Dasari Girija (3 March 1938 – 5 September 1995) was an Indian actress who has worked in Telugu films. She was active in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in comic roles. She appeared in many films with Relangi, the two of them becoming a famous comedic duo.
Film career She was born on 3 March 1938 in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh. Her mother was a stage and film actress Dasari Ramatilakam.
Her first movie was Kasturi Sivarao's Paramanandayya Sishyulu (1950). She acted in many films with Relangi and other leading actors of that period. Her portrayal of titular Pathala Bhairavi in 1951 hit film Patala Bhairavi displayed her talents and resulted in her getting many film offers lasting about two decades. Her role as Usha in Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959) opposite Relangi is memorable. The ever lasting comedy song Kaseeki Poyanu Ramahari has been pictured on them.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: The comedy-duo also acted in the award-winning Ramudu Bheemudu (1964) of Suresh Productions. The funny Sarada Sarada Cigarettu song about the habit of Smoking is superhit during that time.Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: She also acted in Tamil films during the fifties.
She along with Relangi acted in small but key roles in the epic film Lava Kusa (1963) by Shankar Reddy and refused to take any extra remuneration for the extratime in shooting the song Ollanori mama née pillanee.... In addition to the comedy roles, she played as character actress in the key role of Hemalatha opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao acting as second heroine in Bharya Bhartalu (1961) and as Varalaxmi in Velugu Needalu (1961). She has played key roles in some mythological and Janapada films, like Dharma Devatha (1952).
She started a film company with her husband C. S. Raju as a producer, named Vijaya Giri Dhwaja Productions (named after Girija) and produced few movies including Bhale Mastaru (1969) and Pavitra Hrudayalu (1971), in both films main protagonist is played by N. T. Rama Rao. They met with a heavy financial loss.
Personal life She married C. Sanyasi Raju, popularly known as C. S. Raju; their daughter Saleema is also an actress who acts mainly in Malayalam movies. According to her daughter Saleema, Girija died on 5 September 1995. Though she has been suffering from Diabetes, in the last moments she experienced some breathing problem and died suddenly in her Chennai residence.
Filmography
Year Film Role Language 1950 Paramanandayya Sishyulu Hema Telugu 1951 Navvite Navaratnalu Telugu Patala Bhairavi Pathala Bhairavi Telugu/Tamil 1952 Dharma Devatha Vasanthi Telugu Velugu Needalu Varalakshmi Telugu 1953AshadeepamSaralaMalayalam En Veedu Tamil Naa Illu Telugu 1954 Manohara Princess Vijaya Tamil/Telugu 1955 Kalyanam Seydhukko Tamil 1956 Bhale Ramudu Taara Telugu 1957SankalpamSugunaTelugu Bhale Ammayilu Telugu Dongallo Dora Telugu M.L. A. Telugu Suvarna Sundari Princess Parthima Devi Telugu Veera Kankanam Telugu Vaddante PelliLalithaTelugu Iru Sagodharigal Lalitha Tamil 1958 Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu Usha Telugu 1958Dongalunnaru JagrathaTelugu 1958 Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu Rani Telugu 1958Anna ThammuduPadmaTelugu 1959 Illarikam Kanakadurga Telugu 1959 Rechukka Pagatichukka Telugu 1960Nammina BantuSaralaTelugu 1960 Bhatti Vikramarka Arakasu, wife of Tirakasu Telugu 1960 Pelli Kanuka Kantham Telugu 1960 Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva ChintamaniKamalakshi Telugu 1960 Samajam Telugu 1960 Runanubandham Telugu 1961 Bharya Bharthalu Hema Telugu 1961 Jagadeka Veeruni Katha Ekasa Telugu 1961 Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham Haranath's fiancée Telugu 1961 Vagdanam Radha Telugu 1961 Velugu Needalu Varalakshmi Telugu/Tamil 1962 Aradhana Gopi's Fiancée Telugu Kula Gothralu Leela Telugu Tiger RamuduTelugu Raktha Sambandham Telugu Siri Sampadalu Rama Telugu Aasa Jeevulu Telugu Aatma Bandhuvu Geetha Telugu 1963 Irugu Porugu Telugu Lakshadhikari Leela Telugu Savati KodukuTelugu Lava Kusa Chakali Vaani Bharya Telugu/Tamil Paruvu Prathishta Telugu 1964 Aathma Balam Chitti Telugu Amara Silpi Jakkanna Fisherwoman Gangu Telugu Ramudu Bheemudu Kamala Telugu Vaarasatwam Seeta Telugu 1965 Preminchi Choodu Telugu Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima Queen of Women Kingdom Telugu Prameelarjuneeyam Maha Maya Telugu Satya Harishchandra Kalahakanthi Telugu Mangamma Sapatham Telugu Visala HrudayaluShanthaTelugu Sati Sakkubai Daughter of Suryakantham Telugu 1966 Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha Makarika Telugu Aastiparulu Telugu Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu KathaMakarikaTelugu 1967 Navarathri Mental patient Telugu Rahasyam Sarvani Devi Telugu Vasantha Sena Telugu 1974 Aadadani Adrustam TeluguDevadasuTelugu/Tamil 1975 Balipeetam Servant Telugu 1976Andharu BagundaliGovindayya's wifeTelugu Secretary Vanita Vihar Member Telugu 1977 Pantulamma House Head Telugu SavasagalluTelugu1979Maa Voollo MahasivuduTelugu1980ChandipriyaSingammaTelugu1980Konte Mogudu Penki PellamRanganatham's arrogant wifeTelugu1981Prema NatakamKumar's motherTeluguKondaveeti SimhamTelugu1982Nivuru Gappina NippuTelugu1983Kanthayya KanakayyaGajalakshmiTelugu1984AnubandhamTelugu
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