Nationality Indian Name M. Rajamma | Years active 1934–1985 Role Actress | |
Occupation Actress, film producer, playback singer Spouse B. R. Panthulu (m. ?–1974) Movies Yogi Vemana, Chinnada Gombe, Karnan, School Master, Gaali Gopura | ||
Kannada Old Songs 14 | Kitturu Channamma | Thanukaragadavaralli | M V Rajamma | P Susheela
M. V. Rajamma (Kannada: ಎಂ. ವಿ. ರಾಜಮ್ಮ; 10 March 1921 – 23 April 1999) was a prominent actress, producer and playback singer of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu from the 1930s through 1970s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwart South Indian actors such as Rajkumar, Sivaji Ganesan, MGR and NTR.
Contents
- Kannada Old Songs 14 Kitturu Channamma Thanukaragadavaralli M V Rajamma P Susheela
- Kannada Old Songs 8 Kitturu Channamma Kolu Thudiya Kodagananthe M V Rajamma S Janaki
- Early life
- Career
- Songs
- Filmography
- References
Making her debut as a lead actress in the 1936 released Samsara Nauka Rajamma enjoyed an elaborate career in feature films across South India. Rajamma also holds the distinction of being the first and foremost woman producer in India and in Kannada films. She produced the film Radha Ramana in 1943 under her own home banner Vijaya Films. Her entry to the Tamil films was through the 1940 classic hit film Uthama Puthiran. She went on to star in about 60 Kannada, 80 Tamil, 20 Telugu and one Hindi films in her career spanning around four decades.
Kannada Old Songs 8 | Kitturu Channamma | Kolu Thudiya Kodagananthe | M V Rajamma | S Janaki
Early life
Rajamma was born in 1923 at Agandanahalli in Bangalore rural district. She did her schooling at the Arya Balika school in Bangalore till the 8th grade. After her 8th, she was attracted towards the theatre and stage plays. She joined the Chandrakala theatre group and shifted base to Chennai for doing films.
Career
In the early 1930s, Rajamma was attracted to the stage theatre and entered the field at a time when male actors disguised themselves to play female characters. Rajamma enacted several inspiring roles in dramas such as Samsara Nauke, Gauthama Buddha and Subhadra. In 1935, when one of her stage plays Samsara Nauke was made into a film, she was cast again as the lead actress opposite to B. R. Panthulu. They went on to work together in many films for about 20 years. In 1940, she entered Tamil film industry in Chennai with the film Uthama Puthiran. From then on, she became one of the most sought after actresses across all the South Indian film industries. After her marriage, she concentrated mainly on playing motherly roles to the actors whom she had paired as a heroine earlier.
In 1943, Rajamma took her career to another level by producing the Kannada film Radha Ramana directed by Jyothish Sinha that featured herself opposite B. R. Panthulu in the lead. Acclaimed artists such as Balakrishna and G. V. Iyer were introduced through this film. It went on to perform well at the box-office which resulted in her second production venture Makkala Rajya (1960). Though the film was lauded by the critics, the box-office collections soared which made her back off from film production for a long while. However, she went on to star in many box-office blockbusters in both Kannada and Tamil film industries.
Some of the most popular Kannada films featuring Rajamma as a lead actress were Bhakta Prahalada (1942), Rathnagiri Rahasya (1957), School Master (1958), Abba Aa Hudugi (1959) among others.
Songs
Maranathai Eni
Kangal Engey
En Uyir Tholi
Manjal Mugam
Kannuku Kulam Yedu
Poi Vaa Magale
Aayiram Karangal Neeti
Vetri Meethu Vetri Vanthu
Malai Kodukum
Ulathil Nala Ullam
Silar Siripar Silar Azhuvar
Paal Irukkum Pazham Irrukkum
Vandha Naal Mudhal
Nilavum Malarum
Aanandham Pudhu Aanandham
Amudhai Pozhiyum Nilave
Haayada Ee Vele
Ennakoduppan
Adatha Ullagal
Mannavar Porulkalai
Kaapadu Sri Satyanarayana
Veeradhi Veeran Sooraadhi Sooran
Thangapathakathen
Kaattu Raajaa Aiyaa Kaattu Raajaa
Krishna Murari
Kannanchina Ee Mathali
Arul Purivaayo Jagannaadhaa
Ada Arumugam
Malargal Sutti
Ennai Paaraai En Kannai Paaraai
Kalyana Vaibogam Kondaaduvom
Iga Logame Inidhaagume