Bharathi Vishnuvardhan

Bharathi Vishnuvardhan (born 15 August 1948),^[1] also known mononymously as Bharathi, is an Indian actress known primarily for her work in Kannada cinema and television serials.^[2] She began her career in 1966, as a lead actress, with the Kannada movie Love in Bangalore though Dudde Doddappa was her first release.^[3] In a career spanning over 50 years, Bharathi has appeared in 150 films. Apart from 100 films in Kannada, she has also acted in a handful of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films. Through the course of her career, she became known for her portrayal of roles of mythological and historical characters, and also that of a student, a romantic and a rural belle.^[1] Her role in Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970) as Chennambike won her the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress. In 2017, she was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.^[4] She has the distinction of having paired with Dr.Rajkumar as a lead actress in all the 26 movies she acted with him and is also paired with him the most no. of times (6 movies) in those movies where he played multiple roles.^[5]

Bharathi Vishnuvardhan
Born	Bharathidevi Rao (1948-08-15) 15 August 1948 (age 76) Bhadravati, Karnataka, India
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1966–present
Spouse	Vishnuvardhan ​ ​ (m. 1975; died 2009)​
Children	2
Awards	Padma Shri (2017)

Personal life

Bharathi was born in Bhadravathi on 15 August 1948 in the erstwhile Indian state of Mysore (now Karnataka).^[1] Her father V. M. Ramachandra Rao was a tailor and her mother Bhadravathi Bai was a homemaker. Bharathi studied at Malleswaram Ladies Association (M.L.A) High School and then joined Maharani's Women's Science College in Bengaluru.^[6] While she was active in both sports and dance, her ambition at the time was to become a badminton player or an athlete. She even represented Karnataka State Level Throw-ball team during her college days. Destiny willed otherwise. In 1964, photos of her dance performance caught the eye of Kannada actor Kalyan Kumar, who cast her in Love in Bangalore.

Bharathi married actor Dr. Vishnuvardhan on 27 February 1975 in Bengaluru. They have two adopted daughters Keerthi and Chandana.^[7] Dr. Vishnuvardhan died on 30 December 2009, aged 59 from a cardiac arrest.^[8]

Career

Her first Kannada release was Dudde Doddappa followed by Love in Bangalore. Her sensitive portrayal of a singer in Sandhya Raga won her critical acclaim and she went on to form a successful romantic pair with Rajkumar. The iconic pair acted together in 26 movies and went on to give hit after hit until 1972, very significant among them are Mayor Muthanna, Sri Krishnadevaraya and Bangaaradha Manushya.

In 1966 Bharathi played supporting roles in two M. G. Ramachandran movies Nadodi and Chandhrodhayam which elevated her profile in the Tamil arena. She then graduated to lead heroine roles with Deiva Cheyal, Avalukendru Or Manam and Thanga Surangam, opposite stars like Muthuraman, Gemini Ganeshan, and Shivaji Ganeshan. Bharathi acted in Telugu movies like Jai Jawan (1970), Govula Gopanna (1968) and Sipayi Chinnayya with Akkineni Nageswara Rao and various Malayalam films with many leading actors, mainly in character roles.

In 1967 Bharathi was introduced to Hindi cinema by director A. Bhimsingh with Meherban. She went on to act in several Hindi films like Saadhu Aur Shaitaan with Mehmood, Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani opposite Rakesh Roshan, Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim and Hum Tum Aur Woh with Vinod Khanna and later Mastana and Kunwaara Baap (1974).

In the 1970s she formed a popular pair with Vishnuvardhan (who then became her husband) and they starred together in blockbusters like Bhagya Jyothi, Makkala Bhagya, Devara Gudi, Nagara Hole and Bangarada Jinke (1980). After a brief hiatus, she returned to the Kannada screen in 1984 with Puttanna Kanagal's much acclaimed Runamukthalu and started her second innings as a lead heroine in slightly more mature roles, going on to star in several movies each with lead actors of the time - Anant Nag (Maneye Manthralaya, Shanthi Nivasa) Prabhakar (Bandha Mukta, Thaliya Aane), Ambareesh (Matsara) and Rajesh (Tavaru Mane). She also starred in several Hindi films in her second innings - Uttar Dakshin (1987), Izzatdaar (1990 with Dilip Kumar), Khel and Aao Pyaar Karen.

In the late 90s she acted in the Kannada Doordarshan serial Janani. In 2012, she appeared as a strict, no-nonsense sessions court judge in T.N. Seetharam's Kannada daily serial Mukta-Mukta.

Apart from acting, Bharathi has sung a few songs, a duet with T.M. Soundarrajan, a Tamil song "Thanga Nilave Nee Illamal" picturised on her and Gemini Ganesan and a Kannada song "Ee Notake Mai Matake" with her husband Vishnuvardhan for Nagara Hole. She has worked as an associate director with K. S. L. Swamy for the movies Karune Illada Kanoonu, Huli Hejje and the classic Malaya Marutha.

Filmography

Below is a partial list of her films.

Year	Film	Role	Language	Notes
1966	Dudde Doddappa	Kalpana	Kannada	First release [3]
1966	Love in Bangalore		Kannada
1966	Emme Thammanna	Meena	Kannada
1966	Sandhya Raga		Kannada
1966	Madhu Malathi	Madhumalathi	Kannada
1966	Nadodi	Meena Dharmalingam	Tamil	Debut in Tamil
1966	Chandhrodhayam	Kamala	Tamil
1966	Enga Paappa		Tamil
1966	Namma Veettu Lakshmi	Saradamma's daughter	Tamil
1967	Beedi Basavanna	Vijaya	Kannada
1967	Rajashekara	Mangala	Kannada
1967	Pattukunte Padivelu[9]	Kalpana	Telugu
1967	Thanga Thambi	Parvathi	Tamil
1967	Rajadurgada Rahasya	Mangala	Kannada
1967	Mehrban	Geeta	Hindi
1967	Deiva Cheyal		Tamil
1967	Valiba Virundhu	Radha	Tamil
1967	Naan Yaar Theriyuma		Tamil
1967	Aggi Dora	Jayanthi	Telugu
1967	Gange Gowri	Gange	Kannada
1967	Pattukunte Padivelu		Telugu
1968	Uyarndha Manithan	Gowri	Tamil
1968	Sadhu Aur Shaitaan	Vidya Shastri/Chuniya	Hindi
1968	Amma	Mala	Kannada
1968	Mana Samsaram		Telugu
1968	Ninne Pelladuta	Uma	Telugu
1968	Nimirindhu Nil		Tamil
1968	Kalisina Manasulu		Telugu
1968	Manassakshi	Gowri	Kannada
1968	Bangaru Gaajulu	Sarada	Telugu
1968	Govula Gopanna	Radha	Telugu
1968	Poovum Pottum	Amudha	Tamil
1968	Nane Bhagyavathi		Kannada
1968	Lakshmi Nivasam	Kalpana	Telugu
1969	Nangu Killadigal		Tamil
1969	Mayor Muthanna	Geetha	Kannada
1969	Ardha Rathri		Telugu
1969	Gandondu Hennaru	Veena	Kannada
1969	Thanga Surangam	Amutha	Tamil
1969	Shiva Bhaktha		Kannada
1969	Padichakallan		Malayalam
1969	Sipayi Chinnayya	Shobha	Telugu
1969	Chaduranga		Kannada
1969	Nil Gavani Kadhali	Malathy	Tamil
1969	Gruhalakshmi		Kannada
1970	Jai Jawan	Susheela / Sujatha	Telugu
1970	Aliya Geleya		Kannada
1970	Akhandudu	Jayaprada	Telugu
1970	Baalu Belagithu	Lakshmi	Kannada
1970	Sri Krishnadevaraya	Chinna	Kannada	Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
1970	Purab Aur Paschim	Gopi	Hindi
1970	Hasiru Thorana	Meena	Kannada
1970	Snehithi		Tamil
1970	Bhale Jodi	Sunitha	Kannada
1970	Mastana	Sharada	Hindi
1970	Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani	Seema	Hindi
1970	Rangamahal Rahasya	Kamala	Kannada
1970	Andariki Monagadu		Telugu
1971	Avalukendru Or Manam	Lalitha	Tamil
1971	Sri Krishna Rukmini Satyabhama	Sathyabhama	Kannada
1971	Duniya Kya Jaane		Hindi
1971	Kula Gourava	Radha	Kannada
1971	Thayi Devaru	Girija	Kannada
1971	Seema		Hindi
1971	Hum Tum Aur Woh	Aarti	Hindi
1971	Andam Kosam Pandem		Telugu
1971	Namma Samsara	Bhama	Kannada
1971	Meendum Vazhven	Shanthi	Tamil
1971	Naa Thammudu		Telugu
1972	Janma Rahasya		Kannada
1972	Jeevana Jokali		Kannada
1972	Jaga Mecchida Maga	Yamini	Kannada
1972	Hrudaya Sangama	Belli / Chandra	Kannada
1972	Annamitta Kai	Dr. Kalpana	Tamil
1972	Bangaaradha Manushya	Lakshmi	Kannada
1972	Aankh Micholi	Geeta	Hindi
1972	Unakkum Enakkum		Tamil
1972	Sub Ka Saathi	Chitra	Hindi
1972	Chitti Thalli		Telugu
1973	Bidugade	Shobha	Kannada
1973	Swayamvara		Kannada
1973	Doorada Betta	Gowri	Kannada
1973	Mane Belagida Sose		Kannada
1973	Ponvandu		Tamil
1973	Neramu Siksha	Sujatha	Telugu
1974	Mugguru Ammayilu		Telugu
1974	Anna Attige	Hema	Kannada
1974	Kunwara Baap	Radha	Hindi
1974	Thulasi		Telugu
1974	Amma Manasu		Telugu
1974	Anaganaga Oka Thandri		Telugu
1974	Adapillala Thandri		Telugu
1974	Harathi		Telugu
1975	Onde Roopa Eradu Guna		Kannada	Cameo
1975	Devara Gudi	Suchitra	Kannada
1975	Kaveri	Kaveri	Kannada
1975	Kotha Kapuram		Telugu
1975	Bhagya Jyothi	Jyothi	Kannada
1975	Saubhagyavathi		Telugu
1975	Puttinti Gowravam		Telugu
1975	Pandanti Samsaram		Telugu
1975	Kathanayakuni Katha		Telugu
1975	Pellade Bomma		Telugu
1976	Makkala Bhagya		Kannada
1976	Vadhu Varulu		Telugu
1977	Devare Dikku		Kannada
1977	Manassakshi	Indira	Telugu
1977	Nee Vazha Vendum		Tamil
1977	Nagara Hole	Madhu	Kannada
1978	Madhura Sangama	Lalithambe	Kannada	Cameo
1978	Prathima		Kannada
1978	Sandharbha		Kannada
1979	Manini		Kannada
1980	Chitrakoota		Kannada
1980	Rahasya Rathri		Kannada
1980	Bangarada Jinke	Bhagya	Kannada
1982	Pedda Gedda	Lawyer	Kannada	Cameo
1983	Kranthiyogi Basavanna	Akka Mahadevi	Kannada	Cameo
1984	Runamukthalu	Goda	Kannada
1986	Tavaru Mane	Thai	Kannada
1986	Maneye Manthralaya		Kannada
1986	Namma Oora Devathe		Kannada
1986	Ella Hengasarinda		Kannada
1986	Uppu	Khadeeja	Malayalam
1986	Padikkatha Padam		Tamil
1987	Uttar Dakshin	Bharathi	Hindi
1987	Bandha Mukta		Kannada
1987	Thaliya Aane		Kannada
1987	Prema Kadambari		Kannada
1988	Shanthi Nivasa		Kannada
1988	Chinni Krishnudu		Telugu
1988	Mutthinantha Manushya		Kannada
1989	Yuddha Kaanda	Sharada Devi	Kannada
1990	Matsara	Bhavana	Kannada
1990	Izzatdaar	Sujatha	Hindi
1990	Bannada Gejje	Vyjayanthi	Kannada
1990	Prema Yuddham	Vyjayanthi	Telugu
1990	Urudhi Mozhi	Abhirami	Tamil
1991	Santhwanam	Subhadra	Malayalam
1992	Khel	Kamini / Sharda	Hindi
1993	Devaasuram	Subhadra	Malayalam
1994	Aao Pyaar Karen	Anjali	Hindi
1994	Sarigamalu		Telugu
1995	Dore		Kannada
1995	Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu	Parvathi	Malayalam
1996	Katta Panchayathu	Karthik's Mother	Tamil
1996	Kaadhale Nimmadhi	Kavitha's Mother	Tamil
1997	Varnapakittu	Sunny's mother	Malayalam
1997	Oru Yathramozhi	Govindankutty's mother	Malayalam
1998	Nakshatratharattu	Sreedevi	Malayalam
1998	Sundara Pandian	Pandian's mother	Tamil
2000	Narasimham	Induchoodan's mother	Malayalam
2001	Karumadikkuttan	Bharathi	Malayalam
2002	Mazhathullikilukkam	Alice John	Malayalam
2003	Preethi Prema Pranaya	Sharadha Devi	Kannada
2005	Maharaja	Annapoorna	Kannada
2006	Kallarali Hoovagi	Neelamma	Kannada
2006	Photographer	Dijo's & Joy's mother	Malayalam
2006	Tananam Tananam	Murthy's wife	Kannada
2009	Raaj - The Showman	Herself	Kannada
2012	Crazy Loka		Kannada
2012	Kanneerinum Madhuram	Vijayakumari	Malayalam
2016	Doddmane Hudga	Doddmane Rajeeva's sister	Kannada
2017	Ambar Caterers[10]		Tulu
2018	Raja Simha		Kannada
2018	Edakallu Guddada Mele		Kannada
2019	Kurukshetra	Kunti	Kannada

Television

• AmruthaVarshini as Annapoorneshwari Devi - serial aired in Star Suvarna
• Sevanthi as Pramoda Devi - serial aired in Udaya TV
• Janani -serial aired in Doordarshan
• Samarppan - Doordarshan Hindi

Awards

• 2017 - Padmashri - the 4th highest civilian award of India.^[11]
• 2010 - Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka State Open University.^[12]
• 1969-70 - Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actress - Sri Krishnadevaraya^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Bharathi Vishnuvardhan: Shining on the silver screen for five decades". The Times of India. 18 August 2014. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
2. "Jayanthi was like a sister: Bharathi Vishnuvardhan - Times of India". The Times of India.
3. "ಮೊದಲ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲೇ ಮೂವರು ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ನಾಯಕಿಯಾದರು ಭಾರತಿ..!! | Naadu Kanda Rajkumar | Ep 170". YouTube. 2 February 2024.
4. "Padma Awards 2017" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
5. "ಹಿಂದಿ,ತಮಿಳು, ತೆಲುಗಿಗಿಂತ ಕನ್ನಡದ "ಎಮ್ಮೆ ತಮ್ಮಣ್ಣ" ಏಕೆ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ..? | Naadu Kanda Rajkumar | Ep 171". YouTube. 12 February 2024.
6. "Bharathi: Parents made me understand ways of the world". Deccan Herald. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
7. "The accidental star". Bangalore Mirror. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
8. "Karnataka mourns Vishnuvardhan's death". 31 December 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
9. "Pattukunte Padivelu (1967)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
10. "Bharathi Vishnuvardhan". 23 September 2016.
11. "Padma Awards 2017 announced". Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
12. "List of Kannada Film Artists with Honorary Doctorate Degree". 21 April 2020.

External links

• Bharathi at IMDb