Lakshmi (actress)
Yaragudipadi Venkata Mahalakshmi, known professionally as Lakshmi, is an Indian actress known for her work in the Indian film industry. She made her film debut through a Tamil film Sri Valli in 1961. Her debut as an actress happened with the Tamil film Jeevanaamsam in 1968. In the same year, she also debuted in Kannada and Telugu films with Goa Dalli CID 999 and Bandhavyalu respectively. In 1974, Her second Malayalam film, Chattakari went on to become a blockbuster throughout India.
She then went on to appear in a number of commercially successful films in Tamil,
Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu and various other languages. She has won one National Film Award for Best Actress, nine Filmfare Awards, three Nandi Awards, Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress for the movie Hoovu Hannu, the Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards and various other state awards. Lakshmi made her Bollywood debut in 1975, with the woman-centric Julie, the remake of Malayalam film Chattakkari. After appearing as a lead actress for more than a decade, she switched over to character roles.She is the only actress who have won the Filmfare Awards South, 7 times with most wins in all four different languages.
Early life
Lakshmi was born and raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her mother Kumari Rukmini was a Tamil actress. Her father, Yaragudipati Varada Rao, was an Indian film producer, director, thespian, screenwriter, editor and actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil cinema.Career
She established herself as a successful and popular actress in South India in the 1970s, acting in all four South Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Lakshmi rose to fame with her first Malayalam movie Chattakari, which won her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress. This has the distinction of being the first Malayalam film to run continuously for 40 weeks in a Bangalore theatre. Chattakari was remade in Hindi as Julie and in Telugu as Miss Julie Prema Katha. In addition to a Filmfare Best Actress Award, she also won the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards for the "most outstanding work of the year", for her work in Julie. She is known for her versatility as an actress and for the glamorous outlook she embodied. Her acting in the Telugu film Panthulamma is often credited as one of her best performances.After the success of her debut Malayalam film Chattakari, she starred in many other films in Malayalam. She won Filmfare Awards for Best Actress for her performances in Chalanum and Mohiniyaattam.
She has acted with almost all the leading actors and stars of South India, but it was her combination with the famous Kannada star Anant Nag in the 70s and 80s that struck a chord with the audience. Nag and Lakshmi are considered one of the all-time greatest pairs in South Indian cinema. They acted together in more than 25 films. Their pair was considered the right recipe for success. Most of the films based on TaRaSu novels were based on the life of young middle class couples.
After her success in Julie, however, Lakshmi didn't star in many Hindi films and instead concentrated on doing more South Indian films. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal, becoming one of the first South Indian actresses to win that category for a Tamil film. When her career as a leading lady ended in the 1980s, she started playing supporting roles as a mother and later as grandmother. She played Aishwarya Rai's grandmother in Jeans and Kareena Kapoor's grandmother in Hulchul.
She has performed in more than 400 films and has also been involved in politics.
Under K. Balachander's supervision, she made her directorial debut with a remake of Yours, Mine and Ours: the Kannada film Makkala Sainya.
Lakshmi is fluent in all four South Indian languages. She took a break from acting to host two talk shows, including the Tamil talk show Achamillai, Achamillai.She hosted a talk show in Kannada for Suvarna channel called Idu Kathe Alla Jeevana. She also hosts a talk show in Tamil for Vijay TV called Kadhai Alla Nijam. She has hosted a talk show in Kannada for Suvarna channel called Neena? Naana?
After the shows ended, she returned to act in films.
Currently she is on the judges' panel for the Malayalam reality show Champions on Surya TV. She is also a judge for a Kannada reality show called Drama Juniors on Zee Kannada.
Personal life
Her first marriage was to Bhaskar in 1969, who worked with an insurance organization. The couple has a daughter, actress Aishwarya, born in 1971. Lakshmi divorced Bhaskar in 1974.She fell in love with her co-star Mohan Sharma on the sets of Chattakari and married him in 1975, but it ended in divorce in 1985.
While she was shooting En Uyir Kannamma, she and actor-director M. Sivachandran fell in love and got married in 1987. The couple adopted a girl named Samyuktha in 2000.
Awards
[National Film Awards]
- 1977 – National Film Award for Best Actress for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal
[Filmfare Awards]
- 1976 – Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Julie
[Filmfare Awards South]
- 1974 – Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Dikkatra Parvathi
- 1974 – Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Chattakari
- 1975 – Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Chalanum
- 1976 – Filmfare Award for Best Malayalam Actress for Mohiniyaattam
- 1983 – Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Actress for Unmaigal
- 1986 – Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress for Sravana Meghalu
- 1993 – Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress for Hoovu Hannu
- 1998 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
[Nandi Awards]
- Nandi Award for Best Actress - Panthulamma
- Nandi Award for Best Actress - Sravana Meghalu
- Nandi Award for Best Character Actress - Murari
- Nandi Special Jury Award - Mithunam
[Karnataka State Film Awards]
- 1993 – Best Actress for Hoovu Hannu
- 2008 – Best Supporting Actress for Vamshi
- 2017 – Dr. Rajkumar Award
[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]
- 1978 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for Oru Nadigai Naatakam Paarkiraal
[Kerala State Film Awards]
- 1974 – Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for Chattakari
[Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards]
- 1975 - Most outstanding work of the year for Julie
Selected filmography
Tamil
Malayalam
Kannada
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Goa Dalli CID 999 | ||
| 1976 | Naa Ninna Mareyalare | Usha | |
| 1977 | Olavu Geluvu | Rohini | |
| 1978 | Kiladi Jodi | Jenny & Radha | Double role |
| 1979 | Naa Ninna Bidalaare | Gayathri | |
| 1979 | Ravichandra | ||
| 1979 | Nanobba Kalla | Rukmini | |
| 1979 | Chandanada Gombe | Rathna | |
| 1979 | Dhairyalakshmi | ||
| 1980 | Antha | Sunitha | |
| 1981 | Bhoomige Banda Bhagavantha | Ganga | |
| 1981 | Avala Hejje | Seetha | |
| 1981 | Gaali Maathu | Gowri | |
| 1981 | Etu Ediretu | ||
| 1982 | Tony | ||
| 1983 | Pallavi Anu Pallavi | Anu | |
| 1983 | Makkale Devaru | ||
| 1983 | Mududida Tavare Aralithu | Madhu | |
| 1983 | Benkiya Bale | Rani | |
| 1983 | Nodi Swamy Navirodu Hige | Aparna | |
| 1984 | Makkaliralavva Mane Thumba | Rani | |
| 1984 | Thaliya Bhagya | ||
| 1984 | Gandu Bherunda | Champa | |
| 1984 | Olavu Moodidaga | ||
| 1985 | Ibbani Karagithu | ||
| 1985 | Bidugadeya Bedi | ||
| 1985 | Brahmastra | ||
| 1985 | Sedina Hakki | ||
| 1986 | Nannavaru | ||
| 1987 | Onde Goodina Hakkigalu | ||
| 1987 | Sowbhagya Lakshmi | ||
| 1987 | Bangarada Baduku | ||
| 1988 | Dharma Pathni | ||
| 1989 | Hosa Kavya | ||
| 1990 | Lion Jagapathi Rao | Janaki | |
| 1991 | Central Rowdy | ||
| 1991 | Bombay Daada | ||
| 1992 | Bhale Keshava | ||
| 1993 | Hoovu Hannu | Ramabai | Filmfare Award for Best Kannada Actress Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress |
| 1993 | Kumkuma Bhagya | ||
| 1993 | Grihalakshmi | ||
| 1993 | Rayara Maga | ||
| 1993 | Jaga Mechida Huduga | Bhavani Rao | |
| 1993 | Sri Durga Pooje | ||
| 1995 | Baalondu Chaduranga | ||
| 1996 | Hetthavaru | ||
| 1998 | Preethsod Thappa | Lakshmi | |
| 1999 | Chennappa Channe Gowda | ||
| 1999 | Suryavamsha | ||
| 2001 | Amma | ||
| 2001 | Diggajaru | Ammavru | |
| 2002 | Prema | Prema's mother | |
| 2007 | Hethare Hennanne Herabeku | ||
| 2008 | Vamshi | Karnataka State Film Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
| 2009 | Budhivanta | Pooja's mother, Judge | |
| 2010 | Jothegara | ||
| 2015 | Sharp Shooter | ||
| 2015 | Vamshodharaka | ||
| 2017 | Eradane Sala | ||
| 2017 | Saheba |
Telugu
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1968 | Bandhavyalu | Lakshmi | |
| 1968 | Chuttarikalu | Lakshmi | |
| 1969 | Karpoora Harathi | ||
| 1969 | Mahabaludu | ||
| 1970 | Mayani Mamtha | ||
| 1970 | Okka Kutumbham | ||
| 1970 | Ma Avida Collector | Akkaji | |
| 1971 | Suputhrudu | Madhavi | |
| 1971 | Nindu Dampathulu | Vani | |
| 1972 | Koduku Kodalu | Julie | |
| 1972 | Marapurani Thalli | ||
| 1973 | Jeevana Tharangalu | Lavanya | |
| 1973 | Palletoori Bava | Lalitha | |
| 1973 | Kanna Koduku | Bharati | |
| 1973 | Puttinillu Mettinillu | Remake of Tamil movie Puguntha Veedu | |
| 1974 | Manushulu Mattibommalu | ||
| 1974 | Andaru Dongale | Lakshmi | |
| 1974 | Kodenag | ||
| 1974 | Bangaaru Kalalu | Jyothi | |
| 1975 | Ammayila Sapatham | Chithra | |
| 1975 | Babu | ||
| 1975 | Devudu Chesina Pelli | ||
| 1975 | Vayasochchina Pilla | ||
| 1976 | Bangaru Manishi | Geetha | |
| 1977 | Eetharam Manishi | Meera | |
| 1978 | Panthulamma | Sharada | Nandi Award For Best Actress |
| 1978 | Mallepoovu | ||
| 1981 | Bhavi Powrulu | ||
| 1981 | Pandanti Jeevitham | ||
| 1981 | Chattaniki Kallu Levu | Inspector Durga | |
| 1982 | Raaga Deepam | Gowri | |
| 1982 | Korukunna Mogudu | ||
| 1982 | Bandhalu Anubandhalu | ||
| 1982 | Prema Murthulu | ||
| 1983 | Mugguru Monagallu | ||
| 1983 | Poratham | ||
| 1986 | Sravana Megalu | Filmfare Award for Best Telugu Actress | |
| 1986 | Brahma Rudrulu | Sujatha | |
| 1986 | Ravana Brahma | Geeta | |
| 1987 | Ananda Thandavam | ||
| 1990 | Ghatana | ||
| 1992 | Pranadaata | Kamala | |
| 1992 | Public Rowdy | ||
| 1992 | Doshi | ||
| 1993 | Paruva Prathishta | Parvathi | |
| 1993 | Nippu Ravva | SP | |
| 1993 | Repati Rowdy | ||
| 1994 | Andaru Andare | ||
| 1994 | O Thandri O Koduku | ||
| 1995 | Alluda Majaka | Vasundhara | |
| 1995 | Madhya Taragathi Maha Bharatham | ||
| 1996 | Ninne Pelladata | Mahalakshmi | |
| 1997 | Abbai Gari Pelli | ||
| 1997 | Aaro Pranam | ||
| 1997 | Super Heroes | ||
| 1997 | Priya O Priya | Vasundhara | |
| 1997 | Muddula Mogudu | Shakunthala Devi | |
| 1998 | Premante Idera | Murali's mother | |
| 1998 | Pelli Kanuka | Ganga | |
| 1999 | Bobbili Vamsham | ||
| 2001 | Murari | Gopakka | Nandi Award for best character actress |
| 2001 | Preminchu | Kousalya | |
| 2001 | Chiranjeevulu | ||
| 2002 | Lahiri Lahiri Lahirilo | Achchamamba | |
| 2002 | Prudhvi Narayana | Laxmi | |
| 2004 | Sakhiya | Durga Devi | |
| 2008 | Chintakayala Ravi | Ravi's mom | |
| 2009 | Eenadu | Chief Secretary | |
| 2012 | Midhunam | Buchchi Lakshmi | |
| 2015 | Moodu Mukkallo Cheppalante | Malini | |
| 2019 | Oh! Baby | Savitri/Bebakka/Baby | |
| 2019 | Manmadhudu 2 | Sam's mother | |
| 2019 | Gang Leader | Saraswathi |
Hindi
TV Serials
- Adutha Veetu Kavithai
- Nallathor Veenai
TV shows
- Kannadada Kotyadhipati as Contestant
- Kadhai Alla Nijam reality show in Vijay tv
- Neena Naana as Host
- Champions as Judge