Pasupuleti Kannamba (1912-64)

Telugu and Tamil actress and singer. Started on the stage at the Rajarajeshwari Natya Mandali and was largely responsible for the group’s initial popularity along with her mentor (and later husband), stage and film director Kadaru Nagabhushanam. Film début in the screen version of their play Harishchandra, initially filmed by Prafulla Ghosh and remade by Nagabhushanam himself in 1943. Continued in film versions of their plays with acclaimed music scores: H.V. Babu’s Draupadi Vastrapaharanam and Kanakatara. Played the destitute wife in H.M. Reddy’s Grihalakshmi, incarnating its rational reformism with her passionate denunciation of God and religious notions of truth. Later associated with emphatic acting in e.g. Talliprema and Mayalokam, also playing Sivaji Ganesan’s mother in Manohara and MGR’s mother in Thaikupinn Tharam. Best known for the title role in Kannagi. Some of her still popular music has been reissued by the musicologist V.A.K. Ranga Rao.

FILMOGRAPHY: 1935: Harishchandra; 1936: Draupadi Vastrapaharanam; 1937: Kanakatara; 1938: Grihalakshmi; 1940: Chandika; Bhoja Kalidasa; Krishnan Thoothu; 1941: Ashok Kumar; Talliprema; 1942: Kannagi; Sumati; 1943: Harishchandra; 1944: Mahamaya; 1945: Mayalokam; Maya Machhindra; Paduka Pattabhishekham; 1947: Daiva Neethi; Tulasi Jalandhar; Palnati Yuddham; Nam Iruvar; 1949: Mangayar Karasi; Navajeevanam; 1950: Laila Majnu; 1952: Pedaraitu; Moonru Pillaigal/Mugguru? Kodukulu; 1954: Manohara; Sati Sakkubai; 1955: Anarkali; Vadina; 1956: Naga Panchami; Thaikku Pinn Tharam; 1957: Makkalai Petra Maharasi; Kutumba Gauravam; 1958: Aadapettanam; Avan Amaran; 1959: Pelli Meeda Pelli; Uzhavukkum Thozhilukkum Vandhanai Seivom; Vazha Vaitha Daivam; Raja Sevai; Raja Mukutam; 1960: Dharmane Jayam; Jalsarayudu; Abhimanam; 1961: Usha Parinayam; Intiki Deepam Illale; Pelli Pilupu; Krishna Kuchela; Jagadeka Veeruni Katha/ Jagathala Prathapan; 1962: Pelli Thambulam; Dakshayagnam; Swarnamanjari; Nuvva Nena; Atmabandhuvu; 1963: Paruvu Pratishthalu; Apta Mithrulu; 1964: Bangaru Timmaraju; Ramadasu; 1965: Keelu Bommalu.

Actor

Music