Bharathi Vishnuvardhan


Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, also known mononymously as Bharathi, is an Indian film actress known primarily for her work in Kannada cinema and television serials. She began her career in 1966, as a lead actress, with the Kannada movie Love in Bangalore. 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. In the course of her career, she became known for portrayal of the roles mythological and historical characters, and also that of a student, a romantic and a rural belle. Her role in Sri Krishnadevaraya 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.
Bharathi is one of the most elegant actresses to grace the Kannada film industry.

Personal life

Bharathi was born into a Marathi-speaking family in Bhadravathi on 15 August 1948 in the erstwhile Indian state of Mysore. Her father Ramachandra Rao was a tailor and mother was a homemaker. Bharathi studied at Malleswaram Ladies Association High School and then joined Maharani's Women's Science College in Bengaluru. While she was active in both sports and dance, her ambition at the time was to become a basketball 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 Vishnuvardhan on 27 February 1975 in Bengaluru. They have adopted two daughters - Keerthi and Chandana. Dr. Vishnuvardhan died in December 2009.

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 went on to give hit after hit until 1972, very significant among them are the mega hits Sri Krishnadevaraya, Bangaaradha Manushya and Mayor Muthanna. She formed a popular pair with Vishnuvardhan after that starring in blockbusters like Rahasya Rathri, Bhagya Jyothi, Devara Gudi, Nagara Hole and Bangarada Jinke.
Bharathi was introduced to Hindi cinema by director A. Bhimsingh with Mehrban and Saadhu Aur Shaitaan. She acted in several Hindi films like Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani opposite Rakesh Roshan, Manoj Kumar's Purab Aur Paschim and Hum Tum Aur Woh with Vinod Khanna, Mastana and Mehmood's Kunwaara Baap.
In Tamil she played supporting roles in the 1966 films Nadodi and Chandhrodhayam and graduated to lead heroine roles with Deiva Cheyal, Avalukendru Oru Manam and Thanga Surangam opposite stars like Muthuraman, Gemini Ganeshan, Shivaji Ganeshan and M. G. Ramachandran.
After a brief hiatus from the movies she returned to the Kannada screen in 1984 with Puttanna Kanagals 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 ', ', Ambareesh ' and Rajesh . She also starred in several Hindi films in her second innings - Prabhat Khanna's Uttar Dakshin, Izzatdaar and Aao Pyaar Karen.
She acted in the Kannada Doordarshan serial Janani in the late 90s. In 2012, she appeared as a strict, no-nonsense sessions court judge in T.N. Seetharam's Kannada daily serial Mukta-Mukta.
Bharathi has acted in Telugu movies like Jai Jawan, Govula Gopanna and Sipayi Chinnayya with Akkineni Nageswara Rao and various Malayalam films with many leading actors, mainly in character roles.
Apart from acting, Bharathi has also been a singer and associate director in the film industry, singing a duet with T.M. Soundarrajan, a Tamil song "Thanga Nilave Nee Illamal" picturised on her and Gemini Ganesan. She sang a Kannada song "Ee Notake Mai Matake" with her husband Vishnuvardhan for the movie Nagara Hole. She worked as 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.
YearFilmLanguageRoleDirectorNotes
1966Love in BangaloreKannadaKalyan Kumar
1966Dudde DoddappaKannadaKalpanaB. R. Panthulu
1966Emme ThammannaKannadaB. R. Panthulu
1966Sandhya RagaKannadaS. K. Bhagavan
A.C. Narasimhamurthy
1966Madhu MalathiKannadaMadhumalathiS. K. A. Chari
1966NadodiTamilMeena DharmalingamB. R. PanthuluDebut in Tamil
1966ChandhrodhayamTamilKamalaK. Shankar
1966Enga PappaTamilB. R. Panthulu
1966Namma Veettu LakshmiTamilB. R. Panthulu
1967Beedhi BasavannaKannadaVijayaB. R. Panthulu
1967RajashekaraKannadaMangalaG. V. Iyer
1967Thanga ThambiTamilParvathiFrancis Ramanath
1967Rajadurgada RahasyaKannadaMangalaA.C. Narasimhamurthy
1967MehrbanHindiGeeta Shanti SwarupA. Bhimsingh
1967Deiva CheyalTamilM. G. Balu
1967Valiba VirundhuTamilMurasoli Maran
1967Naan Yaar TheriyumaTamilV.N.Ramanan
1967Aggi DoraTeluguB. Vittalacharya
1967Gange GowriKannadaGangeB. R. Panthulu
1967Pattukunte PadiveluTeluguM. Mallikarjuna Rao
1968Uyarndha ManithanTamilGowriKrishnan-Panju
1968Sadhu Aur ShaitaanHindiVidya Shastri/ChuniyaA. Bhimsingh
1968AmmaKannadaB. R. Panthulu
1968Mana SamsaramTeluguC. S. Rao
1968Ninne PelladutaTeluguB. V. Srinivas
1968Nimirindhu NilTamilDevan
1968Kalisina ManasuluTeluguKamalakar Kameswara Rao
1968ManassakshiKannadaS. K. A. Chari
1968Bangaru GaajuluTeluguC. S. Rao
1968Govula GopannaTeluguC. S. Rao
1968Poovum PottumTamilDada Mirasi
1968Nane BhagyavathiKannadaT. V. Singh Thakur
1968Lakshmi NivasamTeluguV. Madhusudana Rao
1969Nangu KilladigalTamilL. Balu
1969Mayor MuthannaKannadaSiddalingaiah
1969Ardha RathriTeluguP. Sambasiva Rao
1969Gandondu HennaruKannadaMeenaB. R. Panthulu
1969Thanga SurangamTamilAmuthaT. R. Ramanna
1969Shiva BhakthaKannadaK. V. Srinivas
1969Padicha KallanMalayalamM. Krishnan Nair
1969Sipayi ChinnayyaTeluguShobhaG. V. Sheshagiri Rao
1969ChadurangaKannadaN. C. Rajan
1969Nil Gavani KadhaliTamilC. V. Rajendran
1969GruhalakshmiKannadaVijaya Satyam
1970Jai JawanTeluguD.Yoganand
1970Aliya GeleyaKannadaB. R. Panthulu
1970AkhanduduTeluguV. Ramachandra Rao
1970Baalu BelagithuKannadaLakshmiSiddalingaiah
1970Sri KrishnadevarayaKannadaChinnaB. R. PanthuluKarnataka State Film Award for Best Actress
1970Purab Aur PaschimHindiGopiManoj Kumar
1970Hasiru ThoranaKannadaMeenaT. V. Singh Thakur
1970SnehithiTamilG. Ramakrishnan
1970Bhale JodiKannadaSunithaY. R. Swamy
1970MastanaHindiSharadaAdurthi Subba Rao
1970Ghar Ghar Ki KahaniHindiSeemaT. Prakash RaoFamous for Sama Hai Suhana song
1970Rangamahal RahasyaKannadaVijay
1971Avalukendru Oru ManamTamilC. V. Sridhar
1971Sri Krishna Rukmini SatyabhamaKannadaSathyabhamaK. S. L. Swamy
1971Duniya Kya JaneHindiC. V. Sridhar
1971Kula GouravaKannadaPeketi Sivaram
1971Thayi DevaruKannadaSiddalingaiah
1971SeemaHindiSurendra Mohan
1971Hum Tum Aur WohHindiAartiShiv Kumar
1971Andam Kosam PandemTeluguA.Sheshagiri Rao
1971Namma SamsaraKannadaSiddalingaiah
1971Meendum VazhvenTamilT. N. Balu
1970Andariki MonagaduTeluguM. Mallikarjuna Rao
1971Naa ThammuduTeluguK. S. Prakash Rao
1972Janma RahasyaKannadaS. P. N. Krishna
1972Jeevana JokaliKannadaGeetapriya
1972Jaga Mecchida MagaKannadaHunsur Krishnamurthy
1972Hrudaya SangamaKannadaBelli/ChandraRashi Brothers
1972Annamitta KaiTamilDoctor Kalpana
1972Bangaaradha ManushyaKannadaLakshmiSiddalingaiah
1972Aankh MicholiHindiRamanna
1972Unakkum EnakkumTamilN. S. Maniam
1972Sub Ka SaathiHindiA. Bhimsingh
1972Chitti ThalliTelugu
1973BidugadeKannadaY. R. Swamy
1973SwayamvaraKannadaY. R. Swamy
1973Doorada BettaKannadaSiddalingaiah
1973PonvanduTamilN. S. Maniam
1973Neramu SikshaTeluguK. Viswanath
1974Mugguru AmmayiluTeluguKotayya Pratyagatma
1974Anna AttigeKannadaM. R. Vittal
1974Onde Roopa Eradu GunaKannadaA. M. SameevullaIn song "O Udala Sarala"
1974Kunwara BaapHindiRadhaMehmood
1974ThulasiTeluguK. Babu Rao
1974Amma ManasuTeluguK. Viswanath
1974Anaganaga Oka ThandriTeluguC. S. Rao
1974Adapillala ThandriTeluguK. Vasu
1974HarathiTeluguP. Lakshmi Deepak
1975Devara GudiKannadaR. Ramamurthy
1975KaveriKannadaH. N. Reddy
1975Kotha KapuramTeluguP. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975Bhagya JyothiKannadaK. S. L. Swamy
1975SaubhagyavathiTeluguP. Chandrasekhara Reddy
1975Puttinti GowravamTeluguP. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975Pandanti SamsaramTeluguP. Chandrasekhar Reddy
1975Kathanayakuni KathaTeluguD. Yoganand
1976Makkala BhagyaKannadaK. S. L. Swamy
1975Pellade BommaTeluguChakravarthy
1976Vadhu VaruluTeluguN.D. Vijayababu
1977Devare DikkuKannada
1977ManassakshiTeluguP. Sambasiva Rao
1977Nee Vazha VendumTamilA. Bhimsingh
1977Nagara HoleKannadaMadhu
1978Madhura SangamaKannadaLalithambe in playT. P. VenugopalCameo appearance
1978PrathimaKannada
1978SandharbhaKannada
1979ManiniKannadaK. S. Sethumadhavan
1980ChitrakootaKannadaGowri Sundar
1980Rahasya RathriKannadaM. S. Kumar
1980Bangarada JinkeKannadaT. S. Nagabharana
1982Pedda GeddaKannada
1984RunamukthaluKannadaGodaPuttana Kanagal
1986Tavaru ManeKannada
1986Maneye ManthralayaKannada
1986Namma Oora DevatheKannada
1986Ella HengasarindaKannada
1986UppuMalayalamKhadeeja
1986Padikkatha PadamTamilBharath
1987Uttar DakshinHindiPrabhat Khanna
1987Bandha MuktaKannada
1987Thaliya AaneKannada
1988Shanthi NivasaKannada
1988Mutthinantha ManushyaKannada
1989Yuddha KaandaKannadaK. V. Raju
1990IzzatdaarHindiSujathaKovelamudi Bapayya
1990Bannada GejjeKannadaVyjayanthiRajendra Singh Babu
1990Prema YuddhamTeluguVyjayanthiRajendra Singh Babu
1990Urudhi MozhiTamilR. V. Udayakumar
1991SandhwanamMalayalam
1992KhelHindiKamini/ShardaRakesh Roshan
1993DevaasuramMalayalamNeelakandan's mother-
1994Aao Pyaar Karen HindiAnjali
1994SarigamaluTelugu
1995DoreKannada
1995Achan Kombathu Amma Varampathu MalayalamParvathi
1996Katta Panchayathu TamilKarthik's Mother
1996Kaadhale Nimmadhi TamilKavitha's Mother
1997VarnapakittuMalayalamSunny's motherI. V. Sasi
1997Oru YathramozhiMalayalamGovindankutty's mother
1998NakshatratharattuMalayalamSreedevi
1998Sundara Pandian TamilPandian's mother
2000NarasimhamMalayalamInduchoodan's motherShaji Kailas
2001KarumadikkuttanMalayalamBharathi
2002MazhathullikilukkamMalayalamAlice John
2003Preethi Prema PranayaKannadaSharadha DeviKavitha Lankesh
2005MaharajaKannadaAnnapoornaSai Prakash
2006Photographer MalayalamDijo's & Joy's mother
2006Tananam TananamKannadaShastry's wifeKavitha Lankesh
2009Raaj - The ShowmanKannadaHerselfPrem
2012Crazy LokaKannadaKavitha Lankesh
2012Kanneerinum MadhuramMalayalamVijayakumari
2016Doddmane HudgaKannadaDoddmane Rajeeva's sisterDuniya Soori
2017Ambar CaterersTuluJai Prasad
2018Raja SimhaKannadaRavi Ram
2018Edakallu Guddada MeleKannada
2019KurukshetraKannadaKuntiNaganna

Television

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

    Awards

- the 4th highest civilian award of India in 2017