Anjali Devi

Telugu/Tamil/Hindi? actress born in Peddapuram, East Godavari Dist. as Anjani Kumari. Started on the Telugu stage aged 10 under her future husband, composer Adi Narayana Rao, who instructed her in music and dance. Also stage actress with the Young Men’s Happy Club. Performed in plays like Srinivasa Kalyanam and Premavijayam and gave live dance shows. Film début in C. Pullaiah’s Gollabhama playing the vamp Mohini. Early roles continued the ‘vamp’ image (e.g. Balaramaiah’s Balaraju, Keelugurram, R. Padmanabhan’s Raksharekha, T.R. Sundaram’s Sarvadhikari). These directors, and Raghavaiah, were associated with her early career, and her best-known screen image, e.g. in the famous Swapna Sundari playing a heavenly damsel descending to earth, followed by hits like Raghavaiah’s Anarkali (which ran for 100 weeks) and Suvarna Sundari, T.R. Raghunath’s Kanavane Kan Kanda Daivam and P. Neelakantan’s Chakravarthi Thirumagal, which made her a top female Telugu and Tamil star for several years. Often acted with Telugu superstars A. Nageshwara Rao and NTR and, in Tamil, with MGR and Gemini Ganesh. Started Ashwini Pics in 1949 in partnership with A. Nageshwara Rao and Gopala Rao which in 1951 became Anjali Pics Studio, in partnership with her husband Adi Narayana Rao débuting with Prasad’s Poongothai/Paradesi. In the 70s mainly played mother roles. Vice-president of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (1950-51).

FILMOGRAPHY: 1947: Gollabhama; Mahatma Udhangar; 1948: Balaraju; Madalasa; Adithan Kanavu; 1949: Raksharekha; Keelugurram/Maya? Kudhirai; Kanniyin Kathali; Mangayar Karasi; Mayavathi; 1950: Maya Rambha; Palletoori Pilla; Shri Lakshmamma Katha; Swapna Sundari; Praja Rajyam; 1951: Strisahasam; Mayalamari/ Mayakkari; Nirdoshi/Niraparadhi; Tilottama/ Mayamalai; Sarvadhikari; Marmayogi/Ek? Tha Raja; 1952: Pedaraitu; 1953: Pakkinti Ammayi; Poongothai/ Pardesi; Ladki; Shuk Rambha; 1954: Annadata; Ponnavayal/ Bangaru Bhoomi; Rechukka; Sangham; Sorgavasal; Ratha Pasam; 1955: Anarkali; Jayasimha/Jaisingh?; Santosham/Naya? Admi; Vadinagari Gajulu; Kanavane Kan Kanda Daivam; Mudhal Thedi; Town Bus; 1956: Naga Panchami; Jayam Manade; Ilavelpu; Mathar Kula Manikam/ Charanadasi; Devata; 1957: Ustad; Peddarikalu; Allavudeenum Arputha Vilakkum/Allauddin? Adbhuta Deepam/Alladdin? Ka Chirag; Suvarna Sundari/Manalane? Mangayin Bhagyam; Sati Ansuya; Panduranga Mahatyam; Chakravarthi Thirumagal; 1958: Chenchulakshmi; Shobha; Raja Nandini; Aadapettanam; Bhuloka Rambha/Bhuloka? Rambhai/Pareeksha?; 1959: Pelli Sandadi/ Kalyana Penn; Jayabheri; Balanagamma; Naan Sollum Rahasiyam; Kalaivanan; Pachai Malai Kurathi; 1960: Kuladaivam; Rani Ratnaprabha; Bhatti Vikramarka; Runanubandham; Adutha Veetu Penn; Advantha Daivam; Engal Selvi; Mannathai Mannan; 1961: Shanta; Sati Sulochana; Bhakta Jayadeva; Saugandh; Pachani Samsaram; Pankalikal; 1962: Bhishma; Swarnamanjari/Mangayir? Ullam Mangada Selvam; Naag Devata; 1963: Lavakusa; Paruvu Pratishthalu; Raj Mahal; 1964: Varasatwam; En Kadamai; Sati Savitri; Phoolon Ki Sej; 1965: Poomalai; Ennathan Mudivu; Sati Sakkubai; 1966: Palnati Yuddham; Chilaka- Gorinka; Bhakta Potana; Hantakulostunnaru Jagratha; Shri Krishna Tulabharam; Dr Anand; Rangula Ratnam; 1967: Bhakta Prahlada; Chadarangam; Kambojaraju Katha; Nirdoshi; Private Master; Rahasyam; Sati Sumati; Stree Janma; Vasantsena; 1968: Lakshminivasam; Challani Needa; Kumkumabharina; Mana Samsaram; Sati Arundhati; Veeranjaneya; 1969: Adarsha Kutumbam; Shri Rama Katha; Bhale Mastaru; Bandhipotu Bhimanna; 1970: Amma Kosam; Desamante Manushuloi; Agni Pareeksha; Raithe Raju; 1971: Suputhrudu; Bangaru Kutumbam; Pagabattina Paduchu; Kalyana Mandapam; Vikramarka Vijayam; Raitu Kutumbam; 1972: Mathru Murthi; Vamsodharakudu; Manchi Roju Lostai; Kodalu Pilla; Vichitra Bandham; Maa Inti Velugu; Badi Panthulu; Kalam Marindi; Vooriki Upakari; Tata Manavadu; Shanti Nilayam; Bava Diddina Kapuram; Akka Tammudu; Bala Bharatam; 1973: Kanna Koduku; Talli Kodukulu; Nindu Kutumbam; Sreevaru Maavaru; Bhakta Tukaram; Minor Babu; Mayadari Malligadu; Abhimanavanthulu; Vakkuruthi; 1974: Intinti Katha; Manchi Manushulu; Deeksha; Peddalu Marali; Manushilo Devudu; Uttama Illalu; Krishnaveni; Chakravakam; Palle Paduchu; Urmai Kural; 1975: Gunavanthudu; Raktha Sambandhalu; Challani Talli; Gajula Kishtayya; Soggadu; Pichimaraju; 1976: Monagadu; Vadhu Varulu; Mahakavi Kshetrayya; Magaadu; Devude Gelichadu; Raja; 1977: Kurukshetramu; Sati Savitri; Seeta Rama Vanavasu; Ee Tharam Manishi; Bangaru Bommalu; Geetha Sangeetha; 1978: Allari Bullodu; Anna Dammula Saval; Ramakrishnulu; Dudubasavanna; Simha Baludu; Anukunnadhi Sadhishta; Angadi Bomma; K.D. No. 1; Kannavari Illu; Simha Garjana; 1979: Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam; Amma Evarikaina Amma; Judagadu; Tiger; Sangham Chekkina Silpalu; Annai Oru Alayam; Mande Gundelu; 1980: Adrushtavandhudu; Devudichina Koduku; Shri Venkateshwara Vrata Mahatyam; Bhale Krishnudu; Chandi Priya; Ram Robert Rahim; Shri Vasavi Kannika Parameshwari Mahatyam; 1981: Guru Shishyulu; Puli Bidda; Jeevitha Ratham; Bhogimanthulu; 1982:Swayamvaram; 1983: Amayukudu Kadhu Asadhyudu; Lanke Bindelu; Poratham; 1984: Pozhudu Vidinachu; Dongalu Baboi Dongalu; 1985: Atmabalam; Kutumba Bandham; Shri Shirdi Saibaba Mahatyam; Surya Chandra; Mangalya Balam; 1989: Krishnagari Abbayi; Chinnari Sneham; Ashoka Chakravarthi; 1992: Brindavanamu; 1993: Anna Vadina;