Garikapati Varalakshmi (27 September 1926 – 26 November 2006[citation needed]) was an Indian actress, stage artist, singer, and director who worked in Telugu and Tamil films.

G. Varalakshmi
Varalakshmi in c. 1951
Born
Garikapati Varalakshmi

27 September 1926
Died26 November 2006(2006-11-26) (aged 80)
OccupationActress
Spouse
(m. 1943)
ChildrenK. Raghavendra Rao (step-son)
RelativesK. Bapayya (nephew)
Prakash Kovelamudi (step-grandson)

Biography

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Varalakshmi was born in 1926 in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father was a pehelwan. She started acting on stage in Vijayawada when she was 11 years old. She acted along with stage actors Thungala Chalapathi and Dasari Kotiratnam and became popular for her roles in plays like Sakkubai and Rangoon Rowdy.

Her first two movie roles aged 14 were in Barrister Parvatheesam, produced by Raghupathy Prakash, and Bondam Pelli, produced by H. M. Reddy. These two movies were released together as a two-in-one movie. She then moved to Bombay to sing in the chorus for Naushad in 1942. As her career as a singer was not successful, she returned to Madras in 1946. She married the filmmaker and studio-owner K. S. Prakash Rao. Her husband and she acted in and produced a controversial and popular movie, Drohi in which she played the part of an arrogant daughter.

Drohi was followed by popular movies like Kula Gotralu, Kanna Talli and Pelli Chesi Choodu in which she acted with all the top heroes of Indian films of the 1940s and 1950s in Telugu and Tamil, playing roles ranging from the loving woman and arrogant sister to the mother-in-law. She also directed a social movie, Moogajeevulu. She got involved in politics and supported M.G.R for a short time and was an active member of Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali. She was the mother of two children, one daughter Kovelamudi Kanaka Durga and a son Kovelamudi Siva Prakash who became a famous cameraman. She is also the step-mother of the famous director Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Note: The list is not comprehensive.

Actress

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Year Film Language Character
1940 Barrister Parvateesam Telugu
1940 Bondam Pelli Telugu
1941 Dakshayagnam Telugu
1942 Bhakta Prahlada Telugu
1946 Vanarani Telugu
1948 Vindhyarani Telugu
1948 Drohi Telugu Saroja
1950 Maaya Rambha Tamil Rambha
1950 Maaya Rambha Telugu Rambha
1950 Modati Rathri Telugu
1950 Lakshmamma Tamil
1950 Sri Lakshmamma Katha Telugu Pichamma
1950 Swapna Sundari Tamil Rani
1950 Swapna Sundari Telugu Rani
1951 Anni Tamil
1951 Deeksha Telugu
1951 Niraparadhi Tamil Tara
1951 Nirdoshi Telugu Tara
1952 Manavathi Tamil
1952 Manavathi Telugu
1952 Kalyanam Panni Paar Tamil
1952 Pelli Chesi Choodu Telugu Ammadu
1953 Naa Chellelu Telugu
1953 Kanna Talli Telugu Shanta
1953 Petra Thai Tamil Santa
1953 Prapancham Telugu
1953 Paropakaram Tamil
1953 Paropakaram Telugu
1954 Jyoti Telugu
1954 Kudumbam Tamil Seetha
1954 Menarikam Telugu Seetha
1954 Maa Gopi Telugu
1954 Palle Paduchu Telugu
1955 Ante Kavali Telugu
1955 Gulebakavali Tamil Queen Bakavali
1955 Jaya Gopi Tamil
1955 Pasupu Kunkuma Telugu
1956 Balasanyasamma Katha Telugu
1956 Marumalarchi Tamil
1956 Melukolupu Telugu
1956 Naan Petra Selvam Tamil Gowri
1956 Paasavalai Tamil
1956 Vazhvile Oru Naal Tamil Janaki/Kaladevi
1957 Dhampathyam Telugu
1957 Dongallo Dora Telugu Kamini
1957 Pakka Thirudan Tamil Kamini
1957 Aravalli Tamil Queen Aravalli
1957 Karpurakarasi Tamil Chandrika
1957 Uthama Illalu Telugu Chandrika
1957 Pathini Deivam Tamil Sivagami
1958 Raja Nandini Telugu Vimala
1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Tamil Kaikeyi
1958 Dongalunnaru Jagratha Telugu
1958 Thirudargal Jakkirathai Tamil
1958 Mangalya Balam Telugu Seeta
1958 Manjal Mahimai Tamil Seeta
1959 Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal Tamil Seeta
1960 Renukadevi Mahatyam Telugu
1960 Sivagami Tamil Sivagami
1961 Bikari Ramadu Telugu
1961 Iddaru Mitrulu Telugu
1961 Nagarjuna Kannada
1962 Bhishma Telugu
1962 Kalimi Lemulu Telugu Manikyamba
1962 Kula Gothralu Telugu
1962 Padandi Munduku Telugu
1962 Nagarjuna Telugu
1963 Anuragam Telugu
1965 Aavadhellaam Pennaale Tamil
1965 Antastulu Telugu Roopa Devi
1965 Sumangali Telugu
1965 Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum Tamil Alamelu
1965 Paditha Manaivi Tamil
1965 Veera Abhimanyu Tamil Draupadi
1965 Veerabhimanyu Telugu Draupadi
1966 Aata Bommalu Telugu
1966 Aastiparulu Telugu Rajyalakshmi
1966 Letha Manasulu Telugu Kanaka Durgamma
1967 Pattathu Rani Tamil
1967 Rahasyam Telugu Chandramma
1968 Amayakudu Telugu
1968 Harichandra Tamil
1968 Bangaru Sankelu Telugu
1968 Mooga Jeevulu Telugu
1968 Veeranjaneya Telugu Mandodari
1969 Jagat Kiladi Telugu
1971 Mooga Prema Telugu
1971 Pavitra Bandham Telugu Durgamma
1971 Anuradha[1] Telugu Rukmini
1971 Veettukoru Pillai Tamil
1972 Vazhaiyadi Vazhai Tamil
1973 Doctor Babu Telugu Parvathi
1973 Samsaram Sagaram Telugu
1973 Veettukku Vandha Marumagal Tamil
1974 Chakravakam Telugu
1974 Premalu Pellillu Telugu
1974 Tulasi Telugu
1974 Vani Rani Tamil
1975 Babu Telugu
1975 Kathanayakuni Katha Telugu Pulatla Tayaramma
1975 Rajyanlo Rabandulu Telugu
1975 Vayasochina Pilla Telugu
1976 Athavarillu Telugu
1976 Ee Kalapu Pillalu Telugu
1976 Mahatmudu Telugu Parvathamma
1976 Manchiki Maro Peru Telugu
1976 Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club Telugu
1977 Unnai Suttrum Ulagam Tamil
1978 Gorantha Deepam Telugu
1978 Nindu Manishi Telugu
1980 Kiladi Krishnudu Telugu
1980 Sirimalle Navvindi Telugu
1986 Sirivennela Telugu

Director

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  1. Moogajeevulu (1968)

Discography

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Year Film Language Song Co-singers Music Director
1940 Barrister Parvateesam Telugu Premaye Jagathi Demudu Kopparapu Subba Rao
Poyira Priyuda London Poyira
1948 Drohi Telugu Nede Theere Naa Vaancha Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Premaye Kaadha Sadha Vilaasi M. S. Rama Rao
Chakkaligintalu Leva Leva
Poovu Cheri Palumaaru Ghantasala
Nee Tetalenide Chitraniki Geetu
Trinamo Panamo Veyyandi Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Padandira Padandira Padandira Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Manovanchalu Eenaati Koolipoye
Cakkaru Kottuku Vachava Kasturi Siva Rao
Sari Sari Matala Mootha
1950 Maaya Rambha Tamil Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
1950 Maaya Rambha Telugu Ragamutho Nanu Kanuma Ogirala Ramachandra Rao
Veera Rasikulu Kalarasikulu
1950 Modhati Rathri Telugu Cheliya Ee Sumamu Ye Rangu Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Taguna Pagaboona Penchina
Mamatho Yemo Chandrudela M. S. Rama Rao & R. Balasaraswathi Devi
Oyi Naa Raja Oyyaree Raja
Sannagaa Tinnagaa Raraa Kasturi Siva Rao
Oho Bava Oyi Bava Madhavapeddi Satyam
Eduru Ledika Naakeduru Ledika
Aasalu Baasi Naa Aasalu Baasi
Manasidemo Ooyalalooge M. S. Rama Rao & Kasturi Siva Rao
1950 Swapna Sundari Tamil Sagasam Therinthathaiya Un C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye
Maranthatheno Manathu
1950 Swapna Sundari Telugu Nee Sari Neevele C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye
Marali Ravo Manasu Ledo
1950 Vaali Sugreeva Telugu Ahaha Mohana Prema Pooje S. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala
Naa Aashaajyothiye Aaripovunaa
Priyatama Naa Hrdaya Mandara
1951 Anni Tamil Pon Vilaindhathu Jai Enboam Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Enna Aambule Nee Enna Aambule Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Pongalo Pongal Pongi Varudhamma Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Ennamma Ennamma Kanne Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Kanne Paapaa Kaniye Paapaa
Rama Harae Jaya Rama Harae
Anbu Kanindhaal Poodevi
1951 Dheeksha Telugu Pasidi Pantaku Jai Anara Pithapuram Nageswara Rao Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Chalnathalli Bhudevi Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Pithapuram Nageswara Rao
Chinninanna Chittinanna
Sri Ramasitaramakapadarava
Ammagari Illu Dharmalogillu
1951 Niraparadhi Tamil Sarasa Sangeethamadhe H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
Naane Raaniye
1951 Nirdoshi Telugu Nene Janaga Nerajanaga H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
Sakha Naa Raju
1952 Manavathi Telugu Melukolipega Thane Melukolipega H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao
Rao Elaravo Etannunavo
O Na Sakhi Pona Sakhi
1953 Pelli Chesi Choodu Telugu Raadhanuraayedavaku Ghantasala, Joga Rao & P. Leela Ghantasala
1953 Kanna Talli Telugu Sirikin Cheppadu Shangkacahkra Pendyala Nageshwara Rao
1953 Manjari Telugu Paripalayam Janani Karunamayi Bhavani H. R. Padmanabha Sastry
1953 Rohini Tamil G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt
1953 Rohini Telugu Bratuke Shidhilamai Poye G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt
1954 Jyothi Telugu Chitti Potti Papallara Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Deshmunu Premichumanna
1955 Ante Kaavali Telugu O Vedalipoye Premika Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Nijamena Nijamena Nee
Raoyi Itu Raoyi M. S. Rama Rao

References

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  1. ^ "Anuradha Movie (1971)".
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