Rajasree

For 1960s Bollywood actress, see Rajshree. For the 1990s actress, see Rajashree (actress). For other uses, see Rajashree (disambiguation).

Rajasree (Rajasree Thota Panchajanyam, Kusuma Kumari), also known as Rajasri or Rajashri, is an Indian actress active from 1956 to 1979. She is particularly famous for her portrayal as a princess in several folklore Telugu movies opposite N. T. Rama Rao and Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao and for acting alongside Ravichandran in the Tamil comedy films Neeyum Naanum, Kadhalikka Neram Illai and Delhi Mappilai. Notable among Rajasri's roles in non-folklore social films in Tamil are as Nimmi in the Tamil hit comedy film Kaadhalikka Neramillai, remade as Preminchi Choodu in Telugu, as movie star Bhama in Tamil film Bama Vijayam. She was credited as Gracy in the Malayalam movies she starred in her career since her debut film Bharya (1962), directed by Kunchako. Rajasree went on to do 200 films spread across the languages – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam (as Gracy) and Hindi from beginning of 1956 to 1979.

Rajasree
Born	Kusuma Kumari Eluru, Godavari District, Madras presidency. Now in Eluru, Eluru district, Andhra.
Other names	Rajasri, Gracy, Rajasree T.
Occupation(s)	Actress, Classical dancer
Years active	1956–1979
Spouse	Thota Panchajanyam ​ ​ (m. 1975; died 1983)​
Children	1 son (b.1979)

Film industry

Rajsree first appeared as a child artiste in the Tamil film Naga Devadhai in 1956. She worked as child artiste in films like Bhaktha Ambarisha (1959) and Mangalyam (1960) in Telugu, Aasha Sundari (1960) in Kannada, Petraval Kanda Peruvazhvu (1960) and Baktha Sabari (1960) in Tamil. She debuted as a young heroin in Telugu film Nitya Kalyanam Paccha Thoranam in 1960 opposite another debutante Hero Ramakrishna (Telugu actor). She acted as the supporting young heroine with the Malayalam film Bharya (1962). Her character was named Gracy. With the success of her debut Malayalam film, Rajsree was always credited throughout her Malayalam film career as Gracy. Some of her famous Malayalam movies include Kadalamma (1963), Rebecca (1963), Pazhassi Raja (1964) and Shakuntala (1965). However, she was cast only as supporting and second lead actress in Tamil films like Sengamala Theevu (1962), Nichaya Thaamboolam (1962), Thendral Veesum (1962), Kalai Arasi (1963), Yarukku Sondham (1963) and Kattu Maina (1963) in the period 1962 to 1963. Her portrayal as the courtesean Madhavi in the film Poompuhar brought her new recognition as supporting actress in 1964. It was the film Kadhalikka Neram Illai in 1964, which made her a household name as the main lead heroine. She started receiving more Tamil films from 1964 onward.

However, she continued to be very selective as far as her choice of doing Malayalam movies was concerned. Her notable films in Malayalam as the lead heroine include Jail (1966), Kadamattathachan (1966), Anarkali (1966), Udhyogastha (1967), Karutha Rathrikal (1967), Kadal (1968), Dial 2244 (1968), Urangatha Sundary (1969), Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972), Sreemurukan and Devi Kanyaakumaari (1974). She did about 30 movies in Malayalam. Her last Malayalam film was Vishwaroopam (1978).

It was the Tamil comic classic, Kaadhalikka Neramillai, that catapulted Rajasree to national fame. She quoted in an interview "When I got a call from such a big banner as Chitralaya asking me to be present at the studio the next morning, I couldn't believe my ears. Many artistes had been considered for the role, I had heard. The song, "Anubavam Pudhumai", was the sequence that was shot first. They liked it and I did the film,". Rajasree went on to play the same role in Telugu with Akkini Nageswara Rao and in Hindi with Shashi Kapoor — she was the only one to repeat the role in the remakes. She quoted in interview "I remember Nagesh pulling my leg often shouting out "Dhigilazhagi" whenever I was on the sets,". Hence both during the shooting of Bama Vijayam and every time she met actor Nagesh, he would always call her as Dhiglazhagi as in the film, a thief refers to her by that name.

It was decided by Sridhar to remake Kadhallikaa Neram Illai in Hindi as Pyar Kiye Jaa and he retained only Rajasree from the original. Her debut Hindi film was a major box office hit in 1966. This led to her receiving films in Hindi as well. However, none of her four films in Hindi became a hit except for her debut Hindi film.

She made her heroine debut in Telugu films with Nitya Kalyanam Paccha Thoranam in 1960 opposite Hero Ramakrishna (Telugu actor) and Constable Kuthuru (1962) opposite Kanta Rao, but previously she had been already introduced as a child artist in Nagula Chavithi (1956). She was cast as the heroine of N. T. Rama Rao in films like Aggi Barata (1966), Pidugu Ramudu (1966), Aggi Veerudu (1969) and Chitti Chellelu (1969). Her pairing opposite actor Kanta Rao was a box office success. The pair Rajasree-Kanta Rao worked in Pakkalo Ballem (1965), Bangaru Timmaraju (1964), Saptaswaralu (1969), Pratigyna Palana (1966), Vijaya Simha (1965), Aggidora (1967), Bhoolokamlo Yamolokam (1966), Devudichchina Bharta (1968), Veera Pooja (1968), Ranabheri (1968), Aggimeeda Guggilam (1968), Oke Kutumbham (1970), Merupu Veerudu (1970), Maa Manchi Akkayya (1970), Prema Jeevulu, Bhale Ettu Chivaraku Chittu (1970) and Raite Raju (1970). They worked in another 10 movies where they were not paired opposite each other. She did about 76 films in Telugu. Her last film in Telugu was Andame Anandham (1977).

Her debut film in Kannada was Kantheredu Nodu (1961). The Kannada film Thejaswini, produced by M. Pandaribai, made Rajasree a popular in the Kannada film circle. She played second lead supporting roles in Kannada films like Swarna Gowri, Rathna Manjari, Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu and Chandra Kumara. She regularly starred in mythological period films like Santha Thukaram (1963), Shivarathri Mahathme and Shivagange Mahathme with either Rajkumar or Udaykumar or both. After achieving success in Tamil with Kadhalikka Neram Illai, she decided to do only lead heroine roles even in Kannada from 1964. Her Kannada films as lead heroine include Chandavalliya Thota, Satya Harishchandra (1965), Bala Nagamma (1966), Bhale Basava, Mr. Rajkumar (1970), Jwala Mohini, CID 72 and C.I.D. Rajanna. She was part of the cast in 14 films in Kannada with Rajkumar in the lead role. She did 30 films in Kannada with her last movie being Devadhasi (1978).

She went on to do comedy films as the lead heroine in Tamil to capitalize on her comic abilities like Bama Vijayam (1967), Anubavi Raja Anubavi (1967), Anubavam Pudhumai (1967), Neeyum Naanum (1968) and Delhi Mapillai (1968). These films have developed classic cult status over the years. She then went on to get the second lead heroine roles in films with M. G. Ramachandran in the lead, like Thaikku Thalaimagan (1967), Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968), Adimai Penn (1969), Pattikaattu Ponnaiya (1973), Netru Indru Naalai (1974) and Naalai Namadhe (1975). Her other notable films in Tamil include Kallum Kaniyagum, suspense thriller Selva Magal (1967), Siritha Mugam (1968), Patham Pasali (1970), Poi Sollathae (1971), Pattondru Ketten (1971), Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan, Amudha (1975) and Veeduvarai Uravu (1976). Her last film in Tamil was Iravu 12 Mani (1978). She did more than sixty films in Tamil.

Personal life

Rajasree hails from a village in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. She was born with a sister and her father was a railway station master. Rajasree was ten years old when she came to Chennai. She married Thota Panchajanyam in Hyderabad at 1977. Rajasree's husband died within few years after her marriage, when her child was four years old.

Awards

Rajasree was honoured with the MGR Award in 2004.

Tamil Nadu State Government Awards

Kalaimamani, 2012 for her contribution to Tamil Cinema

Partial filmography

In order of languages in which she acted the most to fewest films.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Telugu

1. Andame Anandham (1977)
2. Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977)
3. Manushulanta Okkate (1976)
4. Sri Ramanjaneya Yuddham (1975)
5. Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974)
6. Intinti Katha (1974)
7. Panjaramlo Pasipapa (1973)
8. Kalavari Kutumbam (1972) as Kalpana
9. Atthanu Diddina Kodalu (1972)
10. Prema Jeevulu (1971)
11. Pattindalla Bangaram (1971) as Bharathi
12. Adavi Veerulu (1971)
13. Vikramarka Vijayam (1971)
14. Anuradha (1971) as Aruna
15. Bangaru Kutumbam (1971)
16. Chitti Chellelu (1970)
17. Evarini Nammali (1970)
18. Jhanmabhoomi (1970)
19. Okka Kutumbham (1970)
20. Raithe Raju (1970)
21. Lakshmi Kataksham (1970)
22. Maa Manchi Akkayya (1970)
23. Bale Etthu Chivariki Chitthu (1970)
24. Merupu Veerudu (1970)
25. Ukku Pidugu (1969) as Padmavathi Devi
26. Gopaludu Bhoopaludu (1969)
27. Sattekalapu Satteya (1969)
28. Sabash Satyam (1969)
29. Takkari Donga Chankkani Chukka (1969)
30. Devudichina Bhartha (1969) as Amruthavalli
31. Aggi Veerudu (1969)
32. Ukku Pidugu (1969)
33. Saptaswaralu (1969)
34. Gandara Gandadu (1969)
35. Govula Gopanna (1968)
36. Aggi Meeda Guggilam (1968) as Chandraprabha
37. Rajayogam (1968)
38. Ranabheri (1968)
39. Bhale Kodallu (1968)
40. Evaru Monagadu (1968) as Padma
41. Rahasyam (1967)
42. Aggidora (1967)
43. Sthree Janma (1967)
44. Kambojaraju Katha (1967)
45. Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna (1967)
46. Raktha Sindhooram (1967)
47. Satyame Jayam (1967)
48. Veera Pooja (1967)
49. Aggi Barata (1966)
50. Loguttu Perumallakeruka (1966)
51. Bhimanjaneya Yuddham (1966)
52. Pidugu Raamudu (1966)
53. Bhulokamlo Yamalokam (1966)
54. Prathigna Palana (1966)
55. Aakasaramanna (1965) as Chandravathi
56. Prameelarjuna Yuddham (1965)
57. Aatma Gowravam (1965)
58. Vijaya Simha (1965)
59. Manushulu Mamathalu (1965)
60. Preminchi Chudu (1965)
61. Mangamma Sapatham (1965)
62. Pakkalo Ballem (1965)
63. Babruvahana (1964)
64. Aggi Pidugu (1964)
65. Totalo Pilla Kotalo Raani (1964)
66. Bhaktha Ramadasu (1964)
67. Pooja Phalam (1964)
68. Bangaru Timmaraju (1964)
69. Guruvunu Minchina Sishyudu (1963)
70. Madana Kamaraju Katha (1962) as Mohana
71. Conistable Kuthuru (1962)
72. Dakshayagnam (1962)
73. Aradhana (1962)
74. Mahamantri Timmarusu (1962)
75. Nitya Kalyanam Paccha Thoranam (1960)
76. Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chintamani (1960) as Princess who imprisons Prathapa Simha
77. Mangalyam (1960)
78. Bhaktha Ambarisha (1959)
79. Nagula Chavithi (1956) - Debut in Telugu (Child Artist)

Tamil

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Year	Film	Role
1978	Iravu 12 Mani
1976	Veeduvarai Uravu
1975	Amudha	Anbarasi
	Naalai Namadhe	Kamala
	Swami Ayyappan
1974	Akkarai Pachai	Usha
	Netru Indru Naalai	Amudha
	Pathu Matha Bandham	Mallika
1973	Pattikaattu Ponnaiya	Megala
	School Master
1972	Ellai Kodu	Bhavani
1971	Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan	Kamini
	Aathi Parasakthi	Lakshmi Devi
	Pattondru Ketten
	Poi Sollathae
	Needhi Dhevan
1970	Patham Pasali	Radha
	Sorgam	Anjana
	Namma Veettu Deivam
1969	Kumara Sambhavam	Urvasi
	Singapore Seeman
	Avare En Deivam
	Adimai Penn	Princess Muthazhagi
	Poova Thalaiya	Raji
	Ulagam Ivvalaudhan	Sumathi
1968	Kudiyirundha Koyil	Asha
	Siritha Mugam
	Delhi Mapillai	Gandhimathi
	Neeyum Naanum
	Kallum Kaniyagum	Geetha
1967	Selva Magal	Saradha
	Anubavam Pudhumai	Vanitha
	Anubavi Raja Anubavi	Rajamani
	Bama Vijayam	Bama
	Thaikku Thalaimagan	Nalini
1966	Thayin Mel Aanai
1965	Neela Vanam	Vimala
	Vazhikaathi
	Iru Thuruvam	Kamala
	Poomalai	Nalina
1964	Kalai Kovil	Saroja
	Amma Engey
	Magaley Un Samathu	Alli
	Nal Varavu
	Nanum Manidhandhaan
	Poompuhar	Madhavi
	Kaadhalikka Neramillai	Nirmala/Nimmi
1963	Kaattumaina
	Yarukku Sontham	Mallika
	Manthiri Kumaran	Rani
	Kalai Arasi	Princess Rajani
	Kubera Theevu	Vasanthi
1962	Nichaya Thaamboolam	Sarala
	Sengamala Theevu	Kanni
	Thendral Veesum
	Neeya Naana?
1961	Panam Panthiyile	Santha
1960	Baktha Sabari
	Petraval Kanda Peruvazhvu
1956	Naga Devathai	Child Artist (Debut in Tamil)

Kannada

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1960	Dashavathara
1960	Aasha Sundari
1962	Thejaswini
1962	Swarna Gowri
1962	Rathna Manjari
1962	Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu
1962	Kantheredu Nodu
1963	Santha Thukaram
1963	Chandra Kumaara
1964	Shivarathri Mahathme
1964	Shivagange Mahathme
1964	Chandavalliya Thota
1965	Satya Harishchandra
1965	Naagapooja
1966	Bala Nagamma
1968	Arunodaya
1969	Gruhalakshmi
1969	Bhale Basava
1970	Sukha Samsaara
1970	Mr. Rajkumar
1970	C.I.D. Rajanna
1970	Modala Rathri	Rajani
1973	Jwala Mohini
1973	CID 72
1974	Urvashi
1974	Mahadeshwara Pooja Phala
1974	Mannina Magalu
1975	Aashirvaada
1975	Naaga Kanye
1977	Shani Prabhava
1978	Devadasi

Malayalam: Credited as Gracy

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1962	Bharya	Gracy	Malayalam debut
1963	Kadalamma
1963	Rebecca
1964	Pazhassi Raja	Ammu Thampuratty
1965	Shakuntala	Menaka
1966	Jail
1966	Kadamattathachan
1966	Anarkali	Gulnar
1967	Udhyogastha
1967	Karutha Rathrikal
1968	Kadal	Rajeena
1968	Dial 2244
1969	Kumara Sambhavam	Urvashi
1969	Urangatha Sundary	Vilasini
1970	Dathuputhran
1971	Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan
1972	Sree Guruvayoorappan
1973	Manassu
1973	Ponnaapuram Kotta	Maalu
1974	Devi Kanyaakumaari	Devaki
1974	Durga	Latha
1975	Raasaleela
1975	Hotel Kaveri
1977	Sreemurukan	Rajeswari
1978	Vishwaroopam

Hindi

Year	Film	Role	Notes
1966	Pyar Kiye Jaa	Nirmala "Nimmo"	Hindi Debut as Rajasree of South (Remake of Kadhalikka Neramillai)
1967	Nasihat
1968	Payal Ki Jhankar	Kala
1968	Mujrim Kaun?

References

• Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Paul Willemen (1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. Oxford University Press. pp. 380, 391. ISBN 0-85170-669-X.
• "Icchina Maata Kosame Natinchadam Maanesa". Sakshi.com. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.

External links

• Rajasree at IMDb