Kanchana (actress)

2021-06-12T10:01:36Z

2405:201:C015:7A3C:1DF2:20DD:6836:4E09: /* Hindi */

{{short description|Indian actress}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kanchana
| image =
| caption =
| birthname = Vasundhara Devi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|08|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Karavadi]], [[Prakasam district|Prakasam]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| parents =
| relatives =
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 1957–1988; 2017
}}

'''Vasundhara Devi''' (born 16 August 1939), known by her stage name '''Kanchana''', is an Indian actress who worked in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Kannada]] films, in addition to [[Malayalam]] and [[Hindi]] films.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article849193.ece</ref><ref>http://www.malayalachalachithram.com/profiles.php?i=5584</ref>

==Early life==
She was born as Vasundhra Devi in a wealthy family from [[Andhra Pradesh]]. She learnt [[Bharata Natyam]] and Music.

==Career==
Her father suffered business losses, and she went to work as an [[air hostess]] to support her family, when she was discovered by a friend of film director [[C. V. Sridhar]] on a plane where he was a passenger, who later suggested her to him.{{cn|date=February 2021}} Sridhar gave her the lead role in his film ''[[Kaadhalikka Neramillai]]'' in 1963 and changed her name to Kanchana, since there was already another actress named [[Vasundhara Devi]], mother of actress [[Vyjayanthimala]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/nothing-is-permanent/article3790964.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Y. Sunita | last=Chowdhary | title='Nothing is permanent' | date=18 August 2012}}</ref> Kanchana acted in over 150 films – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, with a successful acting career.

She had a very successful career in Tamil films especially between 1964 and 1977 as lead heroine. Her critically acclaimed films include ''[[Kaadhalikka Neramillai]]'', ''Thedi Vantha Thirumagal'', ''[[Parakkum Paavai]]'', ''[[Kodimalar]]'', ''[[Adhey Kangal]]'', ''[[Bama Vijayam (1967 film)|Bama Vijayam]]'', ''Naalum Therindavan'', ''[[Thangai]]'', ''Thulabaram'', ''Ponnu Mappilai'', ''[[Shanti Nilayam]]'', ''Chella Penn'', ''Uthiravindri Ulle Vaa'', ''Vilaiyaattu Pillai'', ''Sivanda Mann'', ''Nyayam Ketkirom'', ''Avalukendru Oru Manam'', and ''Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum''. She retired from films in the early 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |title= Star then, a stoic now |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/10/stories/2006031002950300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625131437/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/03/10/stories/2006031002950300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 June 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=10 March 2006 |access-date=13 March 2008 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In 2005, she was presented with the [[M. G. Ramachandran|MGR]] award and in 2007 the [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao|ANR]] Swarna Kankanam award.<ref name="hindu2007">{{cite news |title=Yesteryear diva looks back |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/27/stories/2007092761160600.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030084040/http://www.hindu.com/2007/09/27/stories/2007092761160600.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 October 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 September 2007 |access-date=13 March 2008 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name="TNIE">{{cite news |title= Yesteryear heroine wins property, donates to TTD|url= http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article294827.ece?service=print |work= The New Indian Express |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=23 November 2014 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

In Tamil, her pairing with [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]] was the most famous with all their films - Adhey Kangal, Kadhalikka Neram Illai, Utharavindri Ullevaa, Kadhal Jyoti, Thedivandha Thirumagal and Naalum Therindavan being hits. She acted in some films with [[R. Muthuraman]] including ''[[Kaadhalikka Neramillai]]'', ''[[Kodimalar]]'', ''[[Thulabharam]]'' (Tamil version), ''[[Thangai]]'', ''[[Bama Vijayam (1967 film)|Bama Vijayam]]'' and ''[[Avalukendru Oru Manam]]''. She also acted with [[Sivaji Ganesan]] in ''[[Sivandha Mann]]'', which was a blockbuster hit along with ''[[Vilayattu Pillai]]'' and ''[[Avan Oru Sarithiram]]''. She did two films with [[MGR]] - ''[[Naan Yen Pirandhen]]'' and ''[[Parakkum Paavai]]'' as the second lead heroine of the film. Apart from that, she was paired with many Tamil heroes like [[A. V. M. Rajan]], [[S. S. Rajendran]], [[Gemini Ganesan]] , [[Jaishankar]], [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]] and [[Sivakumar]] in Tamil. Her last film as lead heroine in Tamil was [[Avan Oru Sarithiram]] in and Babruvahana in Kannada, both in 1977.

Her performances in the movies ''Pavitra Bandham'', ''Manchivaadu'' were well appreciated and recognised.<ref>[http://www.idlebrain.com/research/untold/untold_kanchana.html Idle Brain]. Idle Brain. Retrieved on 9 June 2012.</ref> She played [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] in the film ''[[Veerabhimanyu]]''. The following year she acted in the Annapurna Pictures' film ''[[Aatma Gowravam]]'' with veteran director [[K. Viswanath]].

She acted with [[Krishnam Raju]] in some glamorous roles in ''Neeti Nijayitee'' (1972), ''[[Parivartana (1975 film)|Parivartana]] (1975)'', ''Nenante Nene'' and ''[[Dharma Daata]]'' in addition to ''[[Shri Krishnavataram]]'' (1967).

After her retirement as a heroine, she acted in supporting roles acted in films such as ''[[Ananda Bhairavi]]'', ''[[Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra]]'', ''[[Jhonny (1980 film)|Johnny]]'' and ''[[Mouna Ragam]]''.

Kanchana appeared in OLX commercial (Tamil/Telugu) in 2015.{{cn|date=February 2021}} She made her comeback to films with [[Arjun Reddy]] in 2017 as the titular character's grandmother.{{cn|date=February 2021}}

==Personal life==
The actress later won back her properties in T. Nagar, Chennai of around 6 grounds, with the Court ruling against her parents. It was learnt that one day her father took signature of Kanchana on a white paper and without her knowledge converted total assets on his name. After a long legal battle she won and regained her wealth.{{cn|date=February 2021}}

Kanchana along with her sister Girija donated their property in Chennai worth then around Rs. 15 crore to [[Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams]] (TTD) on 25 October 2010.<ref name="Zee News">{{cite news |title=TTD not to sell land donated by yesteryear actress |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/ttd-not-to-sell-land-donated-by-yesteryear-actress_666270.html|work= Zee News |date=6 November 2010 |access-date=23 November 2014 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref name="IBN Live">{{cite news |title= Yesteryears dream girl has a dream today - IBNLive|url= http://ibnlive.in.com/news/yesteryears-dream-girl-has-a-dream-today/233460-60-120.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20141123152540/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/yesteryears-dream-girl-has-a-dream-today/233460-60-120.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 23 November 2014|work= IBN Live |date=26 February 2012 |access-date=23 November 2014 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Tamil===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Movies !! Role !! Note
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam]]'' || Naaga Kanni||Credited as ''"Vasundhara"''
|-
| 1964 || ''[[Kaadhalikka Neramillai]]'' || Kanchana || Debut film
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Veera Abhimanyu]]'' || [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttara]] ||
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Motor Sundaram Pillai]]'' || Kamala ||
|-
| 1966 || ''Thedi Vantha Thirumagal'' || Susheela ||
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Parakkum Paavai]]'' || Shantha ||
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Kodimalar]]'' || Parvathi ||
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Marakka Mudiyumaa?]]'' || ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Adhey Kangal]]'' ||Susheela ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Bama Vijayam (1967 film)|Bama Vijayam]]'' || Seetha ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Thangai]]'' || Lalitha ||
|-
| 1968|| ''Naalum Therindhvan'' || Mala ||
|-
| 1969 || ''Chella Penn''|| ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Ponnu Mappillai]]''|| Bhuvana ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Shanti Nilayam]]''|| Malathi ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Thulabaram]]'' || Vatsala ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Sivandha Mann]]'' || Chitralekha ||
|-
| 1970 || ''Noorandu Kaalam Vazgha'' || Leela ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Vilaiyaattu Pillai]]''|| Indu ||
|-
| 1970 || ''Kadhal Jothi'' || Dr. Suguna ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Avalukendru Oru Manam]]'' || Meena ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa]]'' || Janaki ||
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Naan Yen Pirandhen]]'' || Radha ||
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Nyayam Ketkirom]]'' || ||
|-
| 1975 || ''Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum'' || ||
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Avan Oru Sarithiram]]'' || Kalpana ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Ninaivil Oru Malar'' || ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Neethiyaa Nyayamaa''|| ||
|-
| 1979 || ''Jaya Nee Jayichutte''|| ||
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Jhonny (1980 film)|Johnny]]''|| Johnny's mother ||
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Lorry Driver Rajakannu]]'' || Ramu’s wife ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Pagadai Panirendu]]'' || Anand's mother ||
|-
| 1985 || ''Kattukkulle Thiruvizha'' || ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Mouna Ragam|Mouna Raagam]]'' || Lawyer ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Kulirkaala Megangal]]'' || Maheswari ||
|-
| 1987 || ''Naanum Neeyum'' || ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Kizhakku Africavil Sheela]]'' || Kumudha ||
|-
|}

===Telugu===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Movie !! Role
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Suvarna Sundari]]'' || Naaga Kanya
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Aatma Gowravam]]'' || Savitri/Sarala
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Preminchi Choodu]]'' ||Kanchanamala
|-
| 1965 || ''[[Veerabhimanyu]]'' || [[Uttarā (Mahabharata)|Uttara]]
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Navarathri (1966 film)|Navarathri]]'' ||Patient (cameo appearance)
|-
| 1966 || ''[[Dr. Anand]]'' ||Vijaya
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Ave Kallu]]'' || Susheela
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Prana Mithrulu]]'' ||Padmavathi
|-
| 1967 || ''Kanchukota'' ||
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Private Master]]'' || Sundari
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Shri Krishnavataram]]'' ||Sathyabhama
|-
| 1967 || ''Marapurani Katha'' ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Manchi Kutumbam]]'' ||Sharadha
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Bandhipotu Dongalu]]'' || Malli
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Nenante Nene]]'' ||Geetha
|-
| 1968 || ''Deva Kanya'' ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Veeranjaneya]]'' ||[[Sulochana (Ramayana)|Sulochana]]
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Thalli Prema]]'' ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Kalisochina Adrushtam]]'' ||Sobha
|-
| 1968 || ''Vintha Kapuram'' ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Bhale Mastaru]]'' || Vijaya
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Manushulu Marali]]'' ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Saptaswaralu]]'' ||
|-
| 1969 || ''[[Natakala Rayudu]]'' || Geetha Devi
|-
| 1969 || ''Jarigina Katha'' ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Dharma Daata]]'' || Padma
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Kalyana Mandapam]]'' ||Devadasi
|-
| 1971 || ''Pavitra Bandham'' ||
|-
| 1971 || ''Amayakuralu'' ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Rangeli Raja]]'' || Vijaya
|-
|1971 || ''Andam Kosam Pandem'' || Malathi
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Raitu Kutumbam]]'' || Radha
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Manchi Rojulu Vachchaayi]]'' ||Geetha
|-
| 1972 || ''Vamsodharakudu'' ||
|-
| 1973 || ''Pedda Koduku'' ||
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Bhakta Tukaram]]'' ||Bahina bai
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Devudu Chesina Manushulu]]'' ||Geetha
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Manchivadu]]'' || Lalitha
|-
| 1973 || ''Talli Kodukulu'' ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Tatamma Kala]]'' || Seetha
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Maya Maschindra (1975 film)| Maya Maschindra]]'' || Mohini
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Annadammula Anubandham]]'' || Geetha
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Mahakavi Kshetrayya]]'' ||
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Secretary (1976 film)| Secretary]]'' ||Rekha Rani
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Daana Veera Soora Karna]]'' ||[[Subhadra]]
|-
| 1977 || ''Indradhanusu'' ||
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Raja Ramesh]]'' ||Padmaja
|-
| 1979 || ''[[Driver Ramudu]]'' || Kalavathi
|-
| 1981 || ''Gadasari Attaha Sosagara Kodalu'' ||
|-
| 1983|| ''[[Ananda Bhairavi (film)|Anandha Bhairavi]]'' ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra]]'' ||govindamma
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Shri Datta Darshanam]]'' ||
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Arjun Reddy ]]'' ||Arjun's grandmother
|}

===Kannada===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Film !! Role
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Babruvahana (film)|Babruvahana]]'' || Uloochi
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Nanobba Kalla]]'' || Savitri
|-
| 1978 || ''[[Shankar Guru (1978 film)|Shankar Guru]]'' || Sumati
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Biligiriya Banadalli]]'' ||
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Aarada Gaaya]]'' ||
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Jeevakke Jeeva]]'' ||
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Bhagyavantha]]'' || wife of [[K. S. Ashwath]]
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Nyaya Ellide]]'' || mother of Shankar nag
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Pedda Gedda]]'' ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Prachanda Kulla]]'' || Rama's mother
|-
| 1983|| ''[[Ananda Bhairavi (film)|Anandha Bhairavi]]'' ||
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Bhakta Prahlada (1983 film)|Bhakta Prahlada]]'' || Mother of ''[[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]]''
|-
| 1984 || ''Maryade Mahalu'' ||
|-
| 1984 || ''Raktha Thilaka'' ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Bandhana]]'' ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Pralayanthaka]]'' ||
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Samayada Gombe]]'' || Mother of ''[[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]]''
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Veeradhi Veera]]'' ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Nanna Prathigne]]''||
|-
| 1985 || ''Chaduranga'' ||
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Bidugadeya Bedi]]'' ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Ratha Sapthami]]'' ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Madhuve Madu Tamashe Nodu]]'' ||
|-
| 1986 || ''Beegara Pandya'' ||
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Africadalli Sheela]]'' ||
|-
| 1987 || ''Vijayothsava'' ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Jayasimha (1987 film)|Jayasimha]]'' ||
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Chiranjeevi Sudhakar]]'' ||
|-
| 1988 || ''Dharma Pathni'' ||
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Devatha Manushya]]'' || Sister of ''[[Rajkumar (actor)|Rajkumar]]''
|}

===Malayalam===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Movie !! Role
|-
| 1964 ||''[[Atom Bomb (film)|Atom Bomb]]'' ||
|-
| 1973 ||''[[Azhakulla Saleena]]'' || Lucyamma
|-
| 1974 ||''[[Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree]]'' ||
|-
| 1977 ||''[[Ammaayi Amma]]'' ||
|-
| 1979 ||''[[Nithya Vasantham]]'' ||
|-
| 1979 ||''[[Rakthamillatha Manushyan]]''||
|-
| 1982 ||''[[Ina (film)|Ina]]'' || Aunty
|-
| 1984 ||''[[Sreekrishna Parunthu]]''|| Kumaran's mother
|-
| 1985 ||''[[Njaan Piranna Naattil]]'' |||Nandini
|}

===Hindi===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Movie !! Role !! Note
|-
| 1957 || ''[[Suvarna Sundari]] || Naag Kanya || Credited as ''"Vasundhra"''
|-
| 1967 || ''[[Farz (1967 film)|Farz]]'' || ||
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Teen Bahuraniyan]]'' || || Remake of Bhama Vijayam
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Samaj Ko Badal Dalo]]'' || || Remake of Thulabaaram
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Prem Nagar (1974 film)|Prem Nagar]]'' || Dancer || Remake of same name in Telugu
|}

==Awards==
* She was presented with the [[M. G. Ramachandran|MGR]] award in 2005.
*[[Akkineni Nageswara Rao|ANR]] Swarna Kankanam award in 2007.<ref name="hindu2007"/>
*[[Kalaimamani]] award for her distinguished services for Tamil Cinema by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2013
* [[Rajyotsava Prashasti|Karnataka Rajyotsava Award]] by [[Government of Karnataka|State Government Of Karnataka]] in 2017

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0437147}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kanchana}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema]]
[[Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema]]
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]
[[Category:Telugu actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Chennai]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian actresses]]

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Kanchana (actress)