Pandari Bai


Pandari Bai was an actress of South Indian languages films, mostly in Kannada language during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She is considered Kannada cinema's first successful heroine. She has acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Rajkumar, MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. She was the heroine in Rajkumar's debut movie Bedara Kannappa and also Sivaji's debut movie Parasakthi. She has acted in over 1,000 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. in 1991, she was honoured by a Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu government.

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 appeared in the 1954 Kannada film Bedara Kannappa opposite Rajkumar. In the film, she played Neela, wife of Kanna, 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 and Rayara Sose. In 1959, she appeared in Abba Aa Hudugi, with her sister Mynavathi. The film is considered a landmark in Kannada cinema.
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.

Filmography

YearTitle of the filmLanguageRole
1943VaniKannada
1944HaridasTamil
1947Bhakta Gora Kumbhara
1948Vedhala UlagamTamilKali Devi
1949BaharHindiMalti
1950Raja Vikrama
1951Ek Tha Raja
1951MarmayogiTamil
1952ParasakthiTamilVimala
1953GumastaTelugu
1953GumasthaTamilSusheela
1953Gunasagari
1953PardesiSusheela
1953PoongothaiSusheela
1953Thirumbi PaarTamilPoomalai
1953KangalTamil
1954Andha NaalTamilUsha, wife of Rajan
1954Bedara KannappaKannadaNeela, wife of Kanna
1954Manohara
1954NallakalamTamil
1955Sodari
1955Bhakta Mallikarjuna
1955Sant Sakhu
1955Chella PillaiTamilAnjalai
1955VadinaTelugu
1955Shiv BhaktaHindi
1956Bhakta Vijaya
1956Hari Bhakta
1956Kula Dheivam
1956Renuka Mahatme
1957BhabhiHindiShanta
1957Rayaran Sose
1957Sati Nalayini
1958Anbu EngeyTamilAmudha
1958Maalaiyitta MangaiTamilSarasu
1958Annaiyin AanaiTamilGowri
1958Panchayat
1959Alli Petra PullaiTamil
1959Aval Yaar
1959Chand
1959Abba Aa Hudugi
1959Engal Kula Daivi
1959Grihalakshmi
1959Naalu Veli Neelam
1959Nattukoru Nallavan
1959PaighamHindiParvati Ratan Lal
1959Paththarai Maathu Thangam
1959Uthami Petra RathinamTamil
1960Anbukkor Anni
1960Bhakta Shabari
1960Irumbu ThiraiTamil
1960Ivan Avanethan
1960Kuravanji
1960Paavai Vilakku
1960Raja BhaktiTamilPrincess Devasena
1960Thanthaikupin Thamayan
1964Thaayin MadiyilTamilParvathi
1964Dheiva ThaaiTamil
1964AnnapoornaKannadaAnnapoorna
1965Satya HarishchandraKannadaChandramathi, wife of Raja Harishchandra
1965Enga Veettu PillaiTamilSusila
1965C.I.D.TeluguParvathi
1965NeeTamil
1966ChandhrodhayamTamilLakshmi
1966Motor Sundaram PillaiTamil
1967Selva MagalTamilParvathi
1967KaavalkaaranTamil
1968JeevanaamsamTamilMeenakshi
1968En ThambiTamilMeenakshi
1968Kudiyirundha KoyilTamil
1968Pudhiya BhoomiTamil
1969AnbalippuTamil
1969AdimaippennTamilAbirami Mangamma
1969Nam NaaduTamil
1969Deiva MaganTamilParvathi
1970Nadu IravilTamilPonni
1971Iru ThuruvamTamilAnnapoorani
1971Oru Thaai MakkalTamilParvathi
1971SabathamTamilLakshmi
1972RajaTamilParvathi
1972ThavaputhalavanTamilRajalakshmi
1972Annamitta KaiTamil
1972Vasantha MaligaiTamilLatha Mother
1973GowravamTamilChellamma
1974ThirumangalyamTamil
1974ThaaipiranthalTamil
1974Bangaarada PanjaraKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1975Dr. SivaTamil
1975IdhayakkaniTamil
1975Pallandu VazhgaTamil
1976UthamanTamil
1976Uzhaikkum KarangalTamil
1977Avan Oru SarithiramTamilLakshmi
1977Indru Pol Endrum VaazhgaTamil
1979Naan VazhavaippenTamilRavi Mother
1982Chalisuva ModagaluKannadaMother of Ambika
1984VetriTamil
1984Apoorva SangamaKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1985Pudhu YugamTamil
1986Anuraga AralithuKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1987Shruthi SeridaagaKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1992MannanTamilMother of Rajinikanth
1992Jeevana ChaitraKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1993AakasmikaKannadaMother of Rajkumar
1994Jai HindTamilAnnai Maria Devi

taher in 2019