Vyjayanthimala in Devdas (1955)

Vyjayanthimala (born 13 August 1933) is an Indian actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, Carnatic singer, dance choreographer and parliamentarian. She was the highest-paid actress of her time. Regarded as the "first female superstar" and "Megastar" of Indian cinema, She made her debut in the Tamil language film at the age of 16 with Vaazhkai in 1949 and in the Telugu film Jeevitham in 1950. She later became one of the most prominent actresses of South Indian cinema and in the golden era of Bollywood and was known as one of the iconic leading actresses of all time. Vyjayanthimala acted in 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, being the first person to refuse a Filmfare Award. Following that, Vyjayanthimala appeared in 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 Award for Best Actress Award for Sadhna and Madhumati and won the award for the former. At this point, Vyjayanthimala made 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 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, royal courtesan of Vaishali, Amrapali. 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. In 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 FilmRoleLanguageNotes
1949 VazhkaiMohana ShivashankaralingamTamilOn-screen debut & Tamil debut
1950 JeevithamMohini Sivashankara Lingeswara PrasadTeluguShot simultaneously in original Tamil as Vaazhkai and also, Telugu debut
VijayakumariWestern dancerTamilGuest appearance
1951 BaharLataHindiBollywood film debut
1953 LadkiRani Mehra Hindi
1954 PennRaniTamilShot simultaneously with Ladki
SanghamRaniTeluguShot simultaneously with Ladki and last Telugu film
NaginMalaHindi
Pehli JhalakBeena Hindi
Asha NirashaAshaKannadaCompleted[1] Unreleased[2]
Miss MalaMalaHindi
1955 YasminYasmin Hindi
SitaraVeda Hindi
JashanSeema/Malti HindiDual Role
DevdasChandramukhi HindiWon the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress but refused the award!
1956 TajPrincess of Roopnagar Hindi
AnjaanRatna HindiAlso known as Somewhere in Delhi
New DelhiJanki Subramaniam HindiDubbed in Russian language as Индия
Marma VeeranRajkumari VijayaTamil
PatraniPrincess MrinallaHindi
Kismet Ka KhelAnokhi Hindi
DevtaNaagrani Hindi
1957 Naya DaurRajni HindiDubbed into Tamil as Pattaliyin Sabatham[3]
KathputliPushpa Hindi[4]
Ek JhalakMala Hindi
AashaNirmala Hindi[5]
1958 Sitaron Se AageyKanta Hindi
SadhnaRajni/Champa Bai HindiDual Role and also won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress
Vanjikottai ValibanPrincess MandakiniTamil
Raj TilakPrincess MandakiniHindiShot simultaneously in Tamil as Vanjikottai Valiban
MadhumatiMadhumati / Madhavi / Radha (Triple Role) HindiNominated-Filmfare Award for Best Actress; India's official entry to the Oscars
Amar DeepMeena/Aruna HindiDual Role
1959 PaighamManju Hindi
Jawani Ki HawaLatha Hindi
Athisaya PennNirmalaTamil
1960 Raja BakthiPrincess Mrinalini Tamil
Parthiban KanavuKundhavi Tamil
Irumbu ThiraiManju Tamil
College GirlKamlaHindi
Baghdad ThirudanZarinaTamil
1961 Then NilavuShanthi Tamil
NazranaVasantiHindi
Gunga JumnaDhanno HindiWon the Filmfare Award for Best Actress; BFJA Award for Best Actress
Aas Ka PanchhiNeena Bakshi Hindi
1962 RungoliNirmala "Nimmo" Hindi
JhoolaSumati Hindi
Dr. VidyaGeeta / Dr. Vidya Hindi
1963 Chittoor Rani PadminiPrincess Rani Padmini of ChittorTamilLast Tamil film
1964 ZindagiBeenaHindi
SangamRadha HindiWon the Filmfare Award for Best Actress;[6][7] First technicolor film of Raj Kapoor[8] Dubbed in Russia as Сангам
Phoolon Ki SejKaruna Hindi
LeaderPrincess Sunita HindiFirst Indian film to be shot outside of the 1.37:1 ratio (1.85:1 ratio)
IshaaraMala Hindi
1965 Naya KanoonJyothi Hindi
1966 Do Dilon Ki Dastaan Hindi
AmrapaliAmrapali HindiIndia's official entry to the Oscars
SurajPrincess Anuradha Singh Hindi
1967 Hatey BazareyChhipliBengali
Chhoti Si MulaqatRoopa ChaudharyHindi
Jewel ThiefShalini Devi Singh / Shalu Hindi
1968 SunghurshMunni/Laila-E-Aasmaan HindiDual Role and also won the BFJA Award for Best Actress
SaathiShanti Hindi
DuniyaMala Hindi
1969 Pyar Hi PyarKavita Hindi
PrincePrincess Amrita Hindi
1970 GanwaarParvati (Paro) HindiLast film

As choreographer

YearFilmCastSongLanguageNotes
1964LeaderDilip Kumar, VyjayanthimalaTere Husn Ki Kya Tareef Karoon

Mujhe Duniya Walo Sharabi Na Samjho

Hindi
SangamRaj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Rajendra KumarMain Kya Karoon RamHindiParody of Cabaret dance

As producer

YearFilmCastLanguageNotes
1982Kathoduthan Naan PesuvenRamji, Sripriya, MenakaTamilCo-producer with Rajiyiammal
Released on 14 January 1982

As playback singer

YearFilmSongCo-singer(s)LanguageNotes
1967Hatey BazareyCheye Thaki Cheye ThakiMrinal ChakrabortyBengali

Miscellaneous Crew

YearFilmLanguageNotes
2000MugavareeTamilSpecial thanks
2012Janleva 555HindiSpecial message before the film starts

See also

References

  1. S. Shyam Prasad (7 February 2010). "South Masala: For the record". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  2. Janaki Vishwanathan (30 May 2010). "The Kaapi Diaries". Mumbai: MiD DAY. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  3. "Originally Dubbed in Tamil". IndiaGlitz. May 13, 2010. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
  4. Ranjan Das Gupta (9 August 2011). "My first break Vyjayanthimala". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  5. "Asha: A composer's Dream". Rediff.com. 8 September 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  6. Fakir Hassen (Indo-Asian News Service) (3 January 2007). "Wooing Indian directors for foreign locales". Hindustan Times. Johannesburg. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. "The Big Three continue to hold sway". Filmnirvana.com. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
  8. "Down Memory Lane". The Indian Express. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
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