Pandari Bai
| Pandari Bai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Geetha 18 September 1928 Pathal, Bhatkal, Mysore State, British India |
| Died |
29 January 2003 (aged 74) Chennai, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1943–2001 |
| Spouse(s) | P.H. Ramarao |
| Parent(s) |
Ranga Rao (father) Kaveri Bai (mother) |
| Relatives |
Mynavathi (sister) Leelavathi (sister) |
Pandari Bai (Kannada: ಪಂಡರೀ ಬಾಯಿ; 18 September 1928 – 29 January 2003) was a prominent actress of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada and Tamil during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She is considered Kannada cinema's first heroine.[1] She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Rajkumar and Sivaji Ganesan. She was the heroine in Rajkumar's debut movie Bedara Kannappa and also Sivaji's debut movie Parasakthi.[2][3][4] She has acted in over 1,000 films in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil.[5]
Early life and education
Born in Bhatkal, Karnataka, in present Uttara Kannada in a Marathi speaking family. Her father was a drawing master and a Harikatha exponent, and also a stage actor. He taught her the art of Harikatha, thus even before she was ten years old, Pandari started giving Harikatha performances.
Career
Pandaribai began her career in acting in plays based on mythological stories before making her film debut in 1943 with the Kannada language film, Vani. She shot to fame after appearing in the hugely successful 1954 Kannada film Bedara Kannappa opposite another future star Rajkumar. In the film, she played the role of Neela, wife of Kanna (played by Rajkumar), a hunter. She established herself as a lead actress portraying a woman with a 'progressive' image assuming the burdens of a feudal patriarchy in films such as Sant Sakhu (1955) and Rayara Sose (1957).[1] In 1959, she appeared in Abba Aa Hudugi, with her sister Mynavathi. The film is considered a landmark in Kannada cinema.[6]
She went to act in around 1,500 films in other languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi and enjoyed a long career span of nearly half a century. Her first film in Tamil Parasakthi directed by the duo directors Krishnan-Panju in the year 1952, where she paired with Sivaji Ganesan was a grand success. She played lead roles in many movies and then switched over to character roles.
Later in her career Pandari Bai played the mother of stars older than her, most of whom had played the lead with her in her earlier years.[7] She also played as mother to actors like M. G. Ramachandran in Tamil and Rajesh Khanna in Hindi , N.T. Ramarao in Telugu. Pandari Bai also acted in a couple of Kannada TV serials Amma and Manethana (1998–2000). Both of them were produced by her sister Mynavathy's Son's company Yantra Media.The last picture in her career was "Baaro Nanna Muddina Krishna" in Kannada which had Sashikumar as lead.
Filmography
- This is partial filmography of Pandari Bai. Kindly help expand it.
| Year | Title of the film | Language | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Vani | Kannada | |
| 1944 | Haridas | Tamil | |
| 1947 | Bhakta Gora Kumbhara | ||
| 1949 | Bahar | Hindi | Malti |
| 1950 | Raja Vikrama | ||
| 1951 | Ek Tha Raja | ||
| Marmayogi | Tamil | ||
| 1952 | Parasakthi | Tamil | |
| 1953 | Gumasta | ||
| Gunasagari | |||
| Pardesi | |||
| Poongothai | |||
| Thirumbi Paar | |||
| 1954 | Andha Naal | Tamil | Usha, wife of Rajan |
| Bedara Kannappa | Kannada | ||
| Manohara | |||
| 1955 | Sodari | ||
| Bhakta Mallikarjuna | |||
| Sant Sakhu | |||
| Vadina | Telugu | ||
| 1956 | Bhakta Vijaya | ||
| Hari Bhakta | |||
| Kula Deivam | |||
| Renuka Mahatme | |||
| 1957 | Bhabhi | Hindi | Shanta |
| Rayaran Sose | |||
| Sati Nalayini | |||
| 1958 | Anbu Engay | ||
| Panchayat | |||
| 1959 | Alli Petra Pullai | ||
| Aval Yar | |||
| Chand | |||
| Abba Aa Hudugi | |||
| Engal Kula Daivi | |||
| Grihalakshmi | |||
| Naalu Veli Neelam | |||
| Nattukoru Nallavan | |||
| Paigham | Hindi | Parvati Ratan Lal | |
| Pathirai Matru Thangam | |||
| 1960 | Anbukkor Anni | ||
| Bhakta Shabari | |||
| Irumbu Thirai | Tamil | ||
| Ivan Avanethan | |||
| Kurvanji | |||
| Pavai Vilakku | |||
| Raja Bhakti | Tamil | Princess Devasena | |
| Thanthaikupin Thamayan | |||
| 1964 | Thaayin Madiyil | Tamil | Parvathi |
| Annapoorna | Kannada | Annapoorna | |
| 1965 | C.I.D. | Telugu | Parvathi |
| 1984 | Apoorva Sangama | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Shruthi Seridaaga | Kannada | Mother of Rajkumar |
| 1992 | Mannan | Tamil | Mother of Rajinikanth |
| 1992 | Jeevana Chaitra | Kannada | Mother of Rajkumar |
| 1993 | Aakasmika | Kannada | Mother of Rajkumar |
| 1994 | Jai Hind | Tamil | Annai Maria Devi |
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References
- 1 2 Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.
- ↑ "Remembering Pandari Bai". Screen. 21 February 2003.
- ↑ "Pandari Bai dies at 73". The Times of India. 29 January 2003.
- ↑ "Pandari Bai dead". The Hindu. 30 January 2003.
- ↑ "Tribute to Pandari Bai". Deccan Herald. 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
- ↑ "A rousing end planned for H.L.N. Simha's birth centenary fete". The Hindu. 21 July 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
- ↑ "Actress who glowed with inner beauty". The Hindu. 14 February 2003.