Bharathi Vishnuvardhan

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Bharathi Vishnuvardhan
Born
Bharathidevi Rao

(1950-08-15) 15 August 1950 (age 73)
Bhadravati, Karnataka
OccupationActress
Years active1966–present
Spouse(s)
​
(
m. 1975; died 2009)
Children2
AwardsPadma Shri (2017)

Bharathi Vishnuvardhan (born 15 August 1950),[1] also known mononymously as Bharathi, is an Indian actress known primarily for her work in Kannada cinema and television serials. She began her career in 1966, as a lead actress, with the Kannada movie Love in Bangalore. In a career spanning over 50 years, Bharathi has appeared in 150 films. Apart from 100 films in Kannada, she has also acted in a handful of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. In the course of her career, she became known for portrayal of the roles mythological and historical characters, and also that of a student, a romantic and a rural belle.[1] Her role in Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970) as Chennambike won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress. In 2017, she was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.[2]

Personal life[edit]

Bharathi was born into a Marathi-speaking family in Bhadravathi on 15 August 1950 in the erstwhile Indian state of Mysore (now Karnataka).[1] Her father V. M. Ramachandra Rao was a tailor and mother Bhadravathi Bai was a homemaker. Bharathi studied at Malleswaram Ladies Association (M.L.A) High School and then joined Maharani's Women's Science College in Bengaluru.[3] While she was active in both sports and dance, her ambition at the time was to become a basketball player or an athlete. She even represented Karnataka State Level Throw-ball team during her college days. Destiny willed otherwise. In 1964, photos of her dance performance caught the eye of Kannada actor Kalyan Kumar, who cast her in Love in Bangalore.

Bharathi married actor Dr. Vishnuvardhan on 27 February 1975 in Bengaluru. They have adopted two daughters: Keerthi and Chandana. Dr. Vishnuvardhan died on 30 December 2009, aged 59 from cardiac arrest.[4]

Career[edit]

Her first Kannada release was Dudde Doddappa followed by Love in Bangalore. Her sensitive portrayal of a singer in Sandhya Raga won her critical acclaim and she went on to form a successful romantic pair with Rajkumar. The iconic pair went on to give hit after hit until 1972, very significant among them are Sri Krishnadevaraya, Bangaaradha Manushya and Mayor Muthanna. She formed a popular pair with Vishnuvardhan (who then became her husband) and they starred in blockbusters like Bhagya Jyothi, Makkala Bhagya, Devara Gudi, Nagara Hole and Bangarada Jinke.

Bharathi was introduced to Hindi cinema by director A. Bhimsingh with Mehrban (1967) and Saadhu Aur Shaitaan (1968). She acted in several Hindi films like Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani opposite Rakesh Roshan, Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim and Hum Tum Aur Woh with Vinod Khanna, Mastana and Mehmood's Kunwaara Baap (1974).

In Tamil she played supporting roles in the 1966 films Nadodi and Chandhrodhayam and graduated to lead heroine roles with Deiva Cheyal, Avalukendru Oru Manam and Thanga Surangam opposite stars like Muthuraman, Gemini Ganeshan, Shivaji Ganeshan and M. G. Ramachandran.

After a brief hiatus from the movies she returned to the Kannada screen in 1984 with Puttanna Kanagal's much acclaimed Runamukthalu and started her second innings as a lead heroine in slightly more mature roles, going on to star in several movies each with lead actors of the time - Anant Nag (Maneye Manthralaya, Shanthi Nivasa) Prabhakar (Bandha Mukta), (Thaliya Aane), Ambareesh (Matsara) and Rajesh (Tavaru Mane). She also starred in several Hindi films in her second innings - Prabhat Khanna's Uttar Dakshin (1987), Izzatdaar (1990 with Dilip Kumar), Khel and Aao Pyaar Karen.

She acted in the Kannada Doordarshan serial Janani in the late 90s. In 2012, she appeared as a strict, no-nonsense sessions court judge in T.N. Seetharam's Kannada daily serial Mukta-Mukta.

Bharathi has acted in Telugu movies like Jai Jawan (1970), Govula Gopanna (1968) and Sipayi Chinnayya with Akkineni Nageswara Rao and various Malayalam films with many leading actors, mainly in character roles.

Apart from acting, Bharathi has also been a singer and associate director in the film industry, singing a duet with T.M. Soundarrajan, a Tamil song "Thanga Nilave Nee Illamal" picturised on her and Gemini Ganesan. She sang a Kannada song "Ee Notake Mai Matake" with her husband Vishnuvardhan for the movie Nagara Hole. She worked as associate director with K. S. L. Swamy for the movies Karune Illada Kanoonu, Huli Hejje and the classic Malaya Marutha.

Filmography[edit]

Below is a partial list of her films.[5]

Year Film Language Role Director Notes
1966 Love in Bangalore Kannada Kalyan Kumar
1966 Dudde Doddappa Kannada Kalpana B. R. Panthulu
1966 Emme Thammanna Kannada B. R. Panthulu
1966 Sandhya Raga Kannada S. K. Bhagavan
A.C. Narasimhamurthy
1966 Madhu Malathi Kannada Madhumalathi S. K. A. Chari
1966 Nadodi Tamil Meena Dharmalingam B. R. Panthulu Debut in Tamil
1966 Chandhrodhayam Tamil Kamala K. Shankar
1966 Enga Pappa Tamil B. R. Panthulu
1966 Namma Veettu Lakshmi Tamil B. R. Panthulu
1967 Beedhi Basavanna Kannada Vijaya B. R. Panthulu
1967 Rajashekara Kannada Mangala G. V. Iyer
1967 Thanga Thambi Tamil Parvathi Francis Ramanath
1967 Rajadurgada Rahasya Kannada Mangala A.C. Narasimhamurthy
1967 Mehrban Hindi Geeta Shanti Swarup A. Bhimsingh
1967 Deiva Cheyal Tamil M. G. Balu
1967 Valiba Virundhu Tamil Murasoli Maran
1967 Naan Yaar Theriyuma Tamil V.N.Ramanan
1967 Aggi Dora Telugu B. Vittalacharya
1967 Gange Gowri Kannada Gange B. R. Panthulu
1967 Pattukunte Padivelu Telugu M. Mallikarjuna Rao
1968 Uyarndha Manithan Tamil Gowri Krishnan–Panju
1968 Sadhu Aur Shaitaan Hindi Vidya Shastri/Chuniya A. Bhimsingh
1968 Amma Kannada Mala B. R. Panthulu
1968 Mana Samsaram Telugu C. S. Rao
1968 Ninne Pelladuta Telugu B. V. Srinivas
1968 Nimirindhu Nil Tamil Devan
1968 Kalisina Manasulu Telugu Kamalakar Kameswara Rao
1968 Manassakshi Kannada S. K. A. Chari
1968 Bangaru Gaajulu Telugu C. S. Rao
1968 Govula Gopanna Telugu C. S. Rao
1968 Poovum Pottum Tamil Dada Mirasi
1968 Nane Bhagyavathi Kannada T. V. Singh Thakur
1968 Lakshmi Nivasam Telugu V. Madhusudana Rao
1969 Nangu Killadigal Tamil L. Balu
1969 Mayor Muthanna Kannada Siddalingaiah
1969 Ardha Rathri Telugu P. Sambasiva Rao
1969 Gandondu Hennaru Kannada Veena B. R. Panthulu
1969 Thanga Surangam Tamil Amutha T. R. Ramanna
1969 Shiva Bhaktha Kannada K. V. Srinivas
1969 Padicha Kallan Malayalam M. Krishnan Nair
1969 Sipayi Chinnayya Telugu Shobha G. V. Sheshagiri Rao
1969 Chaduranga Kannada N. C. Rajan
1969 Nil Gavani Kadhali Tamil C. V. Rajendran
1969 Gruhalakshmi Kannada Vijaya Satyam
1970 Jai Jawan Telugu D.Yoganand
1970 Aliya Geleya Kannada B. R. Panthulu
1970 Akhandudu Telugu V. Ramachandra Rao
1970 Baalu Belagithu Kannada Lakshmi Siddalingaiah
1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Kannada Chinna B. R. Panthulu Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
1970 Purab Aur Paschim Hindi Gopi Manoj Kumar
1970 Hasiru Thorana Kannada Meena T. V. Singh Thakur
1970 Snehithi Tamil G. Ramakrishnan
1970 Bhale Jodi Kannada Sunitha Y. R. Swamy
1970 Mastana Hindi Sharada Adurthi Subba Rao
1970 Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Hindi Seema T. Prakash Rao
1970 Rangamahal Rahasya Kannada Vijay
1971 Avalukendru Oru Manam Tamil C. V. Sridhar
1971 Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama Kannada Sathyabhama K. S. L. Swamy
1971 Duniya Kya Jane Hindi C. V. Sridhar
1971 Kula Gourava Kannada Radha Peketi Sivaram
1971 Thayi Devaru Kannada Siddalingaiah
1971 Seema Hindi Surendra Mohan
1971 Hum Tum Aur Woh Hindi Aarti Shiv Kumar
1971 Andam Kosam Pandem Telugu A.Sheshagiri Rao
1971 Namma Samsara Kannada Siddalingaiah
1971 Meendum Vazhven Tamil T. N. Balu
1970 Andariki Monagadu Telugu M. Mallikarjuna Rao
1971 Naa Thammudu Telugu K. S. Prakash Rao
1972 Janma Rahasya Kannada S. P. N. Krishna
1972 Jeevana Jokali Kannada Geetapriya
1972 Jaga Mecchida Maga Kannada Hunsur Krishnamurthy
1972 Hrudaya Sangama Kannada Belli/Chandra Rashi Brothers
1972 Annamitta Kai Tamil Doctor Kalpana
1972 Bangaaradha Manushya Kannada Lakshmi Siddalingaiah
1972 Aankh Micholi Hindi Ramanna
1972 Unakkum Enakkum Tamil N. S. Maniam
1972 Sub Ka Saathi Hindi A. Bhimsingh
1972 Chitti Thalli Telugu
1973 Bidugade Kannada Y. R. Swamy
1973 Swayamvara Kannada Y. R. Swamy
1973 Doorada Betta Kannada Siddalingaiah
1973 Ponvandu Tamil N. S. Maniam
1973 Neramu Siksha Telugu K. Viswanath
1974 Mugguru Ammayilu Telugu Kotayya Pratyagatma
1974 Anna Attige Kannada M. R. Vittal
1974 Onde Roopa Eradu Guna Kannada A. M. Sameevulla In song "O Udala Sarala"
1974 Kunwara Baap Hindi Radha Mehmood
1974 Thulasi Telugu K. Babu Rao
1974 Amma Manasu Telugu K. Viswanath
1974 Anaganaga Oka Thandri Telugu C. S. Rao
1974 Adapillala Thandri Telugu K. Vasu
1974 Harathi Telugu P. Lakshmi Deepak
1975 Devara Gudi Kannada Suchitra R. Ramamurthy
1975 Kaveri Kannada H. N. Reddy
1975 Kotha Kapuram Telugu P. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975 Bhagya Jyothi Kannada K. S. L. Swamy
1975 Saubhagyavathi Telugu P. Chandrasekhara Reddy
1975 Puttinti Gowravam Telugu P. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975 Pandanti Samsaram Telugu P. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975 Kathanayakuni Katha Telugu D. Yoganand
1976 Makkala Bhagya Kannada K. S. L. Swamy
1975 Pellade Bomma Telugu Chakravarthy
1976 Vadhu Varulu Telugu N.D. Vijayababu
1977 Devare Dikku Kannada
1977 Manassakshi Telugu P. Sambasiva Rao
1977 Nee Vazha Vendum Tamil A. Bhimsingh
1977 Nagara Hole Kannada Madhu
1978 Madhura Sangama Kannada Lalithambe in play T. P. Venugopal Cameo appearance
1978 Prathima Kannada
1978 Sandharbha Kannada
1979 Manini Kannada K. S. Sethumadhavan
1980 Chitrakoota Kannada Gowri Sundar
1980 Rahasya Rathri Kannada M. S. Kumar
1980 Bangarada Jinke Kannada T. S. Nagabharana
1982 Pedda Gedda Kannada Cameo
1984 Runamukthalu Kannada Goda Puttana Kanagal
1986 Tavaru Mane Kannada
1986 Maneye Manthralaya Kannada
1986 Namma Oora Devathe Kannada
1986 Ella Hengasarinda Kannada
1986 Uppu Malayalam Khadeeja
1986 Padikkatha Padam Tamil Bharath
1987 Uttar Dakshin Hindi Prabhat Khanna
1987 Bandha Mukta Kannada
1987 Thaliya Aane Kannada
1988 Shanthi Nivasa Kannada
1988 Mutthinantha Manushya Kannada
1989 Yuddha Kaanda Kannada K. V. Raju
1990 Matsara Kannada Bhavana K. V. Jayaram
1990 Izzatdaar Hindi Sujatha K. Bapayya
1990 Bannada Gejje Kannada Vyjayanthi Rajendra Singh Babu
1990 Prema Yuddham Telugu Vyjayanthi Rajendra Singh Babu
1990 Urudhi Mozhi Tamil R. V. Udayakumar
1991 Sandhwanam Malayalam
1992 Khel Hindi Kamini/Sharda Rakesh Roshan
1993 Devaasuram Malayalam Neelakandan's mother
1994 Aao Pyaar Karen Hindi Anjali
1994 Sarigamalu Telugu
1995 Dore Kannada
1995 Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu Malayalam Parvathi
1996 Katta Panchayathu Tamil Karthik's Mother
1996 Kaadhale Nimmadhi Tamil Kavitha's Mother
1997 Varnapakittu Malayalam Sunny's mother I. V. Sasi
1997 Oru Yathramozhi Malayalam Govindankutty's mother
1998 Nakshatratharattu Malayalam Sreedevi
1998 Sundara Pandian Tamil Pandian's mother
2000 Narasimham Malayalam Induchoodan's mother Shaji Kailas
2001 Karumadikkuttan Malayalam Bharathi
2002 Mazhathullikilukkam Malayalam Alice John
2003 Preethi Prema Pranaya Kannada Sharadha Devi Kavitha Lankesh
2005 Maharaja Kannada Annapoorna Sai Prakash
2006 Kallarali Hoovagi Kannada Neelamma T. S. Nagabharana
2006 Photographer Malayalam Dijo's & Joy's mother
2006 Tananam Tananam Kannada Shastry's wife Kavitha Lankesh
2009 Raaj - The Showman Kannada Herself Prem
2012 Crazy Loka Kannada Kavitha Lankesh
2012 Kanneerinum Madhuram Malayalam Vijayakumari
2016 Doddmane Hudga Kannada Doddmane Rajeeva's sister Duniya Soori
2017 Ambar Caterers[6] Tulu Jai Prasad
2018 Raja Simha Kannada Ravi Ram
2018 Edakallu Guddada Mele Kannada
2019 Kurukshetra Kannada Kunti Naganna

Television[edit]

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Bharathi Vishnuvardhan: Shining on the silver screen for five decades". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Padma Awards 2017" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.[permanent dead link]
  3. ↑ "Bharathi: Parents made me understand ways of the world". Deccan Herald. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Karnataka mourns Vishnuvardhan's death". 31 December 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Bharathi, IMDb, retrieved 15 January 2008
  6. ↑ http://www.tulucinema.com/kannada-actor-bharathi-vishnuvardhan-act-tulu-film-titled-ambar-caterers/
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ↑ http://lyricsraaga.com/articles/list-kannad-film-artists-honorary-doctorate-degree/

External links[edit]

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