Honnenahalli Shivanna Manjula (8 November 1954 – 12 September 1986), known mononymously as Manjula was an Indian actress who mainly worked in Kannada films and a few Tamil (credited as Kumari Manjula) and Telugu films (credited as Kannada Manjula). Regarded one of the most successful and prominent actresses in the history of Kannada cinema, Manjula was particularly noted for her versatility. During the 70s and early 80s she enacted a variety of roles and appeared in around 100 films, ranging in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas to rural themes. In a shor span of under 10 years she was the recipient of critical accolades and many awards for her performances, including a Filmfare Award.

Manjula started her career as a child artist at the age of 11 in the 1966 film Mane Katti Nodu and subsequently made her debut as a heroine in the M. R. Vittal directed film Yaara Sakshi (1972). In 1973 she appeared in the multistarrer film Mooruvare Vajragalu where she was paired with Dr. Rajkumar. Her biggest breakthrough came in 1974 with Eradu Kanasu. Shec ontinued to act as Dr. Rajkumar's heroine in Sampathige Savaal (1974), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Daari Tappida Maga (1975) and Mayura (1975) which were all highly successful at the box-office.

Her pairing with Srinath, Shankar Nag and Vishnuvardhan resulted in multiple successful films that include Besuge (1976), Bangarada Gudi (1976), Sose Tanda Soubhagya (1977), Kittu Puttu (1977), Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978), Muyyige Muyyi (1978), Vasantha Lakshmi (1978) and Seetharamu (1979). Her role in Deepa (1977) garnered her wider recognition and her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

In the early 1980s she continued playing leading roles in several successful films including, Moogana Sedu (1980), Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980), Nee Nanna Gellalare (1981), Snehitara Savaal (1981), Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu (1982) and Kalinga Sarpa (1984). Her last notable role was in Savira Sullu where she played a supporting character. The long-delayed film Mana Gedda Maga came as a posthumous release in 1992.

Personal life Manjula was born on 8 November 1954 in Honnenahalli, a village in Tumkur District, Karnataka. Her father, M. H. Shivanna, was a police sub inspector while mother, Deveramma was a homemaker.

She was married to film director Amrutham who directed her in Hudugaatada Hudugi (1976) and Kanasu Nanasu (1976). The couple had a son, Abhishek. The couple had separated over differences before her accidental death in 1986.

Death Manjula died after suffering burns in a kitchen fire on 19 September 1986. While initially deemed an accident, the Times of India reported the death as suicide.

Career Manjula started her acting career in 1965 with the drama troupe Prabhat Kalavidaru. She entered the Kannada film industry in a small role in Mane Katti Nodu in 1966. Her debut as a heroine was in the 1972 film Yaara Saakshi, directed by veteran director M. R. Vittal. In a career spanning 10 plus years she shared the screen with all the top Kannada actors including Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Ashok and Shankar Nag. Her most successful pairing was with Srinath and they acted together in about 35 films.

She starred in over one hundred films. She specialized in the role of the bold village belle which brought her huge success and shw was a top Kannada heroine in the late 1970s. Some of her notable films include Sampathige Savaal, Eradu Kanasu, Sose Thanda Sowbhagya, Besuge and Seetharamu. She also acted with well known actors in other languages like Ramakrishna (Telugu), Kamalahasan and Rajinikanth (Tamil).

Filmography

Kannada Year Film Role Notes 1966 Mane Katti Nodu Manju Child actress 1967 Padhavidhara Child actress 1969 Eradu Mukha Nalini Child actress (credited Kumari Manjula) 1972 Yaara Sakshi Debut as lead actress 1973 Mooroovare Vajragalu Satyabhama 1974 Eradu Kanasu Lalitha 1974 Sampathige Savaal Durga 1974 Bhakta Kumbara Manju 1974 Professor Huchuraya Geetha 1974 Sri Srinivasa Kalyana Padmavathi 1975 Devara Gudi Vasanthi 1975 Daari Tappida Maga Pushpa 1975 Ninagagi Naanu Prathima 1975 Mayura Premavati 1975 Nireekshe Vasumathi 1975 Hennu Samsarada Kannu Radha 1976 Hudugatada Hudugi Sujatha 1976 Baduku Bangaravayithu Mahadevi 1976 Besuge Suma 1976 Chiranjeevi Sharada 1976 Bangarada Gudi Radha 1976 Thulasi Hema 1976 Kanasu Nanasu Priya 1977 Deepa Deepa Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada 1977 Sri Renukadevi Mahatme Lakshmidevi 1977 Dhanalakshmi Rohini 1977 Bayasade Banda Bhagya Shanthi 1977 Sose Tanda Soubhagya Geetha 1977 Thayigintha Devarilla Geetha 1977 Kittu Puttu Roopa 1977 Ganda Hendathi Geetha 1977 Kumkuma Rakshe Seetha 1977 Galate Samsara Janaki 1977 Chanda Marutha Special appearance 1977 Veera Sindhura Lakshmana Special appearance 1978 Anuraga Bandhana Special appearance 1978 Halli Haida Parvathi 1978 Muyyige Muyyi Pallavi 1978 Aparadhi Naanalla Pankaja 1978 Nanna Prayaschittha Suneetha 1978 Sneha Sedu Seetha 1978 Vasantha Lakshmi Lakshmi 1978 Chithegu Chinthe Malini 1978 Bhale Huduga Geetha 1978 Madhura Sangama Sharada 1978 Singaporenalli Raja Kulla Thara 1979 Adalu Badalu Latha/Bangari Special appearance 1979 Aliya Devaru Geetha 1979 Seetharamu Seetha 1979 Pakka Kalla Latha 1979 Putani Agent 123 1979 Savathiya Neralu Padmini 1979 Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu Madhavi 1979 Mallige Sampige 1979 Ene Barali Preethi Irali 1980 Point Parimala Parimala 1980 Rama Parashurama 1980 Rama Lakshmana 1980 Moogana Sedu Mangala 1980 Haddina Kannu "Benne" Bhagya 1980 Manjina There Kusuma 1980 Usha Swayamvara Usha 1980 Simha Jodi Uma 1980 Manku Thimm 1980 Janma Janmada Anubandha Putti 1980 Mithuna Raaji 1980 Pattanakke Banda Pathniyaru Maananda 1980 Rusthum Jodi Padma Special appearance 1981 Simhada Mari Sainya Special appearance 1981 Nee Nanna Gellalare Nalini 1981 Premanubandha Vaasanthi 1981 Avali Javali Geetha 1981 Guru Shishyaru Chitralekha 1981 Mareyada Haadu Ashwini 1981 Snehitara Savaal Geetha 1981 Shikari Aasha 1982 Rudri Rudramma 1982 Kempu Hori 1982 Chellida Raktha Girija 1982 Mareyalagada Kathe Shanti 1982 Swarnamahal Rahasya 1982 Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu Umaa 1982 Benki Chendu Seetha 1982 Mava Sose Saval Radha 1982 Snehada Sankole Nalini 1982 Betthale Seve Devi 1982 Archana Rani Special appearance 1982 Hasyaratna Ramakrishna Radhasani, dancer Special appearance 1983 Kranthiyogi Basavanna Neelambike 1983 Hosa Theerpu Dancer Special appearance 1983 Keralida Hennu Jayalakshmi Special appearance 1983 Ananda Sagara Dhairyalakshmi Special appearance 1984 Onti Dhwani Latha Special appearance 1984 Kalinga Sarpa Muthu 1984 Enka Manka 1985 Savira Sullu Durga 1985 Bhayankara Bhasmasura 1992 Mana Gedda Maga Chandraa

Other languages Year Film RoleLanguage Notes1974Thota RamuduDurgaTelugu1975PoojaLalithaTelugu(remake of Eradu Kanasu) Puthu VellamTamil Maalai Sooda Vaa RadhaTamil Edupparkai PillaiTamil 1980 Kaalam Badhil SollumTamil Citations

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