Rushyendramani (1 January 1917 – 17 August 2002) was an Indian actress, singer, dancer, and playback singer from

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...

. She had more than 150 movies to her credit and acted in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films from the 1935 to 1986. Her notable films include '' Sri Seetarama Jananam'' (1944), '' Malliswari'' (1951), ''

Vipra Narayana ''Vipra Narayana'' is a 1954 Telugu-language biographical film directed, produced and edited by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under Bharani Studios banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi, and Relangi with music composed by S. Rajeswara R ...

'' (1954), '' Chintamani'' (1956). Her last film was '' Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam'' (1986).

Early life

She was born in

Vijayawada Vijayawada, formerly known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is a part of the state's Capital Region. It is the administrative headquarters of the NTR district. Its metropolitan region comprises NT ...

on 1 January 1917. A trained singer in both the Indian classical music traditions and a trained Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer, she started her career on stage at the age of seven. She donned the mantle of Krishna and Prahalada by the age of ten. Later she joined Lakshmi Vilasa Nataka Sabha of Kommuri Pattabhi Ramayya. She was trained under Kapilavai Ramanatha Sastry, Puvvula Ramatilakam and acted in the dramas ''Chintamani'' and ''Savitri''. She moved to the silver screen and acted as Satyabhama in ''Srikrishna Tulabaram'', produced by Rajarao Naidu in 1935. It was a commercial failure, but she won acclaim for her singing and acting prowess. She joined the Rajarajeswari Natya Mandali of

Kadaru Nagabhushanam Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam (1902 – 18 October 1976) was an Indian film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s, working in Telugu and Tamil cinema. He was the husband of P. Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari F ...

and

P. Kannamba Pasupuleti Kannamba (''Pasupulēţi Kannāṃba'') (5 October 1911 – 7 May 1968) was an Indian actress, playback singer and film producer of Telugu language, Telugu cinema, of Andhra Pradesh, India. She acted in more than 170 films and produce ...

and extensively toured entire Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, parts of Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. She earned accolades for her portrayal of Prabhavati in ''Rangoon Rowdi'' and Narada in ''Savitri''. Her popularity and acting prowess crowned her as the "Rayalaseema Rani". Married to Javvadi Ramakrishna Rao Naidu in 1939, an accomplished musician and composer who scored music to many stage plays, she accompanied him to Madras. Ramakrishna Rao worked as music director in the Tamil film ''Mathru Bhoomi''. As with many actors of that era, she was a great singer too. Her first film was ''Sri Krishna Tulabharam'' (1935), where she played the role of Satyabhama. She acted in ''Patni'' (1942) as

Kannagi Kannagi ( ta, கண்ணகி) sometimes spelled Kannaki, is a legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic '' Cilappatikaram''. Kannagi is described as the chaste woman who stays with her husband despite his unfa ...

based on the Tamil epic '' Shilappadikaram''. The Kovalan character was played by

K. S. Prakash Rao Kovelamudi Surya Prakash Rao (1914–1996) was an Indian film director, producer, actor and cinematographer known for his works in Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi films. In 1977 he won the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada for ''Ganda Hendt ...

. With the success of this film, she reached the pinnacle in the film world. She acted as Adilaxmi in ''Chenchu Lakshmi'', which was also successful. She was in ''Seeta Rama Jananam'' in 1944, followed by ''Malliswari'', ''Vipra Narayana'', ''Maya Bazar'', ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'', '' Aggi Ramudu'', ''Sri Krishna Satya'' and ''Panduranga Mahatyam'', and portrayed a variety of characters. With over 150 films in all the major South Indian languages and Hindi, she was awarded the title of "Madhura Gaana Saraswati" by the Raja of Karvetinagaram for her singing skills. She also acted with her granddaughter Bhavani in the 1974 Kannada film ''

Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu ''Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu'' () is 1974 Indian Kannada-language drama film directed by Siddalingaiah, who co-wrote the screenplay with Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, based on Iyengar's short story of the same name from his novel, ''Vayyari.'' The film st ...

'', where Bhavani won the best actress award and Rushyendrami won the award for the best supporting actor. She died on 17 August 2002 at Chennai. She was survived by two daughters and one son, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Filmography

# ''Srikrishna Thulabhaaram'' (1935) # '' Patni'' (1942) as Kannagi # ''

Seeta Rama Jananam ''Sri Seeta Rama Jananam'' () is a 1944 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramayya under the Pratibha Productions banner. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Tripurasundari, Vemuri Gaggai ...

'' (1942) (actor and playback singer) # ''Chenchu Lakshmi'' (1943) (actor and playback singer) # ''Dharmangada'' (1949) # '' Malliswari'' (1951) as Nagamma # ''

Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam ''Kalahasti Mahatyam'' is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language film directed by H. L. N. Simha starring Dr. Rajkumar. This is the only non-Kannada film starring Dr. Rajkumar. It is a musical hit film with some melodious Bhakti songs written by Tholet ...

'' (1954) # ''

Vipranarayana ''Vipra Narayana'' is a 1954 Telugu-language biographical film directed, produced and edited by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under Bharani Studios banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi, and Relangi with music composed by S. Rajeswar ...

'' (1954) # '' Aggi Ramudu'' (1954) # '' Mangalyam'' (1954) (Tamil) # ''

Guna Sundari ''Guna Sundari'' or ''Gunasundari'' is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language film starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. The film was remake of the 1949 Telugu film ''Gunasundari Katha''. It was not successful at the box office. Plot Ugra Senan is the k ...

'' (1955) # ''

Missamma ''Missamma'' () is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani on Vijaya Productions banner. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and ...

'' (1955) as Gopalam's wife # ''

Maya Bazaar ''Mayabazar'' () is a 1957 Indian epic Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner, Vijaya Productions. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, ...

'' (1957/I) as Subhadra (actor and playback singer) # ''

'' (1957/II) as Subhadra (actor and playback singer) # ''

Panduranga Mahatyam ''Panduranga Mahatyam'' () is a 1957 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, based on the life of Pundarika, produced by N. Trivikrama Rao under the National Art Theatres banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Ra ...

'' (1957) as Laxmi # ''

Chenchu Lakshmi ''Chenchu Lakshmi'' is a 1958 Indian bilingual Telugu and Tamil language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by B. A. Subba Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. It was sim ...

'' (1958/I) # '' Abalai Anjugam'' (1959) # ''Deepavali'' (1960) as Devas mother Aditi # '' Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam'' (1960) as Dhaaranidevi # ''

Jagadeka Veeruni Katha ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'' () is a 1961 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language Fantasy film, fantasy swashbuckler film, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi with music ...

'' (1961) as Maharani # ''

Gulebakavali Katha ''Gulebakavali Katha'' () is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed by N. T. Rama Rao. The film was produced by N. Trivikrama Rao on National Art Theatres banner. It is based on the folk tale '' Gulebakavali'' from ...

'' (1962) # ''

Gundamma Katha ''Gundamma Katha'' () is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Ra ...

'' (1962) # ''

Palattu Koman ''Palattu Koman'' is a 1962 Indian Malayalam-language film.Palattu Koman
...

'' (1962) # '' Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham'' (1963) as Wife of Gaya # ''

Ramudu Bheemudu ''Ramudu Bheemudu'' is a 1964 Indian Telugu-language film, produced by D. Ramanaidu under the Suresh Productions banner and directed by Tapi Chanakya. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Jamuna and L. Vijayalakshmi , with music composed by Pendyala. Th ...

'' (1964) # ''

Enga Veetu Pillai ''Enga Veettu Pillai'' () is a 1965 Indian Tamil-language masala film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by Chanakya. A remake of his own 1964 Telugu film ''Ramudu Bheemudu'', it stars M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi, with ...

''(1965) # ''

Navarathri Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in the honour of the goddess Durga. It spans over nine nights (and ten days), first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and again in the month of Sharada. It is ob ...

'' (1966) as Brothel house Head # ''

Pidugu Ramudu ''Pigudu Ramudu'' () is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language swashbuckling fantasy film directed by B. Vittalacharya. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and Rajasree, with music composed by T. V. Raju. Plot Once upon a time, a Kingdom was ruled by an innoc ...

'' (1966) # '' Sri Krishnavataram'' (1967/I) # ''

'' (1974) # ''

Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra ''Sri Madvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra'' is a 1984 Indian Telugu-language biographical film, based on life of Pothuluri Veerabrahmam, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. N. T. Rama Rao port ...

'' (1984) # '' Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam'' (1986)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rushyendramani 1917 births 20th-century Indian actresses 2002 deaths Telugu actresses Actresses in Telugu cinema Indian film actresses Women artists from Andhra Pradesh Telugu playback singers Indian women playback singers Singers from Andhra Pradesh Indian female dancers Film musicians from Andhra Pradesh Artists from Vijayawada Indian stage actresses 20th-century Indian singers Actresses from Vijayawada Actresses in Tamil cinema Actresses in Malayalam cinema Actresses in Kannada cinema Actresses in Hindi cinema Actresses in Telugu theatre 20th-century Indian women singers