P. Bhanumathi
P. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (7 September 1925 – 24 December 2005) was an Indian actress, director, music director, singer, producer, novelist and lyricist. Widely known as the first female super star of Telugu cinema, Bhanumathi appeared in over 100 films predominantly in Tamil and Telugu languages. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2001 for her contribution to the Indian cinema.[1] She was honored among “women in cinema” at the 30th International Film Festival of India.[2]
Bhanumathi was born on 7 September 1925 in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. She is the third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah.[3][4] She grew up watching her father perform in various stage shows. Her father, Venkata Subbiah, was a lover of classical music and trained her in music from an early age.[5]
Bhanumathi entered the film industry in 1939, and acted in over 100 films in Tamil and Telugu. 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.[6] She is regarded as the first female super star of Telugu cinema.[7]
She made her debut in Telugu cinema in 1939 as Kalindi (a 13 years old girl who is forced to marry an old man and ended her life by committing suicide) in Vara Vikrayam (Telugu), directed by C. 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. In Swargaseema, she played the role of a theater artist with negative shades who is after a married person for her personal benefits. Oho Pavurama song (sung by her) in Swargaseema became a super hit and she was showered with offers. She later acted in many memorable movies like Chakrapani, Laila Majnu, Vipranarayana, Malliswari, Batasari and Anthastulu. Her first film in Tamil was Ratnakumar in the year 1949 along with the famous hero of those day P. U. Chinnappa. This film was directed by Krishnan–Panju. 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. C. N. Annadurai gave her a title “Nadippukku Ilakkanam” (Tamil: நடிப்புக்கு இலக்கணம்) (Grammar for acting) that suits her aptly. She was revered by many actors she had worked with like N.T.Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, M. G. Ramachandran, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Balakrishna, ChiranJeevi, Pawan Kalyan, Venkatesh for her bold and prolific versatility. One of her memorable movies in Tamil was Annai, in the year 1962 directed by Krishnan–Panju, where her acting was appreciated by all and also got the National Award for the film and for also performances in movies Anthasthulu and Palnati Yudham (1964) she received National Awards (Rashtrapati Award). She is the last recipient of Rashtrapati Award.
