Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu cinema is based in Film Nagar, ...

. She has acted in more than 800 films. She was well known for her grandmother roles in several films.She won two Nandi Awards.

Early life

She was born in Machilipatnam,

Madras Presidency The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision (presidency) of British India. At its greatest extent, the presidency included most of southern India, including the ...

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

Film career

Her debut film was ''Garuda Garvabhangam'' in 1950. Nirmalamma has worked along with almost all famous artists in Telugu Cinema like NTR, ANR,

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

S. V. Ranga Rao Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (3 July 1918 – 18 July 1974), popularly known as SVR, was an Indian actor, producer, and director known for his works majorly in Telugu and Tamil films. He is regarded as one of the finest actors in the history o ...

, Rajendra Prasad,

P. B. Srinivas Prathivadhi Bhayankara Sreenivas (22 September 1930 – 14 April 2013) widely known as P. B. Sreenivas was an Indian playback singer, composer, harmonium player, lyricist, littérateur, and poet known for his works in South cinema, and Bollyw ...

Chiranjeevi Chiranjeevi (born Konidela Sivasankara Varaprasad; 22 August 1955) is an Indian actor, film producer and former politician, who predominantly works in Telugu cinema. Chiranjeevi starred in over 150 feature films in Telugu, as well as some film ...

Nandamuri Balakrishna Nandamuri Balakrishna (born 10 June 1960), simply known as Balakrishna or Balayya or NBK, is an Indian actor, producer and politician. He appeared in more than 100 Telugu films over forty years in a variety of roles and established himself as ...

Venkatesh Venkatesh is a given name and family name from the Indian subcontinent derived from Venkateswara, a Hindu deity. Notable persons with the name include: * A. Venkatesh Naik (born 1936), member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India * A. Venkatesh (directo ...

agarjuna akkineniand many more. She is one of the artists who appears in almost all of the movies of

S. V. Krishna Reddy Satti Venkata Krishna Reddy is an Indian film director, screenwriter, composer, and actor known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has garnered three state Nandi Awards and the Filmfare Best Telugu Director Award. His notable f ...

and

E. V. V. Satyanarayana Eedara Veera Venkata Satyanarayana (10 June 1956 21 January 2011) was an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer. He directed a total of 51 films in Telugu and Hindi and introduced many actors to Telugu cinema. He was well known for m ...

. In a career spanning over five decades, she worked in over 700 films and bagged Nandi award for best supporting actress for her role in ‘Mayuri’. Her roles in films like ‘Sankarabharanam’, ‘Yamagola’, ‘Padaharella Vayasu’, ‘Swathi Muthyam’, ‘Maavi Chiguru’ and ‘Subha Sankalpam’ remain unforgettable. She has had memorable roles in the films ''Chinnodu Peddodu'', '' Padaharella Vayasu'', ''Kanakamahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe'', '' Gang Leader'', '' Mayalodu'', ''Egirey Paavurama'', ''Rendilla Poojari'', '' Devatha'' (Shoban babu's movie), ''Chinnarayudu'', '' Dalapathi'', '' Alibaba Aradajanu Dongalu'', ''Sitharatnam Gaari Abbayi'', ''Mamagaaru'', ''

Aa Okkati Adakku ''Aa Okkati Adakku'' () is a 1992 Indian Telugu-language comedy film written and directed by E. V. V. Satyanarayana, and produced by M. Saravanan and M. Balasubramaniam under the AVM Productions banner. It stars Rajendra Prasad, Rambha, and R ...

'', '' Karthavyam'', ''Chalaki Mogudu'' and ''Chadastapu Pellam''. She has established Nirmala Arts and produced ''Chalaki Mogudu Chadasthapu Pellam'', starring Rajendra Prasad, directed by Relangi Narasimha Rao. Her last movie was '' Premaku Swagatham'', directed by famous director

. Her last public appearance was at the Vajrothsava celebrations of Telugu cinema where many celebrities remembered her for the fact that she has played as mother/grandmother for many generations of Telugu Cinema.

Personal life

She had no children of her own, but adopted a daughter, Kavitha.

Awards

Nandi Awards(in

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode ...

) * 1984 Best Supporting Actress - ''

Mayuri Mayuri may refer to: * ''Mayuri'' (film), a 1984 Telugu film produced by Ramoji Rao * ''Maya'' (2015 Tamil film), released as ''Mayuri'' in Telugu * Mayoori (actress) (1983–2005), a South Indian actress in Malayalam film industry * Mayuri Upa ...

'' * 1999 Best Character Actress - '' Seetharama Raju''

Selected filmography

This is partial list of her films.

1950s

* '' Garuda Garvabhangam'' (1956) * '' Paduka Pattabhishekam'' (1957) * ''BhagyaDevatha'' (1959)

1960s

* '' Krishna Prema'' (1960) - Rukmini * '' Bharya Bharthalu'' (1961) * ''

Kula Gothralu ''Kula Gotralu'' () is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Pratyagatma. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Krishna Kumari, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. Acharya Aatreya wrote the dialogues for the f ...

'' (1962) * '' Devatha '' (1964) * ''

Potti Pleader ''Potti Pleader'' () is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film written by Bhamidipati Radhakrishna and directed by K. Hemambaradhara Rao. Based on Radhakrishna's play ''Idemiti'', the film stars Padmanabham in the title role, who also pr ...

'' (1966) * ''

Sri Krishna Tulabharam ''Sri Krishna Tulabharam'' () is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced by D. Ramanaidu under the Suresh Productions banner and directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Anjali Devi and Jamuna wi ...

'' (1966) Devaki * ''Deva kanya'' (1968) * ''

Ekaveera Ekaveera ( Telugu: ఏకవీర) is an Indian novel written by Kavi Samrat Viswanatha Satyanarayana in Telugu language. It was penned between 1929–31 and was published in Bharathi magazine in 1935. Originally written in Telugu, it has sin ...

'' (1969)

1970s

* '' Thirumalai Thenkumari'' (1970) * ''Naa Tammudu'' (1971) * ''Attalu Kodallu'' (1971) * '' Manchi Vallaki Manchivadu'' (1973) * '' Devudu Chesina Manushulu'' (1973) * ''Devudamma'' (1973) * ''Nindu Kutumbam'' (1973) * ''Samsara Saagaram'' (1973) * '' Yamagola'' (1977) * ''Chillarakottu Chittamma'' (1977) * '' Padaharella Vayasu'' (1978) as Gangamma * ''

Sivaranjani Shivaranjani or Sivaranjani is a musical scale used in Indian classical music. There are two scales, one in Hindustani music and one in Carnatic music. The Hindustani rāga is a pentatonic scale, as is the Carnatic scale categorized as Audava ...

'' (1978) * '' Kothala Raayudu'' (1979) * ''

Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam may refer to: * ''Sankarabharanam'' (1980 film), an Indian Telugu-language musical drama film * ''Sankarabharanam'' (2015 film), an Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film * Sankarabharanam (raga) Dhīraśankarābharaṇaṃ, c ...

'' (1979)

1980s

* ''Mosagadu'' (1980) * '' Agni Poolu'' (1981) * ''Illantaa Sandadi'' (1982) * '' Patnam Vachina Pativrathalu'' (1982) * '' Nireekshana'' (1982) * ''Kalavari Samsaram'' (1982) * ''

Subhalekha ''Subhalekha'' () is a 1982 Telugu-language comedy-drama film, produced by Allu Aravind and V. V. Sastry under the Prasanthi Creations banner and directed by K. Viswanath. It stars Chiranjeevi and Sumalata , with music composed by K. V. Maha ...

'' (1982) * '' Kaliyuga Ramudu'' (1982) * '' Sangharshana'' (1983) * '' Manthri Gari Viyyankudu'' (1983) as Annapoornamma * ''

Maga Maharaju ''Maga Maharaju'' is a 1983 Telugu film directed by Vijaya Bapineedu and produced by Shyam Prasad Arts. Chiranjeevi, Suhasini, Rao Gopal Rao, Udaykumar and Annapurna played main roles. The film was remade in Hindi as ''Ghar Sansar'' in 1986. ...

'' (1983) * ''Mugguru Monagallu'' (1983) * '' Rustum'' (1984) * ''

'' (1984) * '' Mahanagaramlo Mayagadu'' (1984) * ''

Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...

'' (1984) * ''Babai Abbai'' (1984) as Godaramma * '' Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu'' (1985) * ''Samsaram O Sangeetam'' (1985) * ''Muchchataga Mugguru'' (1985) * ''

Swathi Muthyam ''Swathi Muthyam'' () is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Raadhika, while Gollapudi Maruti Rao, J. V. Somayajulu, Nirmalamma, S ...

'' (1985) * '' Jailu Pakshi'' (1986) * '' Aakrandana'' (1986) * ''Naaku Pellam Kavali'' (1987) * '' Sri Kanaka Mahalaxmi Recording Dance Troupe'' (1987) as Padi Sundaramma * ''

Vishwanatha Nayakudu ''Viswanatha Nayakudu'' is a 1987 Telugu historical film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao. The film won four Nandi Awards. Plot The story is based on an Indian historical event during the 16th century. It narrates the victory of Viswanatha Naya ...

'' (1987) * '' Khaidi No.786'' (1988) * '' Aakhari Poratam'' (1988) * ''Chinnodu Peddodu'' (1988) * ''

Varasudochhadu ''Varasudochadu'' () is a 1988 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced by Sravanthi Ravi Kishore under the Sri Sravanthi Movies banner and directed by A. Mohan Gandhi. It stars Venkatesh, Suhasini and Mohan Babu, with music composed by Il ...

'' (1988) * '' Siva'' (1989) * '' Vijay'' (1989) * '' Ajatha Satruvu'' as Kasulamma * '' Chalaki Mogudu Chadastapu Pellam'' (1989) * ''Gundammagaari Krishnulu''

1990s

* '' Gang Leader'' (1991) * '' Karthavyam'' (1991) as Mahalakshmi * '' Thalapathi''(1991)(Tamil) * '' Killer'' (1991) as Subba Lakshmi * '' Aapathbandhavudu'' (1992) * ''Karuninchina Kanaka Durga'' (1992) * '' Raat'' (1992) * '' Sundarakanda'' (1992) * ''

Chinarayudu ''Chinarayudu'' is a 1992 Indian Telugu-language drama film directed by B. Gopal and produced by P. R. Prasad under Datta Sai Films. It stars Venkatesh and Vijayashanti playing the lead roles, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film was a ...

'' (1992) * '' Bava Bavamaridi'' (1993) * ''

Rakshana ''Rakshana'' () is a 1993 Telugu-language action film, produced by Akkineni Venkat under the Annapurna Studios banner and directed by Uppalapati Narayana Rao. It stars Nagarjuna and Shobhana, with music composed M. M. Keeravani. Dubbed into Tami ...

'' (1993) * ''

'' (1993) * ''Sh... Gup Chup'' (1993) * '' Mayalodu'' (1993) * '' Matru Devo Bhava'' (1993) * ''

Pekata Papa Rao ''Pekata Papa Rao'' is a 1993 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced by Pantangi Pullayah, D.V.V.Ramana Reddy under the Uma Maheswara Movies banner and directed by Y. Nageswara Rao. It stars Rajendra Prasad, Khushbu with music composed b ...

'' (1993) * '' Alibaba Aradajanu Dongalu'' (1994) * ''

Allari Premikudu ''Allari Premikudu'' () is a 1994 Indian Telugu-language musical romance film produced by Suresh and Satyanand under the Sri Satya Durga Arts banner and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. It stars Jagapati Babu, Soundarya, Rambha and Kanchan, wh ...

'' (1994) as Lakshmi Devi * '' Big Boss'' (1995) *'' Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari'' (1995) (Tamil) * '' Subha Sankalpam'' (1995) as Lakshmamma *''

Coimbatore Mappillai ''Coimbatore Mappillai'' () is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by C. Ranganathan. It stars Vijay and Sanghavi. The film's score and music was composed by Vidyasagar. It was released on 15 January 1996 coinciding P ...

'' (1996) (Tamil) * ''Soggadi Pellam'' (1996) * ''

Maavichiguru ''Maavichiguru'' () is a 1996 Indian Telugu-language drama film written and directed by S. V. Krishna Reddy. The film is produced by P. Usharani under Chandra Kiran Films and presented by Sri Sravanthi Movies. It stars Jagapathi Babu, Aamani, ...

'' (1996) * '' Egire Paavurama'' (1997) * ''

Aahvaanam ''Aahvanam'' () is a 1997 Indian Telugu language film directed by S. V. Krishna Reddy. The film stars Srikanth, Ramya Krishna, and Heera Rajgopal. The film was inspired by the Telugu film '' Pelli Naati Pramanalu'' (1959), produced and directed ...

'' (1997) * ''

Aaro Pranam ''Aaro Pranam'' () is a 1997 Indian Telugu-language film directed by Veeru K and stars Vineeth and Soundarya. Plot The film is about a relationship between a man, Chanti, and a woman, Akankshaa, who is one year older than the man. How they c ...

'' (1997) * '' Raayudu'' (1998) * '' Pandaga'' (1998) * '' Seetharama Raju'' (1999) * '' Sneham Kosam'' (1999)

2000s

* '' Premaku Swagatham'' (2002) * '' Kodanda Ramudu'' (2000) as Saree weaver

References

External links

* {{authority control 1920 births 2009 deaths Actresses in Telugu cinema Indian film actresses People from Krishna district Actresses from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian actresses 21st-century Indian actresses Nandi Award winners People from Machilipatnam