P. Bhanumathi Ramakrishna was an Indian actress, singer, film producer, director, music composer, and novelist. She is regarded as the first female super star of Telugu cinema. She is also considered the first female director of Telugu cinema with her debut directorial Chandirani (1953). Bhanumathi appeared in over 100 films predominantly in Telugu and Tamil languages. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2001 for her contribution to the Indian cinema. She was honored among "women in cinema" at the 30th International Film Festival of India.
Chakrapani is a 1954 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Pictures banner. It stars Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao with music composed and songs sung by Bhanumathi.
Tanikella Bharani is an Indian actor, screenwriter, poet, playwright and director who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has worked as an actor in more than 750 films, including some in Tamil and Hindi; while he was also screenwriter for 52 films. He has won three Andhra Pradesh State Nandi Awards.
Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu, popularly known as C. S. R., was an Indian method actor, and thespian best known for his works in Telugu cinema, and Telugu theater. He acted in many stage dramas and portrayed lead characters and mythological roles in over 175 movies. He was one of the lead actors of his time. Anjaneyulu was an established lead actor by the late 1930s, preceding the entrance of actors such as NTR and ANR. His performance in the super-hit Bhaktha Ramadasu in 1937 won him many accolades. In the 1950s, starting with Pathala Bhairavi screened at the first International Film Festival of India, he began acting in character roles. In Pathala Bhairavi, he plays a king worried about his daughter, a princess kidnapped by a wicked magician played by Ranga Rao.
Tenali Ramakrishna is a 1956 Indian Telugu-language political drama film produced and directed by B. S. Ranga based on Ch. Venkataramaiah's stage play of the same name. Produced for the banner Vikram Productions, it stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, N. T. Rama Rao, V. Nagayya, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna and Jamuna in key roles. Ranga handled the cinematography with his brother-in-law B. N. Haridas while P. G. Mohan edited the film. Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed the soundtrack and background score.
Vipra Narayana is a 1954 Telugu-language biographical film directed, produced and edited by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under Bharani Studios banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi, and Relangi with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film is based on the life of Tamil Vaishnava saint Vipranarayana. He led his life in devotion to Lord Narayana and worked for the Lord by dedicating him with garlands. He is one of the twelve Alvars. The film is also dubbed in Tamil with the same title and released in 1955.
Mallishwari is a 1951 Indian Telugu-language historical romance film produced and directed by B. N. Reddy under his banner Vauhini Studios. P. Bhanumathi and N. T. Rama Rao star as a couple – Nagaraju and Mallishwari – who are separated by Mallishwari's greedy mother. Mallishwari is sent to the king's palace according to the custom of "Rani Vasam", a tradition during the Vijayanagara Empire wherein young women were fetched to the palace with an offering of gold and jewellery to their parents. The rest of the film focuses on the consequences faced by Nagaraju when he, against all rules, surreptitiously enters the palace to meet Mallishwari.
Chandirani is a 1953 Indian swashbuckler film directed by Bhanumathi and produced by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Studios banner. The film is shot simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi languages. It stars Bhanumathi, N. T. Rama Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao and Relangi. Bhanumathi also wrote the story while Ramakrishna Rao scripted the film. The film's music composed is C. R. Subburaman & M. S. Viswanathan.
Prema (transl. Love) is a 1952 Indian romance film, produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Studios banner. The film is simultaneously made in Telugu and Tamil languages, the latter titled Kaadhal. It stars P. Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao with music composed by C. R. Subburaman. Bhanumathi wrote the story, for the first time.
Antastulu (transl. classes) is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language drama film produced by V. B. Rajendra Prasad and directed by V. Madhusudhana Rao. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, Krishna Kumari with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu in 1965. The film won two Nandi Awards.
Ratnamala is a 1948 Telugu-language film, produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Studios banner. It stars Bhanumathi and Akkineni Nageswara Rao, with music composed by C. R. Subburaman.
Laila Majnu is a 1949 Telugu-language historical romance film, based on the Sufi legend of Laila-Majnu. It is produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Pictures banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Bhanumathi, with music composed by C. R. Subburaman. The film was simultaneously released in Tamil with same title. The film was successful at the box office.
Manamagan Thevai is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Bhanumathi. Based on the American film The Fabulous Senorita (1952), it was simultaneously produced in Telugu as Varudu Kaavaali with Jaggayya replacing Ganesan. Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.
Gruhalakshmi is a 1967 Telugu-language, comedy film, produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao under the Bharani Pictures banner. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. The film was remade as the Tamil movie Anbe Aaruyire (1975).
Tenali Raman is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film produced and directed by B. S. Ranga based on Ch. Venkataramaiah's stage play Tenali Ramakrishna. Produced for the banner Vikram Productions, the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, V. Nagayya, P. Bhanumathi and Jamuna. Ranga also handled the cinematography while P. G. Mohan edited the film. Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed the soundtrack and background score.
Ammayi Pelli is a 1974 Indian Telugu-language comedy film, produced and directed by Bhanumathi Ramakrishna under the Bharani Pictures banner. It starsN. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna with music also composed by Bhanumathi Ramakrishna in association with Satyam.
Vivaha Bandham is a 1964 Indian Telugu-language drama film, produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao of Bharani Pictures. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Bhanumathi Ramakrishna with music composed by M. B. Sreenivasan, while Bhanumathi has taken care of supervision. It is a remake of the Bengali film Saat Pake Bandha (1963).
Bhanumathi & Ramakrishna is a 2020 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by Srikanth Nagothi starring Naveen Chandra and Salony Luthra. The plot follows relationship of a couple who are in their thirties. The film was released on Aha on 3 July 2020.
Salony Luthra is an Indian actress who works in English, Tamil and Telugu-language films.
