P Bhanumathi in Pathu Madha Bandham (1974)
movie also had Sarojadevi, AVM Rajan ,Rajashiri ,Muthuraman ..
Dr. Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (7 September 1925 - 24 December 2005) was a noted Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book writer and songs writer. Most of her works are in Telugu and Tamil languages.
Contents[hide] |
[edit]Early life
She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up watching her father performing stage shows. Her father, Venkatasubbiah, was a staunch lover of classical music and gave her early training in music.
[edit]Career
Bhanumathi entered the film industry in 1935, and acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil. She was also called as Ashtavadhani by the film industry people as she was a writer, actor, director, producer, singer, music director, editor and studio owner. She also had a good knowledge of Astrology and philosophy.
[edit]Film career
She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by C. Pullaiah. She had acted in Malathi Madhavam,Dharma Patni and Bhaktimala. Her first popular film was Krishna Prema. Her next popular film was Swargaseema, a milestone film in her career. She later acted in many memorable movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. In 1953, she made her directorial debut with Chandirani (made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). Her last film was made in 1998, entitled Pelli Kanuka. C. N. Annadurai gave her a title "Nadippukku Ilakkanam" (means Grammar for acting) that suits her aptly.
Apart from being an exceptional actress, she was also a very talented musician. She is one of the fine actress of Telugu film industry. She was adept in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. She gave voice to her songs despite it being the norm to use playback singers for actors. Some of her songs are still popular like Pilichina biguvatara, Kila Kila Navvulu, Oh Pavurama, Preme Nerama. She also provided music to a lot of her films.
During her later years she served on various movie related organizations. She was a Member of State Film Awards Committee for two years. She was also a Visiting Professor at the Film Institute for one year. She was Member of Children Film Society for 5 years, from 1965 to 1970.
[edit]Literary career
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. Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy awarded her as the best short story writer for her popular short stories "Attagari Kathalu". She was a Member of Lalit Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra Pradesh for 10 years. She served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Chennai for three years.
[edit]Philanthropy
She was an eminent social worker who was closely associated with a number of Social Service Organizations. She was the founder member and treasurer of Madras branch of Altrusa International Inc., Chicago for life long starting from 1963. She was a life member of the 'Red Cross Society'. She established an educational institution named as "Dr. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School" at Saligramam, Chennai providing free education to the poor.
[edit]Personal life
During the shooting of the film Krishna Prema, she met P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an assistant director for that film. He was a film producer, director and editor of Telugu and Tamil Films. The couple later married on 8 August 1943 and later launched a popular production company, Bharani Pictures on their son's name.
She died at the age of 80 years in Chennai.
[edit]Awards
Bhanumati was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian recognition by the Government of India.
- Padma Shri, in 1966
- Rashtrapati Award from Govt of India for Best Actress - Antastulu, Palanati Yuddham
- Kalaprapoorna, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, in 1975
- Kalaimamani (connoisseur of arts), Government of Tamilnadu, in 1983
- Honorary Doctorate, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, in 1984
- Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 1986
- Best Director, Nandi Award, in 1986
- Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1998 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
- NTR National Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 2000
- Padma Bhushan, prestigious national award in 2003
- She won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema for her Naalo Nenu in 1994.
[edit]Filmography
This is partial list of her films. Kindly help expanding it.
[edit]Playback singer
Bhanumati gave her voice for herself and many actors to sing many songs.
| Year | Film | Songs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Vara Vikrayam | |||
| 1941 | Dharma Patni | Anuraagam Leka Anandamunda Nilu Niluma Neelavarnaa | ||
| 1943 | Krishna Prema | |||
| 1945 | Swarga Seema | Oho Ho Pavurama, Oho Tapodhana | ||
| 1949 | Laila Majnu | Preme Neramouna Maapai Ee Pagela | ||
| 1951 | Malliswari | Manasuna Mallera Maalaloogene Parugulu Teeyali O Gittalu Urakalu Veyali (with Ghantasala) Pilachina Biguvatara Auraura Eda Thanunnado Baava (with Ghantasala) | ||
| 1952 | Prema | Divya Premaku Satiaune (with Ghantasala) | ||
| 1953 | Chandirani | Eeroju Bhale Roju Ide Prema Idena Enduko Teliyani Ennadu Anukoni Ee Sambaraalemiti Evaraalakinturu Naamora Enaleni Vedana Kilaa Kilaa Navvulaa Kurisene Vennelaa O Taraka (with Ghantasala) | ||
| 1954 | Chakrapani | Pakkala Nilabadi Kolichemu Uyyala Jampalaloogaravaya | ||
| 1954 | Vipra Narayana | Raa Raa Naa Swamy | ||
| 1956 | Chintamani | |||
| 1956 | Tenali Ramakrishna | Kannulu Ninde Kannela Vinna Mannanaleera Raja Teerani Naa Korikale Teerenu Ee Roju | ||
| 1961 | Batasari | Oh Baatasaari Nanu Maruvakoyi | ||
| 1963 | Anuragam | Sannajaji Teeveloi Sampenga Poovuloi | ||
| 1964 | Bobbili Yuddham | Srikara Karunalavala Venugopala | ||
| 1964 | Vivaha Bandham | Vinnava Vinnava Manasulona Dagivunna Madhurageeti | ||
| 1965 | Antastulu | Dulapara Bulloda Dummu Dulapara Bulloda Vinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa Vinaranna | ||
| 1965 | Todu Needa | Enno Ratrulu Vastayi Kaani Idiye Toli Reyi When I was just a little girl - I asked my mother what will I be | ||
| 1967 | Grihalakshmi | Laali Laali Gopala Bala Laali Laali Melukovayya Kaveti Ranga Sriranga | ||
| 1971 | Mattilo Manikyam | Saranam Nee Divya Charanam | ||
| 1973 | Vichitra Vivaham | Ammayilu Abbayilu Naa Matalo Nijam Vintara Meeru | ||
| 1974 | Ammayi Pelli | Vandanamu Raghunandana Sethu Bandhana Bhakta Chandana | ||
| 1984 | Mangamma Gari Manavadu | Sree Suryanarayana Meluko (with Vani Jayaram) | ||
| 1986 | Muddula Manavaralu | |||
| 1990 | Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | Dilli Ki Raja Aina Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata | ||
| 1998 | Pelli Kanuka | List of Tamil songs |
[edit]Producer
- Ratnamala
- Prema
- Chakrapani (1954)
- Laila Majnu
- Batasari
- Vipra Narayana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhanumathi_Ramakrishna
ippadiyum oru peN - A Hundred Songs of Bhanumathi
By
Saravanan
How does an ill-equipped geography enthusiast go about tracing the course of a mighty river that thunders its way from its source, meanders into majestic tributaries, serenades magnificent cities, irrigates vast lands, brings succor to parched throats across provinces and finally flows into the sea, proud, dignified and awesome as ever…
How does a mere tfm aficionado attempt a life-sketch of a woman who exuded greatness in everything she did, a multi-talented genius of rare principles who lived life on her own terms and never hesitated to speak her mind, a one-woman industry who stormed every male bastion in tinsel town and pulled off incredible successes with gleeful nonchalance, a daring entrepreneur who reveled in repeatedly breaking into smithereens zealously held pre-conceived notions of the male dominated industry, a trail-blazing pioneer who towered over her contemporaries and subsequent pretenders by the strength of her impeccable prowess, a strong-willed and domineering taskmaster who could never suffer lesser mortals easily, a cheerful and contented person wholly conscious of her glorious achievements, a venerable veteran in every aspect of filmmaking who spanned generations and still remains unchallenged as the greatest performer of them all, …Sure she did grace the portals of tfm as a singer and music composer of rare merit and has left behind songs of timeless allure, but then this was just one facet of this remarkable woman…
Simple, the tfm enthusiast gives up, albeit sheepishly! For it is sheer folly to contemplate a comprehensive chronicle of the life and times of a colossus like Mrs. Bhanumati Ramakrishna Paaluvaayi (September 7, 1925 - December 24, 2005). All he can do is take up one facet of the genius that is familiar to him, i.e. her songs from her Tamil movies and persist to present them as best as he can as a humble homage to memory of the remarkable woman, with the first part appearing on her birthday today.
Bhanumati acted and sang in her first movie when she was 13, wrote her first story when she was 14, married the man of her choice against the wishes of her parents when she was one month short of 18, settled to a life of marital bliss away from grease paint and glamour for a while and then made a majestic return to cinema when she was 20 and now a mother as well, set up her own production company and then a studio when she was 24 and made an imposing debut as a director when she was 28. She set her own standards and then strove tirelessly to surpass herself. Her screen presence was legendary and her songs sung with enjoyment and élan. She wrote, acted, composed music, sang, edited, produced, directed, ran a well-equipped movie studio with amazing acumen….. “People in the film industry call me a high-spirited woman who tried to get what she wanted and often succeeded. Their assessment was correct!” said a forthright Bhanumati in an interview. No false pretences of modesty in her! And beyond cinema, she wore innumerable hats as homemaker, culinary expert, award-winning writer, painter, astrologer, educationist, social worker….
As I said, as a narrator, it is impossible (for me) to do adequate justice to Bhanumati’s remarkable repertoire in full. Hence let me be content with attempting a discography of tfm work and give audio links for many of her songs from Tamil movies as we progress album by album. I must confess here that though I did unearth many of Bhanumati’s songs from my collections, some songs proved elusive, like her songs from ‘rajamukti’, for instance. I know I had them somewhere, but despite vigorous efforts to ferret them out, they remain stubbornly hidden. I know I’ll come across them some day when I am not looking for them particularly, but then that is one of Murphy’s tiresome laws that one learns to live with!
How does a mere tfm aficionado attempt a life-sketch of a woman who exuded greatness in everything she did, a multi-talented genius of rare principles who lived life on her own terms and never hesitated to speak her mind, a one-woman industry who stormed every male bastion in tinsel town and pulled off incredible successes with gleeful nonchalance, a daring entrepreneur who reveled in repeatedly breaking into smithereens zealously held pre-conceived notions of the male dominated industry, a trail-blazing pioneer who towered over her contemporaries and subsequent pretenders by the strength of her impeccable prowess, a strong-willed and domineering taskmaster who could never suffer lesser mortals easily, a cheerful and contented person wholly conscious of her glorious achievements, a venerable veteran in every aspect of filmmaking who spanned generations and still remains unchallenged as the greatest performer of them all, …Sure she did grace the portals of tfm as a singer and music composer of rare merit and has left behind songs of timeless allure, but then this was just one facet of this remarkable woman…
Simple, the tfm enthusiast gives up, albeit sheepishly! For it is sheer folly to contemplate a comprehensive chronicle of the life and times of a colossus like Mrs. Bhanumati Ramakrishna Paaluvaayi (September 7, 1925 - December 24, 2005). All he can do is take up one facet of the genius that is familiar to him, i.e. her songs from her Tamil movies and persist to present them as best as he can as a humble homage to memory of the remarkable woman, with the first part appearing on her birthday today.
Bhanumati acted and sang in her first movie when she was 13, wrote her first story when she was 14, married the man of her choice against the wishes of her parents when she was one month short of 18, settled to a life of marital bliss away from grease paint and glamour for a while and then made a majestic return to cinema when she was 20 and now a mother as well, set up her own production company and then a studio when she was 24 and made an imposing debut as a director when she was 28. She set her own standards and then strove tirelessly to surpass herself. Her screen presence was legendary and her songs sung with enjoyment and élan. She wrote, acted, composed music, sang, edited, produced, directed, ran a well-equipped movie studio with amazing acumen….. “People in the film industry call me a high-spirited woman who tried to get what she wanted and often succeeded. Their assessment was correct!” said a forthright Bhanumati in an interview. No false pretences of modesty in her! And beyond cinema, she wore innumerable hats as homemaker, culinary expert, award-winning writer, painter, astrologer, educationist, social worker….
As I said, as a narrator, it is impossible (for me) to do adequate justice to Bhanumati’s remarkable repertoire in full. Hence let me be content with attempting a discography of tfm work and give audio links for many of her songs from Tamil movies as we progress album by album. I must confess here that though I did unearth many of Bhanumati’s songs from my collections, some songs proved elusive, like her songs from ‘rajamukti’, for instance. I know I had them somewhere, but despite vigorous efforts to ferret them out, they remain stubbornly hidden. I know I’ll come across them some day when I am not looking for them particularly, but then that is one of Murphy’s tiresome laws that one learns to live with!
No comments:
Post a Comment