Actors - Banumathi

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	Actors - Banumathi

Banumathi was an Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, and songwriter.

Early life

Banumathi was born on September 7, 1925 in Ongole.

Early Career

She entered the film industry at the age of 13 in 1938, had acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil in lead roles opposite big stars of the 1950s and 1960s including MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, NT Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Bhanumati made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 in Varavikrayam (Telugu), directed by P Pulliah

Director

In 1953, she made her maiden directorial venture with Chandi Rani (made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi).

Later years

Her last film was made in 2000, entitled Pelli kanuka. She was cremated at the Besant Nagar crematorium on Sunday evening, with members of the local film industry paying their last respects.

One of the original ‘one-man-industry,’ Producer, director, studio owner, story writer, music director, singer, editor and artiste, all rolled into one, Bhanumati, was known in film industry as ‘Ashtaavadhani.’ Gifted with a golden voice, the actress had sung in many films. Known for being a singer-actress, Bhanumati was adept in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. Bhanumati was also a talented writer with a number of short stories to her credit. Her autobiography Nalo Nenu was published in Telugu and later, released in English as Musings. She made a comeback after her marriage, with Swargaseema (Telugu), which proved a hit all over South India. Her career as a music composer had begun by then she had produced, directed and scored music for several movies in Tamil and Telugu, besides lending voice to her own songs. In a Tamil movie pathumatha bandham she sung pop songs along with karnatic and hindustani music.This movie earner her a title of "Multiface Queen of the Indian screen". Late Annadurai past chief minister of Tamilnadu described her as Nadippu Illakalam Dr Bhanumathi had also served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Chennai, for three years. She was also an eminent social worker who was closely associated with a number of Social Service Organizations and was member in Redcross for 40 years. She received Padma Shri in 1969, Padmabhushan in 2003 and three-time National award winner as best actress. TN the state award, ‘Kalai maamani’ (connoisseur of arts) in 1983. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy award winner for her short stories in 1986 and NTR award in 2001. In 1994 her Autobiography Nalo Nenu earned Best National awrd of Autoboigraphy. In 1993 The Karnataka state directors Association named her as First Senior Lady Director. We do not know how long it will take to the film industry to get a replacement of Bhanumati. Banumathi was the first lady recipient of State Honours in 1956, when Andhra Pradesh State was formed. She received the National Awards as Best Actress for her acting in "ANNAI" (Tamil), "ANTHASTULU" (Telugu), and "PALANTI YUDDHAM" (Telugu).Later Mr. Annadurai honoured her with a title "NADIPPUKKU ILAKKANAM" (Grammar for acting) for her remarkable performance in "RANGOON RADHA",, reiterating her superb and memorable action in several pictures. She is fondly called by her Tamil Admirers as "Ashtavadhani". (A Poet who can answer eight questions at a time).she is also a great singer. she has typical voice. some of her songs are still popular like "Pilichina biguvatara" ,"kila kila navvula","preme nerama". In 1966, she was conferred with the National Honour of "PADMASRI" by the Government of India, Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy awarded her as the best short story writer for her popular short stories "ATTAGARI KATHALU". She is the only popular lady humorous short story writer, who has continued the tradition of Gurujada Appa Rao and Muni Manickam Narasimma Rao.In the International Women's year 1975, another new laurel of Honourary Doctorate Degree was conferred by the Andhra University on her as an author and a veteran artiste.In 1984, two more feathers were added viz., "KALAIMAMANI" Title conferred by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram. "BHAHUKALA DHEERATI SREEMATHI" conferred by the Lions Club International at the First Lionesses Assembly. Again in March 1984 Honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred by Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi. Again in 1986, she received Andhra Pradesh State Government's Raghupathi Venkiah Memorial Award as well as Award as Best Lady Director.She was Member of Children Film Society for 5 years, form 1965 to 1970.She was a Member of Lalith Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra Pradesh for 10 years.She was the founder Member and Treasurer of Madras Branch of ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL INC. CHICAGO for 30 years since 1963 and continues as a Member of the Association.She was life Member of Red Cross Society for nearly forty years.She was a Member of State Film Awards Committee for two years.She was also a Visiting Professor to the Film Institute for one year.She established an Educational Institution named as "Dr.Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School" at Saligramam, Chennai-93 giving free education to the poor.even though she received so many awrds , she did not receive Dadasaheb phalke award.but she is more than capable of receiving that award.she died at 11:45 on 24 th december in chennai at the age of 81 Seventh September 1925: the auspicious day when Padmashri Dr.Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, illustrious Actress, Directress, Music Director, Songstress and Writer was born in Ongole(Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh) . Her father Mr.Bommaraju Venkatasubbiah was a staunch lover of classical music and well versed in all fine arts. Dr. Bhanumathi is a born artiste, inheriting music from her parents and received sound training in music and histrionics from her father. Producer-Director Mr.C.Pulliah a pioneer of Telugu Film Industry and a friend of Mr. Venkatsubbiah introduced her to the Telugu Film line at a very early age of 13. Her first picture was "VARAVIRAYAM" an anti dowry subject in those days, which was a great success. The film was produced by Mr. Chamaria, of East India Studio in Calcutta, thus exposing her to pioneering film making company in her very first film. Since then she has worked in over 100 pictures in almost all the languages of South India and also in Hindi. Dr.Bhanumathi proved that at a time when family girls were not inclined to act in films, by acting in films she proved that even respectable family girls can act in films. She is the only lady in India, may be even in the whole world; who is a Studio Owner, Producer, Directress, Writer, Music Director and also a great singing cine-artiste. She was married to Sri P.S.Ramakrishna Rao, a film producer, Director and Editor of Telugu and Tamil Films on 8 th August 1943. After the birth of her only son she started Bharani Pictures named it after her son. They produced a number of Telugu, Tamil and Hindi Pictures under the direction of her husband and of herself. she is the first decade actress of south indian movies.she had so much confidence in her. she said once that people came to her movies only to see her.It is true that she dominates in all her films even in the movies with NT Rama Rao,ANR, shivaji ganeshan.. she acted in Mallisvari in 1950 with NT Rama Rao . that movie was directed by B Nagi Reddy (BN Reddy). Malliswari has gone places and got heavily screened in abroad. BN Reddy wanted to dub this film into English. Due to budget considerations, he could not do it.In 1950, Bhanumathi - Ramakrishna couple launched their own Studio, Bharani Studios. She used to live in the form house which was located in her studio.The first film "CHANDI RANI" was written and directed and acted in duel role by her in three languages Telugu,Tamil,Hindi 1953 and released simultaneously all over India, for which she got awards. Her first Hindi picture Gemini's "NISHAN" was released in 1950 and was a jubilee picture.

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