with T. S. Bagavathi) | Viswanathan Ramamoorthy | |
| 1960 | Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam | Telugu | Mahalakshmi | * Sri Devini Needu Deverini Sarisaatileni Sowbhagyavatini * Varala Beramaya Vanaram Beramaya | Pendyala Nageswara Rao |
| 1961 | Krishna Prema | Telugu | |||
| 1962 | Mahamantri Timmarusu | Telugu | Tirumaladevi | * Leela Krishna Nee Leelalu Ne Leelaganaina Teliyanuga * Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara | Pendyala Nageswara Rao |
| 1962 | Vadivukku Valaikaappu | Tamil | * Thaamadham Seiyathe Thozhi | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | Telugu | Bhoodevi | Ghantasala | |
| 1963 | Lava Kusha | Tamil | Bhoodevi | Ghantasala | |
| 1963 | Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham | Telugu | Satyabhama | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | |
| 1964 | Babruvahana | Telugu | Chitrangada | ||
| 1964 | Babruvahana | Tamil | Chitrangada | ||
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Telugu | Chandramathi | * He Chandrachooda Madanantaka Shoolapane (with Ghantasala) | Pendyala Nageswara Rao |
| 1966 | Shri Krishna Pandaviyam | Telugu | Kunti | T. V. Raju | |
| 1966 | Shri Krishna Tulabharam | Telugu | Sachidevi | Pendyala | |
| 1967 | Kandan Karunai | Tamil | Indrani | * Velli Malai Mannava | K. V. Mahadevan |
| 1967 | Neethikku Thalai Vanagu | Tamil | * Indha Pachai Kuzhantaikku Sevvanthi Poovinil | ||
| 1967 | Apoorva Piravaigal | Tamil | |||
| 1967 | Shri Krishnavataram | Telugu | Draupadi | T. V. Raju | |
| 1969 | Thanga Surangam | Tamil | * Petramanam Sirayile | T. K. Ramamoorthy | |
| 1969 | Aadarsa Kutumbam | Telugu | |||
| 1969 | Poova Thalaiya | Tamil | M. S. Viswanathan | ||
| 1970 | Kaaviya Thalaivi | Tamil | * Kavidhaiyil Ezhudhiya Eduthnatharadi Kaviya Thalaivi (with P. Suseela) | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1970 | Drohi | Telugu | |||
| 1970 | Maattukara Velan | Tamil | K. V. Mahadevan | ||
| 1971 | Bomma Borusa | Telugu | Parvathamma | R. Govardhanam | |
| 1971 | Prem Nagar | Telugu | K. V. Mahadevan | ||
| 1971 | Sri Krishna Satya | Telugu | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | ||
| 1971 | Thirumagal | Tamil | Maragatham | K. V. Mahadevan | |
| 1972 | Pillaiyo Pillai | ||||
| 1972 | Bala Bharatam | Telugu | Gandhari | S. Rajeswara Rao | |
| 1973 | Karaikkal Ammaiyar | Tamil | * Anbe Sivam Endru Paduvome | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | |
| 1973 | Rajaraja Cholan | Tamil | Kundhavai | * Eduthnatharadi Thillayile (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan) * Thanjai Preiya Koyil Pallandu Vaazhgave (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan & T. R. Mahalingam) | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | Telugu | Varalakshmi | Ramesh Naidu | |
| 1973 | Thirumalai Deivam | Tamil | * Neela Nira Megamellaam Neeye Kanna | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | |
| 1973 | Nathayil Muthu | Tamil | |||
| 1975 | Abhimanavathi | Telugu | |||
| 1975 | Yashoda Krishna | Telugu | S. Rajeswara Rao | ||
| 1976 | Vazhvu En Pakkam | Tamil | Vijayalakshmi | M. S. Viswanathan | |
| 1977 | Sri Krishna Leela | Tamil | Yasodha | * Nalla Naal | K. V. Mahadevan |
| 1977 | Daana Veera Soora Karna | Telugu | Kunti | Pendyala Nageswara Rao | |
| 1979 | Kavariman | Tamil | * Sollavallaayo Kiliye | Ilaiyaraja | |
| 1982 | Dheviyin Thiruvilaiyadal | Tamil | |||
| 1983 | Neti Bharatam | Telugu | K. Chakravarthi | ||
| 1982 | Dheviyin Thiruvilaiyadal | Tamil | |||
| 1984 | Tharasu | Tamil | |||
| 1991 | Guna | Tamil | Manonmani | * Unnai Naan Ariven | Ilaiyaraja |
| 19 | Kaaviya Thalaivi | Tamil | * Kavithaiyil Ezhuthiya (with P. Suseela) | M. S. Viswanathan | |
| 19 | Ilangeswaran | Tamil | * Jothimayamana | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu |
References
- ↑ Melody-filled screen presence by Randor Guy in The Hindu, 2009
- ↑ Veteran actress passes away IndiaGlitz. Retrieved on 25 September 2009.