Bharathi Vishnuvardhan (born 15 August 1948), 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 though Dudde Doddappa was her first release. 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.
Through the course of her career, Bharathi was known for her portrayal of roles of mythological and historical characters, and also that of a student, a romantic and a rural belle. 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. She has the distinction of having paired with Dr.Rajkumar as a lead actress in all the 26 movies she acted with him and is also paired with him the most no. of times (6 movies) in those movies where he played multiple roles.
Personal life Bharathi was born in Bhadravathi on 15 August 1948, in the erstwhile Indian state of Mysore (now Karnataka), in a Marathi- speaking family. Her father V. M. Ramachandra Rao was a tailor and her 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. While she was active in both sports and dance, her ambition at the time was to become a badminton 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 two adopted daughters Keerthi and Chandana. Dr. Vishnuvardhan died on 30 December 2009, aged 59 from a cardiac arrest.
Career 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 Dr. Rajkumar. The pair acted together in 28 films and went on to give hit after hit until 1973, very significant among them are Mayor Muthanna, Sri Krishnadevaraya and Bangaarada Manushya. Doorada Betta was the last film of Bharathi with Dr. Rajkumar.
In 1966, Bharathi played supporting roles in two M. G. Ramachandran movies Nadodi and Chandhrodhayam which elevated her profile in the Tamil arena. She then graduated to lead heroine roles with Deiva Cheyal, Avalukendru Or Manam and Thanga Surangam, opposite stars like Muthuraman, Gemini Ganeshan, and Shivaji Ganeshan. Bharathi 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.
In 1967, Bharathi was introduced to Hindi cinema by director A. Bhimsingh with Mehrban. She went on to act in several Hindi films like Sadhu Aur Shaitaan with Mehmood, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani opposite Rakesh Roshan, Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim and Hum Tum Aur Woh with Vinod Khanna and later Mastana and Kunwaara Baap (1974).
In the 1970s she formed a popular pair with Vishnuvardhan (who later became her husband) and they starred together in blockbusters like Bhagya Jyothi, Makkala Bhagya, Devara Gudi, Nagara Hole and Bangarada Jinke (1980). After a brief hiatus, 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), Tiger Prabhakar (Bandha Mukta, Thaliya Aane), Ambareesh (Matsara) and Rajesh (Tavaru Mane). She also starred in several Hindi films in her second innings - Uttar Dakshin (1987), Izzatdaar (1990 with Dilip Kumar), Khel and Aao Pyaar Karen.
In the late 90s she acted in the Kannada Doordarshan serial Janani. In 2012, she appeared as a strict, no-nonsense sessions court judge in T.N. Seetharam's Kannada daily serial Mukta-Mukta.
Apart from acting, Bharathi has sung a few songs, a duet with T.M. Soundarrajan, a Tamil song "Thanga Nilave Nee Illamal" picturised on her and Gemini Ganesan and a Kannada song "Ee Notake Mai Matake" with her husband Vishnuvardhan for Nagara Hole. She has worked as an associate director with K. S. L. Swamy for the movies Karune Illada Kanoonu, Huli Hejje and the classic Malaya Marutha.
Filmography Below is a partial list of her films. Year Film Role Language Notes 1966 Dudde Doddappa Kalpana Kannada First release 1966 Love in Bangalore Kannada 1966 Emme Thammanna Meena Kannada 1966 Sandhya Raga Kannada 1966 Madhu Malathi Madhumalathi Kannada 1966 Nadodi Meena Dharmalingam Tamil Debut in Tamil 1966 Chandhrodhayam Kamala Tamil 1966 Enga Paappa Tamil 1966 Namma Veettu Lakshmi Tamil 1967 Beedi Basavanna Vijaya Kannada 1967 Rajashekara Mangala Kannada 1967Pattukunte PadiveluKalpanaTelugu 1967 Thanga Thambi Parvathi Tamil 1967 Rajadurgada Rahasya Mangala Kannada 1967 Mehrban Geeta Hindi 1967 Deiva Cheyal Tamil 1967 Valiba Virundhu Radha Tamil 1967 Naan Yaar Theriyuma Tamil 1967 Aggi Dora Jayanthi Telugu 1967 Gange Gowri Gange Kannada 1967 Pattukunte Padivelu Telugu 1968 Uyarndha Manithan Gowri Tamil 1968 Sadhu Aur Shaitaan Vidya Shastri/ Chuniya Hindi 1968 Amma Mala Kannada 1968 Mana Samsaram Telugu 1968 Ninne Pelladuta Uma Telugu 1968 Nimirindhu Nil Tamil 1968 Kalisina Manasulu Telugu 1968 Manassakshi Gowri Kannada 1968 Bangaru Gaajulu Sarada Telugu 1968 Govula Gopanna Radha Telugu 1968 Poovum Pottum Amudha Tamil 1968 Nane Bhagyavathi Kannada 1968 Lakshmi Nivasam Kalpana Telugu 1969 Naangu Killadigal Tamil 1969 Mayor Muthanna Geetha Kannada 1969 Ardha Rathri Telugu 1969 Gandondu Hennaru Veena Kannada 1969 Thanga Surangam Amutha Tamil 1969 Shiva Bhaktha Kannada 1969 Padichakallan Malayalam 1969 Sipayi Chinnayya Shobha Telugu 1969 Chaduranga Kannada 1969 Nil Gavani Kadhali Malathy Tamil 1969 Gruhalakshmi Kannada 1970 Jai Jawan Susheela / Sujatha Telugu 1970 Aliya Geleya Kannada 1970 Akhandudu Jayaprada Telugu 1970 Baalu Belagithu Lakshmi Kannada 1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Chinna Kannada Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress 1970 Purab Aur Paschim Gopi Hindi 1970 Hasiru Thorana Meena Kannada 1970 Snehithi Tamil 1970 Bhale Jodi Sunitha Kannada 1970 Mastana Sharada Hindi 1970 Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Seema Hindi 1970 Rangamahal Rahasya Kamala Kannada 1970 Andariki Monagadu Telugu 1971 Avalukendru Or Manam Lalitha Tamil 1971 Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama Sathyabhama Kannada 1971 Duniya Kya Jaane Hindi 1971 Kula Gourava Radha Kannada 1971 Thayi Devaru Girija Kannada 1971 Seema Hindi 1971 Hum Tum Aur Woh Aarti Hindi 1971 Andam Kosam Pandem Telugu 1971 Namma Samsara Bhama Kannada 1971 Meendum Vazhven Shanthi Tamil 1971 Naa Thammudu Telugu 1972 Janma Rahasya Kannada 1972 Jeevana Jokali Kannada 1972 Jaga Mecchida Maga Yamini Kannada 1972 Hrudaya Sangama Belli / Chandra Kannada 1972 Annamitta Kai Dr. Kalpana Tamil 1972 Bangaarada Manushya Lakshmi Kannada 1972 Aankh Micholi Geeta Hindi 1972 Unakkum Enakkum Tamil 1972 Sub Ka Saathi Chitra Hindi 1972 Chitti Thalli Telugu 1973 Bidugade Shobha Kannada 1973 Swayamvara Kannada 1973 Doorada Betta Gowri Kannada 1973 Mane Belagida Sose Radha Kannada 1973 Ponvandu Tamil 1973 Neramu Siksha Sujatha Telugu 1974 Mugguru Ammayilu Telugu 1974 Anna Attige Hema Kannada 1974 Kunwara Baap Radha Hindi 1974 Thulasi Telugu 1974 Amma Manasu Telugu 1974 Anaganaga Oka Thandri Telugu 1974 Adapillala Thandri Telugu 1974 Harathi Telugu 1975 Onde Roopa Eradu Guna Kannada Cameo 1975 Devara Gudi Suchitra Kannada 1975 Kaveri Kaveri Kannada 1975 Kotha Kapuram Telugu 1975 Bhagya Jyothi Jyothi Kannada 1975 Saubhagyavathi Telugu 1975 Puttinti Gowravam Telugu 1975 Pandanti Samsaram Telugu 1975 Kathanayakuni Katha Telugu 1975 Pellade Bomma Telugu 1976 Makkala Bhagya Bhaama Kannada 1976 Vadhu Varulu Telugu 1977 Devare Dikku Kannada 1977 Manassakshi Indira Telugu 1977 Nee Vazha Vendum Tamil 1977 Nagara Hole Madhu Kannada 1978 Madhura Sangama Lalithambe Kannada Cameo 1978 Prathima Kannada 1978 Sandharbha Kannada 1979 Manini Shantha Kannada 1980 Chitrakoota Kannada 1980 Rahasya Rathri Kannada 1980 Bangarada Jinke Bhagya Kannada 1982 Pedda Gedda Lawyer Kannada Cameo 1983 Kranthiyogi Basavanna Akka Mahadevi Kannada Cameo 1984 Runamukthalu Godavari Kannada 1986 Tavaru Mane Thaayi Kannada 1986 Maneye Manthralaya Susheela Kannada 1986 Namma Oora Devathe Kannada 1986 Ella Hengasarinda Kannada 1986 Uppu Khadeeja Malayalam 1986 Padikkatha Padam Tamil 1987 Uttar Dakshin Bharathi Hindi 1987 Bandha Mukta Kannada 1987 Thaliya Aane Kannada 1987 Prema Kadambari Kannada 1988 Shanthi Nivasa Kannada 1988Chinni KrishnuduTelugu 1988 Mutthinantha Manushya Kannada 1989 Yuddha Kaanda Sharada Devi Kannada 1990 Matsara Bhavana Kannada 1990 Izzatdaar Sujatha Hindi 1990 Bannada Gejje Vyjayanthi Kannada 1990 Prema Yuddham Vyjayanthi Telugu 1990 Urudhi Mozhi Abhirami Tamil 1991 Santhwanam Subhadra Malayalam 1992 Khel Kamini / Sharda Hindi 1993 Devaasuram Yasodha Malayalam 1994 Aao Pyaar Karen Anjali Hindi 1994 Sarigamalu Telugu 1995 Dore Kannada 1995 Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu Parvathi Malayalam 1996 Katta Panchayathu Karthik's Mother Tamil 1996 Kaadhale Nimmadhi Kavitha's Mother Tamil 1997 Varnapakittu Sunny's mother Malayalam 1997 Oru Yathramozhi Govindankutty's mother Malayalam 1998 Nakshatratharattu Sreedevi Malayalam 1998 Sundara Pandian Pandian's mother Tamil 2000 Narasimham Induchoodan's mother Malayalam 2001 Karumadikkuttan Bharathi Malayalam 2002 Mazhathullikilukkam Alice John Malayalam 2003 Preethi Prema Pranaya Sharadha Devi Kannada 2005 Maharaja Annapoorna Kannada 2006 Kallarali Hoovagi Neelamma Kannada 2006 Photographer Dijo's & Joy's mother Malayalam 2006 Tananam Tananam Murthy's wife Kannada 2009 Raaj - The Showman Herself Kannada 2012 Crazy Loka Kannada 2012 Kanneerinum Madhuram Vijayakumari Malayalam 2016 Doddmane Hudga Doddmane Rajeeva's sister Kannada 2017 Ambar Caterers Tulu 2018 Raja Simha Kannada 2018 Edakallu Guddada Mele Kannada 2019 Kurukshetra Kunti Kannada
Television AmruthaVarshini as Annapoorneshwari Devi - serial aired in Star Suvarna Sevanthi as Pramoda Devi - serial aired in Udaya TV Janani -serial aired in Doordarshan Samarppan - Doordarshan Hindi
Awards 2017 - Padmashri - the 4th highest civilian award of India. 2010 - Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka State Open University. 1969-70 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress - Sri Krishnadevaraya
References
External links