Vanisri
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Aug 3, 1948 (age 78)
- Place of birth
- Nellore, Madras Presidency, British India
- Credits
- 90
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.
Known for
Bobbili Raja
1990Movie
Minister Rajeswari Devi
Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
1989Movie
Chamundeshwari Devi
The Sage from the Sea
1978Movie
Ansuya P. Rao
Vasantha Maligai
1972Movie
Anand
Pandava Vanavasamu
1965Movie
Satyabhama
Nindu Hrudayalu
1969Movie
Sharada
Filmography
Badradri Ramudu
2004Movie
Bombay Priyudu
1996Movie
Allari Alludu
1993Movie
Akhilandeswari Devi
Evandi Aavida Vachindi
1993Movie
Sathyavati
Rajeswari Kalyanam
1993Movie
Rampur Ka Raja
1993Movie
Collector Gari Alludu
1992Movie
Attaku Koduku Mamaku Alludu
1992Movie
Seetharatnam Gari Abbayi
1992Movie
Seeetharathnamma
Peddinti Alludu
1991Movie
Bala Tripura Sundari
Bobbili Raja
1990Movie
Minister Rajeswari Devi
Prananiki Pranam
1990Movie
Justice Jayanti Devi
Qaidi Dada
1990Movie
Nyaya Tharasu
1989Movie
Bhavani Ammal
Swathi Chinukulu
1989Movie
Agni
1989Movie
Seeta Mahalakshmi
Attaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu
1989Movie
Chamundeshwari Devi
Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu
1979Movie
Devi Parvati
Srimadhvirata Parvamu
1979Movie
Draupadi
Nalladhoru Kudumbam
1979Movie
Maavaari Manchithanam
1979Movie
Simha Baludu
1978Movie
Punniya Boomi
1978Movie
Vichitra Jeevitham
1978Movie
Gowri
Vaazhkai Alaigal
1978Movie
Chilipi Krishnudu
1978Movie
Vani / Rani
Sati Savitri
1978Movie
Savitri
Gorantha Deepam
1978Movie
Padmavati
The Sage from the Sea
1978Movie
Ansuya P. Rao
Ilaya Thalaimurai
1977Movie
Flowing Against
1977Movie
Radha
Thaaliya Salangaiya
1977Movie
Chandra
Rojavin Raja
1976Movie
Oorukku Uzhaippavan
1976Movie
Bhakta Kannappa
1976Movie
Leela
Aaradhana
1976Movie
Radha
Eduruleni Manishi
1975Movie
Latha
Pooja
1975Movie
Gouri
Maya Maschindra
1975Movie
Goddess Lakshmi / Tilottama Devi
Jeevana Jyothi
1975Movie
Lakshmi/Sobha
Vani Rani
1974Movie
Vani / Rani
Chakravakam
1974Movie
Devarani
Vintha Katha
1973Movie
Jeevana Tarangalu
1973Movie
Roja
Bangaru Babu
1973Movie
Vani
Koduku Kodalu
1972Movie
Shobha
Vasantha Maligai
1972Movie
Anand
Velli Vizha
1972Movie
Avasara Kalyanam
1972Movie
Vasanthi
Jagath Kantrilu
1971Movie
Chelleli Kapuram
1971Movie
Punnagai
1971Movie
Adi Parasakthi
1971Movie
Prema Nagar
1971Movie
Kasidre Kailasa
1971Movie
Shakuntala
Kulama Gunama
1971Movie
Lalitha
Nangu Suvargal
1971Movie
Dasara Bullodu
1971Movie
Life Cycle
1971Movie
Suseela
Chitti Chellelu
1970Movie
Santha
Thalaivan
1970Movie
Kathanayika Molla
1970Movie
Molla
Nirai Kudam
1969Movie
Chithra
Aathmeeyulu
1969Movie
Jaya
Aayiram Poi
1969Movie
Malathi
Nindu Hrudayalu
1969Movie
Sharada
Bangaru Panjaram
1969Movie
Neela
Porsilai
1969Movie
Kuzhandai Ullam
1969Movie
Annaiyum Pithavum
1969Movie
Uyarndha Manidhan
1968Movie
Lakshmi Nivasam
1968Movie
Asha
Thamarai Nenjam
1968Movie
Radha
Kannan En Kadhalan
1968Movie
Sukha Dukhalu
1968Movie
Kadhalithal Podhuma
1967Movie
Mohana
Private Master
1967Movie
Stree Janma
1967Movie
Phani
Marapurani Katha
1967Movie
Aastiparulu
1966Movie
Special appearance
Kaadhal Paduthum Paadu
1966Movie
Suguna
Kanne Manasulu
1966Movie
Who is she?
1966Movie
Latha
Aggi Barata
1966Movie
Rangula Ratnam
1966Movie
vasu's wife
Pathala Mohini
1965Movie
Mohini
Aakasa Ramanna
1965Movie
Satya Harishchandra
1965Movie
Matangi
Mangamma Sapatham
1965Movie
Chanchala
Pandava Vanavasamu
1965Movie
Satyabhama