Bhanumathi Ramakrishna

Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (7 September

1925 24 December 2005) was a multilingual Indian lm
actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book
writer and songs writer.[1] [2] Most of her works are in
Telugu and Tamil languages. She was awarded the Padma
Bhushan in 2003 for her contribution towards Indian cinema. [3]

Early life

She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of
Prakasam district, near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. She
grew up watching her father perform in various stage
shows. Her father, Venkata subbiah, was a staunch lover
of classical music and trained her in music from an early
age. [4] [5]

Career

Bhanumathi entered the lm industry in 1935, and acted

in over 200 lms in Telugu and Tamil. She was also called
as Ashtavadhani by the lm industry people as she was a
writer, actor, director, producer, singer, music director, Vara Vikrayam lm poster, the debut lm of Bhanumathi
editor and studio owner. She also had a good knowledge
of Astrology and philosophy.
M.G.Ramachandran who acted with her were afraid on
the sets of her bold and prolic versatility.One of her
2.1 Film career
memorable movie in Tamil was Annai,in the year
She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi 1962,directed by Krishnan-Panju, where her acting was
in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by C. Pullaiah. She appreciated by all and also got the National Award for
had acted in Malathi Madhavam, Dharma Patni and the lm.
Bhaktimala. Her rst popular lm was Krishna Prema. For the movie Anthasthulu (1964), VB Rajendra Prasad
Her next popular lm was Swargaseema, a milestone had approached Bhanumati for the role of Akkineni
lm in her career. She later acted in many memorable Nageswara Raos sister. She liked the subject and agreed
movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, to do the lm immediately. The crew booked a room
Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. Her rst lm in in Ritz-Carlton in Hyderabad and she didnt want to
Tamil was Ratnakumar in the year 1949,along with the waste money, so she oered to stay at Sarathi Studios,
famous hero of those day P.U.Chinnappa.This lm was which had an open area and snakes. The next morning
directed by Krishnan-Panju .In 1953, she made her di- she woke up with her nails bitten by rats. The director
rectorial debut with Chandirani (made simultaneously decided to cancel the shoot, VB Rajendra Prasad rushed
in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). Her last lm was made to see Bhanumati applying iodine casually on the nails
in 1998, entitled Pelli Kanuka. C. N. Annadurai gave and asking when she could start work. While continuing
her a title Nadippukku Ilakkanam (Grammar for act- with the shooting, she said, If you cancel shoot for small
ing) that suits her aptly. Even veteran actors Sivaji things how will I be a Bhanumati (which means shining
Ganesan and the later on Chief minister of Tamil Nadu like the sun in Sanskrit).[6]
1

5 FILMOGRAPHY

Apart from being an exceptional actress, she was also a

Padma Shri in 1966
very talented musician. She is one of the ne actress of
Telugu lm industry. She was adept in both Carnatic and Rashtrapati Award in acting
Hindustani music. She gave voice to her songs despite it
being the norm to use playback singers for actors. Some
Antastulu
of her songs are still popular like Pilichina biguvatara,
Kila Kila Navvulu, Oh Pavurama, Preme Nerama. She
Palanati Yuddham
also provided music to a lot of her lms.[7] [8] [9]
During her later years she served on various movie related National Film Awards
organizations. She was a Member of State Film Awards
Committee for two years. She was also a Visiting Profes Government National Award for Best writer for the
sor at the Film Institute for one year. She was Member
book Nalo Nenu an autobiography in 1994.
of Children Film Society for 5 years, from 1965 to 1970.
Filmfare Awards South

2.2

Literary career

Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award South

Bhanumati was also a talented writer with a number of
(1987) [13]
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 Nandi Awards
as the best short story writer for her popular short sto Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, from the Government
ries Attagari Kathalu.[10] She was a Member of Lalit
of Andhra Pradesh, in 1985
Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra
Pradesh for 10 years. She served as Director and Princi Nandi Award for Best Director in 1986
pal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College,

2.3

Philanthropy

NTR National Award, from the Government of

Andhra Pradesh, in 2000

She was an eminent social worker who was closely associ- State Awards
ated with a number of Social Service Organizations. She
was the founder member and treasurer of Madras branch
Kalaimamani (connoisseur of arts), Government of
of Altrusa International Inc., Chicago for lifelong starting
Tamil Nadu, in 1983
from 1963. She was a life member of the 'Red Cross Society'. She established an educational institution named
Other honors
as Dr. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School
at Saligramam, Chennai providing free education to the
Kalaprapoorna,
Andhra
University,
poor.
Visakhapatnam, in 1975

Personal life

During the shooting of the lm Krishna Prema, she met

P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an assistant director for that lm.
He was a lm 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 sons name. She died at the age
of 80 years in Chennai.[11][12]

Awards

Civilian honors
Padma Bhushan in 2003

Honorary Doctorate, Sri Venkateswara University,

Tirupathi, in 1984
Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1998 from Sri
Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
Annadurai honoured her with a title Nadippukku
Ilakkanam for her remarkable performance in
Rangoon Radha
She was one of the dignitaries been honored by
Andhra Pradesh government at the time of state formation in 1956.

5 Filmography
This is partial list of her lms.

Playback singer

[12] http://www.greatandhra.com/ganews/viewnews.php?id=
1696&cat=1&scat=18 News

Bhanumati gave her voice for herself and many actors to

sing many songs.[16]

[14] Randor Guy. Rani (1952) review by Randor Guy in The

Hindu.. The Hindu.

Producer

[15] Vaada malliyey - Kannukku mai ezhuthu - Music by

Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

Ratnamala

[16] New Page 1.

Prema
Chakrapani (1954)

11 External links

Laila Majnu

Bhanumathi Ramakrishna at the Internet Movie

Database

Batasari
Vipra Narayana

Music Director
Chakrapani
Ippadiyum Oru Penn

See also
Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

10

References

[1] Maheeneni. Welcome to Abhinethri.com - Exclusive

photo of Legendary Actress Bhanumathi Ramakrishna
from NTR Starrer Classic Movie Malliswari (1951)....
[2] Telugu Cinema Etc - Idlebrain.com.
[3] http://www.aptalkies.com/artistdetails.php?id=5024&
title=Bhanumathi%20Ramakrishna
[4] http://www.southindia.com/banu.htm
[5] The Hindu : Front Page : Veteran actress Banumathi
passes away.
[6] "I could not make a good movie for my son". The Hindu.
[7] ILA Raja. Binarywaves.
[8] http://bhanumathi.24by7music.com
mathi.24by7music.com

[13] Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the

years.... lmfare.com.

bhanu-

[9] http://techsri.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/
attagari-kathalu Attagari Kathalu
[10] Attagari Kathalu. Srirams Weblog.
[11] http://www.telugufm.com/modules/music/ActorDetail.
aspx?Star=Bhanumathi Songs

12

12
12.1

TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

Text

Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhanumathi%20Ramakrishna?oldid=641299743 Contributors: Ahoerstemeier, Bearcat, Utcursch, Huaiwei, CALR, Reinyday, Pearle, Danaman5, Stephen, Kelly Martin, Woohookitty, BD2412, Koavf,
Ligulem, Bgwhite, Rsrikanth05, Deville, Aceanil, SmackBot, Bolasanibk, OrphanBot, Arjun1591, James084, Wizardman, Ligulembot,
Mlpkr, Ohconfucius, Fatcud, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Harryboyles, Gnt, Rjgibb, Loyalwikian, Judgesurreal777, Bharatveer, Tawkerbot2,
Rohinkumars, CmdrObot, Randhirreddy, Cydebot, Bvsubbaiah, Maheeneni, Ngopikrishna, Asooryampasya, RobotG, Jj137, Lynchkenney, Xeno, PhilKnight, Waacstats, JaGa, Srinivas.chinta, Johnpacklambert, RockMFR, Skumarlabot, Salih, Sagar ricky, Shshshsh, Rajasekhar1961, Armetrek, Fences and windows, TXiKiBoT, Altruism, S. M. Sullivan, Vimalkalyan, Aspects, Tnsatish, Summa007,
Niceguyedc, Watchingthevitalsigns, Alurimahee, XLinkBot, RogDel, Aphistory1, Addbot, VASANTH S.N., Marc87, Yobot, Pavn123,
Nemesis63, Anilkumarmehar, SassoBot, Sasikiran 10, MerlLinkBot, FrescoBot, Crusoe8181, Jehara, Cowlibob, RjwilmsiBot, DRAGON
BOOSTER, Nyxaus, John of Reading, Pravinraj, GoingBatty, Sree444, Vensatry, T.k.sugendharan, Narendarbabu, Adil.basha, Rameshreddymaram, Ppwrong, Vivvt, Vinodtiwari2608, Rajeshbieee, Amantha, This lousy T-shirt, Raghith, Ramnik K Ambalia, Sriharanathrayala,
BG19bot, Sugram, PhnomPencil, Mark Arsten, Dexbot, Jennes83, VIAFbot, Murrallli, Evano1van, Anildesk, Abhimanyu3in, Robert4565,
Srravya, Vaidyasr, Indiraramakrishna, Filedelinkerbot, DrLalithakala, Bhishek and Anonymous: 65

12.2

Images

File:Vara_Vikrayam.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Vara_Vikrayam.JPG License: ? Contributors:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/te/e/e2/Telugucinemaposter_varavikrayam_1939.JPG Original artist: ?

12.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0