Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Female Playback Singer of India

Dr. Paluvayi Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Telugu:భానుమతీ రామకృష్ణ (born on 4 October 1925 - 24 December 2005) was a noted Indian film actress, director, music director, singer, producer, book writer and songs writer. Most of her works are in Telugu and Tamil languages.

Early life

She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up watching her father performing stage shows. Her father, Venkatasubbiah, was a staunch lover of classical music and gave her early training in music.

Career

Bhanumathi entered the film industry in 1935, and acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil. She was also called as Ashtavadhani by the film industry people as she was a writer, actor, director, producer, singer, music director, editor and studio owner. She also had a good knowledge of Astrology and philosophy.

Vara Vikrayam film poster, the debut film of Bhanumathi

Film career

She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by P. Pullaiah. She had acted in Malathi Madhavam, Dharma Patni and Bhaktimala. Her first popular film was Krishna Prema. Her next popular film was Swargaseema, a milestone film in her career. She later acted in many memorable movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. In 1953, she made her directorial debut with Chandirani (made simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi). Her last film was made in 1998, entitled Pelli Kanuka. Annadurai gave her a title "Nadippukku Ilakkanam" (means Grammar for acting) that suits her aptly.

Apart from being an exceptional actress, she was also a very talented musician. She is one of the fine actress of telugu film industry. She was adept in both Carnatic and Hindustani music. She gave voice to her songs even after it became the norm to use playback singers for actors. Some of her songs are still popular like Pilichina biguvatara, Kila Kila Navvul, Oh Pavurama, Preme Nerama. She also provided music to a lot of her films.

During her later years she served on various movie related organizations. She was a Member of State Film Awards Committee for two years. She was also a Visiting Professor at the Film Institute for one year. She was Member of Children Film Society for 5 years, from 1965 to 1970.

Literary career

Bhanumati was also a talented writer with a number of 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 as the best short story writer for her popular short stories "Attagari Kathalu". She was a Member of Lalith Kala Academy for 5 years, and Sahitya Academy, Andhra Pradesh for 10 years. She served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Chennai, for three years.

Philanthropy

She was an eminent social worker who was closely associated with a number of Social Service Organizations. She was the founder member and treasurer of Madras branch of Altrusa International Inc., Chicago for life long starting from 1963. She was a life time member of the 'Red Cross Society'. She established an educational institution named as "Dr. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna Matriculation School" at Saligramam, Chennai providing free education to the poor.

Personal life

During the shooting of the film Krishna Prema, she met P. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an assistant director for that film. He was a film producer, director and editor of Telugu and Tamil Films. The couple later got married 8 August 1943 and later launched a popular production company, Bharani Pictures on their son's name.
She died at the age of 80 years in Chennai.

Awards

Bhanumati was awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian recognition by the Government of India. She won the best actress awards multiple times. She also won the Best Director award at the state level.

• National Award Winner as Best Actress, Palnati Yuddham (Telugu), in 1966
• National Award Winner as Best Actress, Annai (Tamil)
• National Award Winner as Best Actress, Antastulu (Telugu), in 1965
• Padma Shri, in 1966
• Honorary Doctorate, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, in 1975
• Kalaimamani (connoisseur of arts), Government of Tamilnadu, in 1983
• Honorary Doctorate, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, in 1984
• Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 1986
• Best Director, Nandi Award, in 1986
• Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1998 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
• NTR National Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 2000
• Padma Bhushan, prestigious national award in 2003
• She won the National Film Award for Best Book on Cinema for her Naalo Nenu in 1994.

Filmography

This is partial list of her films. Kindly help expanding it.

Year	Film	Language	Character
1939	Vara Vikrayam	Telugu	Kalindi
1940	Malathi Madhavam	Telugu
1941	Bhaktimala	Telugu	Radha
1941	Dharmapatni	Tamil
1941	Dharmapatni	Telugu
1943	Garuda Garvabhangam	Telugu
1943	Krishna Prema	Telugu	Chandravali
1944	Tahsildar	Telugu	Kamala
1945	Swargaseema	Telugu	Subbi/Sujatha Devi
1946	Grihapravesham	Telugu	Janaki
1947	Ratnamala	Telugu	Ratnamala
1949	Laila Majnu	Telugu	Laila
1949	Nallathambi	Tamil	Pushpa
1949	Raksharekha	Telugu	Princess Kalavathi
1950	Apoorva Sahodaralu		Ranjana
1950	Maya Rambha
1951	Malleeswari	Telugu	Malleeswari
1951	Mangala		Mangala
1952	Prema	Telugu	Mothi
1952	Rani[1]	Tamil
1953	Chandirani	Tamil	Chandirani
1953	Chandirani	Telugu	Chandirani
1954	Aggi Ramudu	Telugu
1954	Chakrapani	Telugu	Granddaughter
1954	Malaikallan	Tamil	Poonkothai
1954	Vipranarayana	Telugu	Devadevi
1955	Alibabhavum Narpathu Thirudargalum	Tamil	Marjina
1955	Kalvanin Kadhali	Tamil	Kalyani
1956	Chintamani	Telugu	Chintamani
1956	Madurai Veeran	Tamil	Princess Bommi
1956	Rangoon Radha		Rangam
1956	Tenali Ramakrishna	Telugu	Rangasaani
1956	Tenali Raman	Tamil	Rangasaani
1957	Ambikapathy	Tamil	Princess Amaravati
1957	Nala Damayanti	Telugu	Damayanthi
1957	Sarangadhara	Telugu	Chitrangi Devi
1957	Varudu Kavali	Telugu
1958	Nadodi Mannan	Tamil

• Pelli Kanuka (1998) as Savithramma
• Chamanthi (1992) as Bhuvaneshwari
• Peddarikam (1992) as Adusumilli Basavapunnamma
• Samrat Ashok (1992)
• Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata (1990)
• Attagaru Swagatham (1988)
• Muddula Manavaraalu (1986)
• Mangamma Gari Manavadu (1984) as Mangamma
• Manavadi Kosam (1977)
• Ippadiyum Oru Penn (1975)
• Pathu Maadha Bandham (1975)
• Ammayi Pelli (1974)
• Tatamma Kala (1974)
• Vichitra Vivaham (1973)
• Anta Mana Manchike (1972) as Savitri
• Mattilo Manikyam (1971) as Lalitha
• Grihalakshmi (1967) as Laxmi
• Palnati Yudham (1966) as Nagamma
• Antastulu (1965)
• Todu Needa (1965)
• Bobbili Yudham (1964) as Mallamma
• Vivaha Bandham (1964) as Bharati
• Penchina Prema (1963)
• Anuragam (1963)
• Arivaali (1963)
• Annai (1962) as Savithri
• Batasari (1961)

Playback singer

Bhanumati gave her voice for herself and many actors to sing many songs.

Year	Film	Songs
1939	Vara Vikrayam
1941	Dharma Patni	Anuraagam Leka Anandamunda Nilu Niluma Neelavarnaa
1943	Krishna Prema
1945	Swarga Seema	Oho Ho Pavurama, Oho Tapodhana
1949	Laila Majnu	Preme Neramouna Maapai Ee Pagela
1951	Malliswari	Manasuna Mallera Maalaloogene Parugulu Teeyali O Gittalu Urakalu Veyali (with Ghantasala) Pilachina Biguvatara Auraura
1952	Prema	Divya Premaku Satiaune (with Ghantasala)
1953	Chandirani	Eeroju Bhale Roju Ide Prema Idena Enduko Teliyani Ennadu Anukoni Ee Sambaraalemiti Evaraalakinturu Naamora Enaleni Vedana Kilaa Kilaa Navvulaa Kurisene Vennelaa O Taraka (with Ghantasala)
1954	Chakrapani	Pakkala Nilabadi Kolichemu Uyyala Jampalaloogaravaya
1954	Vipra Narayana	Raa Raa Naa Swamy
1956	Chintamani
1956	Tenali Ramakrishna	Kannulu Ninde Kannela Vinna Mannanaleera Raja Teerani Naa Korikale Teerenu Ee Roju
1961	Batasari	Oh Baatasaari Nanu Maruvakoyi
1963	Anuragam	Sannajaji Teeveloi Sampenga Poovuloi
1964	Bobbili Yuddham	Srikara Karunalavala Venugopala
1964	Vivaha Bandham	Vinnava Vinnava Manasulona Dagivunna Madhurageeti
1965	Antastulu	Dulapara Bulloda Dummu Dulapara Bulloda Vinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa Vinaranna
1965	Todu Needa	Enno Ratrulu Vastayi Kaani Idiye Toli Reyi When I was just a little girl - I asked my mother what will I be
1967	Grihalakshmi	Laali Laali Gopala Bala Laali Laali Melukovayya Kaveti Ranga Sriranga
1971	Mattilo Manikyam	Saranam Nee Divya Charanam
1973	Vichitra Vivaham	Ammayilu Abbayilu Naa Matalo Nijam Vintara Meeru
1974	Ammayi Pelli	Vandanamu Raghunandana Sethu Bandhana Bhakta Chandana
1984	Mangamma Gari Manavadu	Sree Suryanarayana Meluko (with Vani Jayaram)
1986	Muddula Manavaralu
1990	Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata	Dilli Ki Raja Aina Bamma Maata Bangaru Baata
1998	Pelli Kanuka

Producer

• Ratnamala
• Prema
• Chakrapani (1954)
• Laila Majnu
• Batasari
• Vipra Narayana.