Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1933) is an Indian actress, Bharatanatyam dancer, Carnatic singer, dance choreographer and parliamentarian. She was the highest-paid actress of her time. Regarded as the "first female superstar" of Indian cinema, she made her debut in the Tamil language film Vaazhkai in 1949 at the age of 16 and in the Telugu language film Jeevitham in 1950. She later became one of the most prominent actresses of South Indian cinema and of the golden era of Hindi cinema and is also known as one of the most iconic leading actresses of all time. Later, Vyjayanthimala acted in the Bollywood movies Bahar and Ladki. Following the success of Nagin, Vyjayanthimala established herself as one of Bollywood's leading actresses while making inroads in successful Tamil and Telugu films. After successfully establishing herself as a commercial actress, Vyjayanthimala appeared in Devdas, playing Chandramukhi, the hooker with a heart of gold, in 1955. In her first dramatic role, she received her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 4th Filmfare Awards, where she refused to accept the award citing that hers was not a supporting role, becoming the first person to refuse a Filmfare Award. Following that, Vyjayanthimala appeared in a series of blockbuster films such as New Delhi, Naya Daur and Aasha. She reached the pinnacle of her success in 1958 when two of her films — Sadhna and Madhumati — became huge critical and commercial hits. She was nominated for two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress for Sadhna and Madhumati and won the award for the former. At this point, Vyjayanthimala made a comeback to Tamil films, where she tasted commercial success with Vanjikottai Vaaliban, Irumbu Thirai, Baghdad Thirudan and Then Nilavu. In 1961, the release of Dilip Kumar's Ganga Jumna saw her playing a rustic village belle, Dhanno, who speaks the Awadhi dialect. Critics applauded her performance, while some labeled it her best to date. She won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her role in Ganga Jumna. Beginning in 1962, most of her films performed either averagely or poorly at the box office. However, in 1964, with the success of Sangam, her career hit its peak again. She reinvented herself by playing a modern Indian girl appearing in revealing costumes and a one-piece swimsuit. She went on to receive her third Best Actress Award at the 12th Filmfare Awards for her role as Radha in Sangam. She later achieved critical acclaim for her performance in the historical drama Amrapali, which was based on the life of nagarvadhu Amrapali, the royal courtesan of Vaishali. The film received universal acclaim, but it was a huge box office failure, which left Vyjayanthimala, who had huge expectations of the film, disenchanted to the point where she decided to quit films. Towards the end of her career, Vyjayanthimala was mostly seen in commercially successful films such as Suraj, Jewel Thief and Prince with a few critically acclaimed films such as Hatey Bazarey and Sunghursh. Most of them were released after Vyjayanthimala left the film industry (a total of app. 65 films).
Filmography
As an actress Year Film Role Language Notes 1949 Vazhkai Mohana Shivashankaralingam Tamil On-screen debut & Tamil debut 1950 Jeevitham Mohini Sivashankara Lingeswara Prasad Telugu Shot simultaneously in original Tamil as Vaazhkai and also, Telugu debut Vijayakumari Western dancer Tamil Guest appearance 1951 Bahar Lata Hindi Bollywood film debut 1953 Ladki Rani Mehra Hindi1954 Penn Rani Tamil Shot simultaneously with Ladki Sangham Rani Telugu Shot simultaneously with Ladki and last Telugu film Nagin Mala Hindi Pehli Jhalak Beena Hindi Asha Nirasha Asha Kannada Completed Unreleased Miss Mala Mala Hindi 1955 Yasmin Yasmin Hindi Sitara Veda Hindi Jashan Seema/Malti Hindi Dual Role Devdas Chandramukhi Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, but refused the award1956 Taj Princess of Roopnagar Hindi Anjaan Ratna Hindi Also known as Somewhere in Delhi New Delhi Janki Subramaniam Hindi Marma Veeran Rajkumari Vijaya Tamil Patrani Princess Mrinalla Hindi Kismet Ka Khel Anokhi Hindi Devta Naagrani Hindi1957 Naya Daur Rajni Hindi Kathputli Pushpa Hindi Ek Jhalak Mala Hindi Aasha Nirmala Hindi 1958 Sitaron Se Aagey Kanta Hindi Sadhna Rajni/Champa Bai Hindi Dual Role and also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress Vanjikottai Valiban Princess Mandakini Tamil Raj Tilak Princess Mandakini Hindi Madhumati Madhumati / Madhavi / Radha (Triple Role) Hindi Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress; India's official entry to the Oscars Amar Deep Meena/Aruna Hindi Dual Role 1959 Paigham Manju Hindi Jawani Ki Hawa Latha Hindi Athisaya Penn Nirmala Tamil 1960 Raja Bakthi Princess Mrinalini Tamil Parthiban Kanavu Kundhavi Tamil Irumbu Thirai Manju Tamil College Girl Kamla Hindi Baghdad Thirudan Zarina Tamil 1961 Then Nilavu Shanthi Tamil Nazrana Vasanti Hindi Gunga Jumna Dhanno Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress; BFJA Award for Best Actress Aas Ka Panchhi Neena Bakshi Hindi1962 Rungoli Nirmala "Nimmo" Hindi Jhoola Sumati Hindi Dr. Vidya Geeta / Dr. Vidya Hindi 1963 Chittoor Rani Padmini Princess Rani Padmini of Chittor Tamil Last Tamil film 1964 Zindagi Beena Hindi Sangam Radha Hindi Won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress; First technicolor film of Raj Kapoor Phoolon Ki Sej Karuna Hindi Leader Princess Sunita Hindi First Indian film to be shot outside of the 1.37:1 ratio (1.85:1 ratio) Ishaara Mala Hindi 1965 Naya Kanoon Jyothi Hindi1966 Do Dilon Ki Dastaan Hindi Amrapali Amrapali Hindi India's official entry to the Oscars Suraj Princess Anuradha Singh Hindi1967 Hatey Bazarey Chhipli Bengali Chhoti Si Mulaqat Roopa Chaudhary Hindi Jewel Thief Shalini Devi Singh / Shalu Hindi1968 Sunghursh Munni/Laila-E-Aasmaan Hindi Dual Role and also won the BFJA Award for Best Actress Saathi Shanti Hindi Duniya Mala Hindi1969 Pyar Hi Pyar Kavita Hindi Prince Princess Amrita Hindi 1970 Ganwaar Parvati (Paro) Hindi Last film
As choreographer Year Film Cast Song Language Notes1964 Leader Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala Tere Husn Ki Kya Tareef Karoon Mujhe Duniya Walo Sharabi Na Samjho Hindi Sangam Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Rajendra Kumar Main Kya Karoon Ram Hindi Parody of Cabaret dance
As producer Year Film Cast Language Notes1982 Kathoduthan Naan Pesuven Ramji, Sripriya, Menaka Tamil Co-producer with RajiyiammalReleased on 14 January 1982
As playback singer Year Film Song Co-singer(s) Language Notes1967 Hatey Bazarey Cheye Thaki Cheye Thaki Mrinal Chakraborty Bengali
See also List of awards and nominations received by Vyjayanthimala
References
External links
Vyjayanthimala profile at Upperstall.com