Vyjayanthimala filmography

Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1933) is an Indian actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, Carnatic singer, dance choreographer and parliamentarian. She was the highest-paid actress of her time. Regarded as the "first female superstar" and "Megastar" of Indian cinema, She made her debut in the Tamil language film at the age of 16 with Vaazhkai in 1949 and in the Telugu film Jeevitham in 1950. She later became one of the most prominent actresses of South Indian cinema and in the golden era of Bollywood and was known as one of the iconic leading actresses of all time. Vyjayanthimala acted in Bollywood movies Bahar and Ladki. Following the success of Nagin, Vyjayanthimala established herself as one of Bollywood's leading actresses while making inroads in successful Tamil and Telugu films. After successfully establishing herself as a commercial actress, Vyjayanthimala appeared in Devdas, playing Chandramukhi, the hooker with a heart of gold, in 1955. In her first dramatic role, she received her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 4th Filmfare Awards, where she refused to accept the award citing that hers was not a supporting role, being the first person to refuse a Filmfare Award. Following that, Vyjayanthimala appeared in series of blockbuster films such as New Delhi, Naya Daur and Aasha. She reached the pinnacle of her success in 1958 when two of her films — Sadhna and Madhumati — became huge critical and commercial hits. She was nominated for two Filmfare Award for Best Actress Award for Sadhna and Madhumati and won the award for the former. At this point, Vyjayanthimala made comeback to Tamil films, where she tasted commercial success with Vanjikottai Vaaliban, Irumbu Thirai, Baghdad Thirudan and Then Nilavu. In 1961, the release of Dilip Kumar's Ganga Jumna saw her playing a rustic village belle, Dhanno, who speaks the Awadhi dialect. Critics applauded her performance, while some labeled it her best to date. She won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role in Ganga Jumna. Beginning in 1962, most of her films performed either averagely or poorly at the box office. However, in 1964, with the success of Sangam, her career hit its peak again. She reinvented herself by playing a modern Indian girl appearing in revealing costumes and a one-piece swimsuit. She went to receive her third Best Actress Award at the 12th Filmfare Awards for her role as Radha in Sangam. She later achieved critical acclaim for her performance in the historical drama Amrapali, which was based on the life of Nagarvadhu, royal courtesan of Vaishali, Amrapali. The film received universal acclaim, but it was a huge box office failure, which left Vyjayanthimala, who had huge expectations of the film, disenchanted to the point where she decided to quit films. In the end of her career Vyjayanthimala was mostly seen in commercially successful films such as Suraj, Jewel Thief and Prince with a few critically acclaimed films such as Hatey Bazarey and Sunghursh. Most of them were released after Vyjayanthimala left the film industry (a total of app. 65 films).

Vyjayanthimala in Devdas (1955)

Filmography edit

As an actress edit

Year Film Role Language Notes
1949 Vazhkai Mohana Shivashankaralingam Tamil On-screen debut & Tamil debut
1950 Jeevitham Mohini Sivashankara Lingeswara Prasad Telugu Shot simultaneously in original Tamil as Vaazhkai and also, Telugu debut
Vijayakumari Western dancer Tamil Guest appearance
1951 Bahar Lata Hindi Bollywood film debut
1953 Ladki Rani Mehra Hindi
1954 Penn Rani Tamil Shot simultaneously with Ladki
Sangham Rani Telugu Shot simultaneously with Ladki and last Telugu film
Nagin Mala Hindi
Pehli Jhalak Beena Hindi
Asha Nirasha Asha Kannada Completed[1] Unreleased[2]
Miss Mala Mala Hindi
1955 Yasmin Yasmin Hindi
Sitara Veda Hindi
Jashan Seema/Malti Hindi Dual Role
Devdas Chandramukhi Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, but refused the award
1956 Taj Princess of Roopnagar Hindi
Anjaan Ratna Hindi Also known as Somewhere in Delhi
New Delhi Janki Subramaniam Hindi Dubbed in Russian language as Индия
Marma Veeran Rajkumari Vijaya Tamil
Patrani Princess Mrinalla Hindi
Kismet Ka Khel Anokhi Hindi
Devta Naagrani Hindi
1957 Naya Daur Rajni Hindi Dubbed into Tamil as Pattaliyin Sabatham[3]
Kathputli Pushpa Hindi [4]
Ek Jhalak Mala Hindi
Aasha Nirmala Hindi [5]
1958 Sitaron Se Aagey Kanta Hindi
Sadhna Rajni/Champa Bai Hindi Dual Role and also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Vanjikottai Valiban Princess Mandakini Tamil
Raj Tilak Princess Mandakini Hindi Shot simultaneously in Tamil as Vanjikottai Valiban
Madhumati Madhumati / Madhavi / Radha (Triple Role) Hindi Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress; India's official entry to the Oscars
Amar Deep Meena/Aruna Hindi Dual Role
1959 Paigham Manju Hindi
Jawani Ki Hawa Latha Hindi
Athisaya Penn Nirmala Tamil
1960 Raja Bakthi Princess Mrinalini Tamil
Parthiban Kanavu Kundhavi Tamil
Irumbu Thirai Manju Tamil
College Girl Kamla Hindi
Baghdad Thirudan Zarina Tamil
1961 Then Nilavu Shanthi Tamil
Nazrana Vasanti Hindi
Gunga Jumna Dhanno Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress; BFJA Award for Best Actress
Aas Ka Panchhi Neena Bakshi Hindi
1962 Rungoli Nirmala "Nimmo" Hindi
Jhoola Sumati Hindi
Dr. Vidya Geeta / Dr. Vidya Hindi
1963 Chittoor Rani Padmini Princess Rani Padmini of Chittor Tamil Last Tamil film
1964 Zindagi Beena Hindi
Sangam Radha Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress;[6][7] First technicolor film of Raj Kapoor[8]
Phoolon Ki Sej Karuna Hindi
Leader Princess Sunita Hindi First Indian film to be shot outside of the 1.37:1 ratio (1.85:1 ratio)
Ishaara Mala Hindi
1965 Naya Kanoon Jyothi Hindi
1966 Do Dilon Ki Dastaan Hindi
Amrapali Amrapali Hindi India's official entry to the Oscars
Suraj Princess Anuradha Singh Hindi
1967 Hatey Bazarey Chhipli Bengali
Chhoti Si Mulaqat Roopa Chaudhary Hindi
Jewel Thief Shalini Devi Singh / Shalu Hindi
1968 Sunghursh Munni/Laila-E-Aasmaan Hindi Dual Role and also won the BFJA Award for Best Actress
Saathi Shanti Hindi
Duniya Mala Hindi
1969 Pyar Hi Pyar Kavita Hindi
Prince Princess Amrita Hindi
1970 Ganwaar Parvati (Paro) Hindi Last film

As choreographer edit

Year Film Cast Song Language Notes
1964 Leader Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala Tere Husn Ki Kya Tareef Karoon

Mujhe Duniya Walo Sharabi Na Samjho

Hindi
Sangam Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Rajendra Kumar Main Kya Karoon Ram Hindi Parody of Cabaret dance

As producer edit

Year Film Cast Language Notes
1982 Kathoduthan Naan Pesuven Ramji, Sripriya, Menaka Tamil Co-producer with Rajiyiammal
Released on 14 January 1982

As playback singer edit

Year Film Song Co-singer(s) Language Notes
1967 Hatey Bazarey Cheye Thaki Cheye Thaki Mrinal Chakraborty Bengali

Miscellaneous Crew edit

Year Film Language Notes
2000 Mugavaree Tamil Special thanks
2012 Janleva 555 Hindi Special message before the film starts

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ S. Shyam Prasad (7 February 2010). "South Masala: For the record". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. ^ Janaki Vishwanathan (30 May 2010). "The Kaapi Diaries". Mumbai: MiD DAY. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  3. ^ "Originally Dubbed in Tamil". IndiaGlitz. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Ranjan Das Gupta (9 August 2011). "My first break Vyjayanthimala". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Asha: A composer's Dream". Rediff.com. 8 September 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. ^ Fakir Hassen (Indo-Asian News Service) (3 January 2007). "Wooing Indian directors for foreign locales". Hindustan Times. Johannesburg. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. ^ "The Big Three continue to hold sway". Filmnirvana.com. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. ^ "Down Memory Lane". The Indian Express. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.

External links edit