Anjali Devi ( 24 August 1927 – 13 January 2014) was an Indian actress, model and producer in Telugu and Tamil films. She was well known for her role as the Devi Sita in Lava Kusa as well as for the title roles in movies like Chenchu Lakshmi, Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.

Early life Anjali Devi was born in Peddapuram, East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, India, as Anjamma. She changed her name to Anjani Kumari when acting in dramas. Later, director C. Pullaiah changed her name to Anjali Devi.

Career

As actress She was a theatre artiste before venturing into movies, her debut film role was as Lohitasva in "Raja Harishchandra" in 1936. Her first film as a heroine was Kashtajeevi by L. V. Prasad in 1940, but that film was abandoned after three reels shooting. Later, C.Pullayya discovered her and gave her the opportunity to star as Mohini in Gollabhama (1947). Based on her acting ability and looks, she became a star overnight in 1947. She eventually acted in more than 350 films, majority of them in Telugu and Tamil films and a few in Hindi, Kannada films as the heroine or in character roles.

She acted in Lava Kusa, a milestone film and the first color film in the Telugu film industry in 1963. She is well known for playing Sita in Lava Kusa and her performances in films like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali were also appreciated. Brundavanam (1992), Anna Vadina (1993) and Police Alludu (1994) were the last few films of her career. In Balaiah's Police Alludu and Anna Vadina she appeared alongside Brahmanandam. She acted in various roles, such as a damsel, an angel, a dancer, a demon, a goddess, a traditional woman and later in mother roles.

As producer In 1955 she produced the film Anarkali, in which she herself played the title role, with Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Prince Salim. Then she produced V. Madhusudan Rao's Bhakta Tukaram and Chandipriya. Actress Jayapradha played the lead role in the latter alongside Sobhan Babu and Chiranjeevi. As a producer she produced 27 films. An ardent devotee of Sathya Sai Baba she produced and acted in Shirdi Sai Parthi Sai Divyakatha, a tele-serial on the life and avatar of Sathya Sai Baba.

Personal life She married P. Adinarayana Rao, a music director, in 1948. They settled in Chennai. They have two sons. Together, they produced many Telugu films under the Anjali Pictures banner. Their granddaughter, Saila Rao, is also an actress.

Death Devi died at the age of 86 on 13 January 2014 at Vijaya Hospital, in Chennai, due to a cardiac arrest. Her organs were donated to Ramachandra Medical College.

Awards Honorary doctorate from Nagarjuna University, Guntur. Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 1994 for her lifetime service to the Telugu film industry. Ramineni National Award in 2006 in the fine arts category. ANR National Award in 2008. Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – Arignar Anna Award in 2000 Padmabhushan Dr. B. Saroja Devi National Award in 2010 by Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore.

Filmography

Actress Year Film Role Language Notes 1947GollabhamaMohini Telugu1947 Mahathma Udangar Rambai Tamil 1948 Balaraju Telugu1948 Adhithan Kanavu Tamil 1949Kanniyin Kaadhali Princess Megala DeviTamil1949 Keelu Gurram Mohini Telugu1949 Mayavathi Tamil1949 Mangaiyarkarasi Tamil 1950 Palleturi Pilla Santha Telugu1950 Swapna Sundari Swapna Sundari Telugu1950 Maya Rambha Telugu 1951 Nirdoshi Nirmala Telugu1951 Niraparadhi Tamil1951 Sarvadhigari Tamil1951 Sarvadhikari Telugu1951MayalamariTelugu1951MayakkariTamil1951 Marmayogi Tamil1951 Marmayogi Telugu1951 Tilottama Telugu1951 Mayamalai Tamil1951 Stree Sahasam Telugu1951 Strisahasam Tamil 1952 Ezhai Uzhavan Tamil 1953 Pakkinti Ammayi Leela Devi Telugu1953 Inspector Tamil1953 Poongodhai Tamil1953 Paradesi Telugu1953 Ladki Kamini HindiHindi Debut 1954 Rechukka Nana Telugu1954 Naattiya Thara Nana Tamil1954 Penn Kamini Tamil1954 Sangham Kamini Telugu1954 Sorga Vasal Thilagawathi Tamil1954 Ponvayal Semba Tamil1954 Rattha Pasam Tamil 1955 Anarkali Anarkali Telugu1955 Charana Daasi Telugu1955 Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam Princess Nalini Tamil1955 Kalam Maripochu Tamil1955 Jayasimha Telugu1955 Jayasimman Tamil1955 Doctor Savithri Tamil1955 Mudhal Thethi Tamil1955 Town Bus Amudha Tamil 1956 Devta Hindi1956 Mathar Kula Manickam Tamil1956 Kaalam Maari Pochu Tamil 1957 Allauddin Adhbhuta Deepam Yasmin, the Princess Telugu 1957 Alavudheenum Arputha Villakkum Yasmin, the Princess Tamil1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Rama Telugu1957 Suvarna Sundari Telugu1957 Manaalane Mangaiyin Baakkiyam Sundari Tamil1957 Chakravarthi Thirumagal Kalamalini Tamil1957 Neelamalai Thirudan Maragatham Tamil 1958 Chenchu Lakshmi Goddess Lakshmi Telugu1958 Chenchu Lakshmi Goddess Lakshmi Tamil1958 Illarame Nallaram Tamil1958 Raja Nandini Ramani Telugu1958 Kanniyin Sabadham Tamil 1959 Jayabheri Manjulavani Telugu 1959 Bala Nagamma Telugu1959 Kalaivanan Tamil1959 Naan Sollum Ragasiyam Tamil 1960 Bhatti Vikramarka Telugu1960 Mannadhi Mannan Princess Karpagavalli Tamil1960 Aadavantha Deivam Kalyani Tamil1960 Adutha Veettu Penn Tamil1960 Engal Selvi Tamil 1961 Naganandhini Tamil1961 Pangaaligal Tamil 1962 Bhishma Amba Telugu 1962 Swarna Manjari Telugu1962 Mangaiyar Ullam Mangatha Selvam Tamil1962 Naag Devta Mohini Hindi 1963 Lava Kusa Sita Telugu 1963 Lava Kusa Sita Tamil1963 Paruvu Prathishta Telugu 1965 Sati Sakkubai Telugu 1966 Chilaka Gorinka Telugu1966 Palnati Yudham Telugu1966 Rangula Ratnam Telugu 1967 Bhakta Prahlada Leelavati Telugu1967 Rahasyam Telugu 1968 Veeranjaneya Sita Telugu1969Sri Rama KathaBhavani, wife of Makaradhwaja MaharajuTelugu1970 Amma Kosam Telugu 1971 Dasara Bullodu Yashoda Telugu 1971 Kalyana Mandapam Telugu 1971 Sabatham Rajeswari Tamil 1971 Arunodhayam Tamil 1972 Badi Panthulu Telugu1972 Maa Inti Velugu Telugu1972 Bala Bharatam Telugu1972 Tata Manavadu Telugu 1973 Bhakta Tukaram Avali Bai Telugu1973Nindu KutumbamShanthaTelugu1973Srivaru MaavaruBhagyalakshmiTelugu1973Mayadari MalligaduSaraswathiTelugu1973 Jeevana Tarangalu Telugu1974Peddalu MaaraliSeethaTelugu1974Uttama IllaluLakshmiTelugu 1974 Urimai Kural Tamil 1975 Soggadu Telugu1975Mallela ManasuluAnnapoornaTelugu1976Padi PantaluSeethamma, Mother of GopiTelugu 1976 Mahakavi Kshetrayya Telugu1976Raaja Raaja's motherTelugu1976MonagaduShantammaTelugu1977 Seetha Rama Vanavasam Telugu Kurukshetram Kunti Telugu1978Dudu BasavannaGourammaTelugu 1979 Annai Oru Alayam Tamil1979Amma Evarikaina AmmaTelugu1979TigerTelugu1979Mande GundeluTelugu 1980 Ram Robert Rahim Telugu1980Venkateswara Vratha MahatyamParvathyTelugu1980 Chandipriya Telugu1980AdrushtavanthuduJanakiTelugu1980 Bhale Krishnudu Telugu1981Jeevitha RathamSavithriTelugu1983Lanke BindeluParvathammaTelugu1983Poratam 1984 Pozhudhu Vidinjachu Tamil1985Surya ChandraTelugu1986Tandra PaparayuduTelugu 1986 Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam Telugu 1987 Srutilayalu Telugu 1987 Punnami Chandrudu Telugu 1987 Kadhal Parisu Tamil1989Krishna Gari Abbayi Telugu 1992 Brundavanam Lakshmi Devi Telugu1994Police AlluduAnnapurnammaTelugu1995Big BossTelugu

Producer Paradesi Suvarna Sundari Swarnamanjari Chandi Priya Sati Sakkubai Shirdi Sai Sathya Sai Divya Katha (television series) Anarkali

See also Krishnaveni Bhanumathi

References

External links