S. Varalakshmi

Saridey Varalakshmi (13 August 1925 – 22 September 2009), popularly known as S. Varalakshmi, was a veteran Telugu and Tamil actress, and singer. She was popular for her roles and songs in Telugu movies like Mahamantri Timmarasu and Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam and Tamil movies like Veerapandiya Kattabomman and in Poova Thalaiya.

S. Varalakshmi
S. Varalakshmi in 1951 Tamil film Saudamini
Born	13 August 1925 Jaggampeta, Madras Presidency, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)
Died	22 September 2009 (aged 84) Chennai, India
Occupation	Singer, actress
Years active	1935–1992
Spouse(s)	A. L. Srinivasan

Life

Varalakshmi was born in Jaggampeta, Andhra Pradesh, India. She started her career as child artist in saint role in Balayogini (1937), when she was nine years old. Gudavalli Ramabrahmam was engaged by the pioneer filmmaker K. Subrahmanyam to direct the Telugu version of this movie. He spotted young Varalakshmi in Kurnool. Subramanyam later cast her in his classic Seva Sadanam (1938) with M. S. Subbulakshmi.[1] She played a young friend of the heroine (M.S.), and they became close friends. She played a young girl's role in Parasuraman (Tamil, 1940) along with T. R. Mahalingam. T. R. Sundaram, cast her in a major role in his box office hit 'Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani' (1947). The title role was played by V. N. Janaki. The film was a major success and Govindan and Varalakshmi made an attractive pair. T. R. Sundaram cast her again in the lead role in 'Bhojan' (1948). Her first successful movie was Balaraju in 1948 produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah. She later acted with all top heroes in Telugu and Tamil industries including M K Tyagaraja Bhagavatar in the classic Tamil film by B A Subba Rao called 'Syamala' in 1953; Sivaji Ganesan (Veerapandiya Kattabbomman), M. G. Ramachandran (Chakravarthi Thirumagal, Maattukara Velan, Needhikku Thalaivanangu), Gemini Ganesan (Poova Thalaiya, Panama Pasama), N. T. Rama Rao (Satya Harischandra), A. Nageswara Rao(ANR) (Balaraju), Chittor V. Nagaiah (Naga Panchami), Ranjan (En Magan) and R. S. Manohar (Maamiyaar). She was also famous for her voice, and sung her songs in all movies she acted. Her roles as Sivaji's sister in Veerapandiya Kattabomman, and important roles in Poova Thalaiya, Savale Samali, Maattukkara Velan, Shivaji's sister in Raja Raja Chozhan and Neethikku thalaivanangu won her critical acclaim as a talented singer and actress in Tamil movies. In her later career, she acted in mother and aunt roles. She married film producer A. L. Srinivasan, an elder brother of Kavignar Kannadasan; they had two children named Nalini and Muruga She continued to act after marriage in senior roles in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She sang many beautiful songs in Telugu and Tamil films.

Her son, S. Muruga, died after suffering cardiac arrest in Chennai on 22 October 2013. He lived for 48 years.

Her daughter Nalini is a homemaker with 2 children.

Death

Varalakshmi was bedridden during the last 6 months of her life after she fell and injured her back. She died on 22 September 2009.[2]

Honors and awards

She has received several awards commending her service to Tamil cinema. The most recent ones were:

1. Sivaji Ganesan Memorial Award Presented by the Sivaji Family in Oct 2007
2. Kavignar Kannadasan Award presented by the Tamil Nadu Government in 2004

Filmography

Note: The lists are not comprehensive.

Year	Film	Language	Character	Songs	Music Director
1937	Balayogini	Telugu	Child Saint
1938	Sevasadanam	Tamil
1939	Raithu Bidda	Telugu	Beggar Girl
1940	Illalu	Telugu		* Koyilokasari Vachi Koosi Poyane * Neepai Mohamuno Krishna Nilupagalemoyi Krishna (with P. Suri Babu)	S. Rajeswara Rao
1940	Parasuramar	Tamil			G. Ramanathan
1942	Aaraichimani	Tamil		*	Srinivasa Rao Shinde
1940	Sathi Murali	Tamil
1944	Jagathalaprathapan	Tamil			G. Ramanathan
1945	Mayalokam	Telugu			Galipenchala Narasimha Rao
1947	Palnati Yudham	Telugu	Maanchala	* Chandamama O Chandamama Jaalirada Neeku Naameeda * Oho Charusheela Oho Veerabala	Galipenchala Narasimha Rao
1947	Aayiram Thalai Vaangi Apoorva Chinthamani	Tamil		* Kaadhal Aaginen	G. Ramanathan
1947	Thulasi Jalandar	Tamil			M. D. Parthasarathi
1948	Balaraju	Telugu	Seetha	* Evarine Nenevarine Vagavagala Nenevarine * O Balaraja Jaalileda Balaraja * Roopama Neeyaraya Nijaroopamu Neeyaraya	C. R. Subburaman, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao and Ghantasala
1948	Bhojan	Tamil		* Bhagyasali Puvimel Naane	C. R. Subburaman
1948	Chakradhari	Tamil			M. D. Parthasarathi
1948	Kaamavalli	Tamil			C. N. Pandurangan
1949	Jeevitham	Telugu	Lakshmi	* Anandamouga Palleseema Daanadharmakillu Maa Palleseema	R. Sudharsanam
1949	Navajeevanam	Tamil		* Eedilla Kathalar Name (with Ghantasala) * Jeeva Sugitha Anbe (with Ghantasala) * Aananda Manoharaa * Nalla Vaazhvu * Sri Raamaa Raghugula Naayagaa	S. V. Venkataraman
1950	Macha Rekai	Tamil		* Odaadhe (with T. R. Mahalingam)	C. R. Subburaman
1950	Swapna Sundari	Telugu			C. R. Subburaman
1950	Vaali Sugreeva	Telugu
1951	Saudamini	Tamil	Hemavathi	*	S. V. Venkatraman
1951	Soudamini	Telugu	Hemavathi	*	S. V. Venkatraman
1951	Vanasundari	Tamil		* Azhagana Thadi Raja * Nane Rani	C. R. Subburaman
1951	Mohana Sundaram	Tamil	Visalakshi	* Avarthane * Vinmugil Kaana * Oh Jegamathil Inbam Kanbathellam (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Pulli Maanai Pole (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Kanneerthano (with T. R. Mahalingam) * Kanavilum Unai Maraven (with T. R. Mahalingam)	T. G. Linggappa
1952	Chinna Durai	Tamil	Indramani	*	T. G. Lingappa
1952	Velaikaran	Tamil		* Naane Raani En Maname * Ezhil Vaan Mugam Thannaiye * Kaadhalum Poi Aagume (with T. R. Mahalingam)	R. Sudharsanam
1952	Manavathi	Tamil		* O Saratha * Vaaraai En Inba Vaazhve (with P. Leela)	Balantrapu Rajinikantha Rao
1953	Kodarikam	Telugu			C. N. Pandurangan
1953	Mamiyar	Tamil		* Arul Purivay * Vazviniley Nannalithuve (with A. M. Rajah) * Aiyirandu Thingalaayi * Devi Eswari Jagathamba * Singara Roopa Karunaa	C. N. Pandurangan
1953	Shyamala	Tamil	Shyamala	* Pudhu Vaazhvu Kanden Naan Poovil * Thaye Sangari (with M. S. Sarojini) * Aha, Ahaa Naan Bhaagyasaali	G. Ramanathan, T. V. Raju & S. B. Dinakar Rao
1953	Vayyari Bhama	Telugu	Sudha	*	S. Rajeswara Rao
1954	Ammaiyappan	Tamil	Poongavanam	*	T. R. Pappa
1954	Edhir Paradhathu	Tamil	Nalini	None	C. N. Pandurangan
1954	En Magal	Tamil	Vasantha	* Engal Vaazhvum Engal * Pennaaga Pirandhorku * Vaazhvinile Aanandam * Konden Arum Perum (with T. M. Soundararajan) * Ulaginil Vaazhvu Tharum Kalvi (with Sathyawathi)	C. N. Pandurangan
1954	Sati Sakkubai	Telugu	Sakkubai
1955	Nam Kuzhandai	Tamil		* Ulagam Pora Thinusai * Kadhaiyaa Alladhu Karpanaiyaa * O! Mariyaadhai Ariyaadha Podhu (with Kothamangalam Seenu) * Idhayathile Pugundha	M. D. Parthasarathy
1956	Kanakatara	Telugu			Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao
1956	Mangala Gauri	Tamil		None	Ogirala Ramachandra Rao & T. V. Raju
1956	Naga Panchami	Telugu
1956	Naga Panjami	Tamil		* Om Namasivaaya * Sambo Maha Devaa (with Chittor V. Nagaiah)
1956	Sri Gauri Mahatyam	Telugu		None	Ogirala Ramachandra Rao & T. V. Raju
1956	Verum Pechu Alla	Tamil			C. N. Pandurangan
1957	Chakravarthi Thirumagal	Tamil	Dhurga	* Ematramthana En Vazhvile * Nalangittu Parpomadi (with A. P. Komala ) * Sollaley Vilakka Theriyale (with P. Leela)	G. Ramanathan
1957	Sati Savitri	Telugu	Savithri	* Enduko Ohoho Vilasala (with P. B. Sreenivas) * Raavelano (with P. B. Sreenivas) * Nammithine Janani (with Sreenivasan & Sarojini) * Amma Kaavave Amma * Maataa Idena * Navaratnanchita * Pati Bhakti * Praananaatha * Thaguna Idi Janaka	S. V. Venkatraman
1957	Sathiyavan Savithri	Tamil	Savithri	* Edhuko Indraanandham (with P. B. Sreenivas) * Raavelano (with P. B. Sreenivas) * Ambigaiye Kadhi Nee Endhan (with Sreenivasan & Sarojini) * Ammaa.... Katharulvaai Ammaa * Anbbarin Innuyir Vandhida * Navaratnanchita * Pati Bhakti * Naan Vaanagum * Thaguna Idi Janaka	S. Rajeswara Rao & Babu Rao
1959	Raja Sevai	Tamil	Gowri	None	T. V. Raju
1959	Rechukka Pagatichukka	Telugu	Gowri	None	T. V. Raju
1959	Veerapandiya Kattabomman	Tamil	Queen Jakkamma	* Singara Kanne Un Thenoorum Sollale * Vetrri Vadivelane.... Manam Kanintharul Vel Muruga (with V. N. Sundharam) * Takku Takku Ena Adikkadi Thudikkum (with P. Susheela & A. P. Komala)	G. Ramanathan
1959	Veerapandya Kattabrahmana	Telugu	Queen Jakkamma	* Chinnari Thalli * Vijaya Varadayaka.... Prabho Krupakara (with B. Gopalam) * Takku Takku Bada Bada (with S. Janaki & A. P. Komala)	G. Ramanathan
1959	Sivagangai Seemai	Tamil		* Thanimai Serndhadho * Muthu Pugazh Padaitha (with Radha Jayalakshmi) * Thendral Vanthu Veesatho (with T. S. Bagavathi)	Viswanathan Ramamoorthy
1960	Abhimanam	Telugu		* Rama Idhi Yemi	Ghantasala
1960	Deepavali	Telugu	Vasumathi	* Mahadeva Deva Mahaneeya * Agni Sakshiga * Haye Haye Andala Raja	Ghantasala
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam	Telugu	Mahalakshmi	* Sri Devini Needu Deverini Sarisaatileni Sowbhagyavatini * Varala Beramaya Vanaram Beramaya	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1961	Krishna Prema	Telugu		* Repe Vasthadanta Gopaludu (with Ghantasala) * Cheliyalu Muddaraalu * Krishnaa Radhamano Vihari * Navaneetha Chorudu Nandha Kishorudu (with Jikki) * Navaneetha Chorudu Nandha Kishorudu (pathos) (with Jikki)	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1962	Mahamantri Timmarusu	Telugu	Tirumala Devi	* Leela Krishna Nee Leelalu Ne Leelaganaina Teliyanuga * Tirumala Tirupati Venkateswara	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1962	Vadivukku Valai Kappu	Tamil	Rajeswari	* Thaamadham Seiyathe Thozhi	K. V. Mahadevan
1963	Lava Kusha	Telugu	Bhoodevi	None	Ghantasala
1963	Lava Kusha	Tamil	Bhoodevi	None	Ghantasala
1963	Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu	Telugu	Satyabhama	* Veyi Shubhamulu Kalugu Neeku	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1964	Babruvahana	Telugu	Chitrangada	* Maa Saati Vaaru * Yemani Thaanaaduno * Nee Sari Manohari (with Ghantasala) * Vardillu Papa	Paamarthi
1964	Babruvahana	Tamil	Chitrangada		Paamarthi
1964	Karuppu Panam	Tamil	Kamala	None	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
1965	Satya Harishchandra	Telugu	Chandramathi	* He Chandrachooda Madanantaka Shoolapane (with Ghantasala)	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1965	Veera Abhimanyu	Tamil	Subhadra	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1965	Veerabhimanyu	Telugu	Subhadra	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1966	Sri Krishna Pandaveeyam	Telugu	Kunti	None	T. V. Raju
1966	Sri Krishna Tulabharam	Telugu	Shachi Devi	* Vidhudu Nee Maata	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1967	Apoorva Piravaigal	Tamil
1967	Bhama Vijayam	Telugu	Queen	None	T. V. Raju
1967	Kandan Karunai	Tamil	Indrani	* Velli Malai Mannava	K. V. Mahadevan
1967	Shri Krishnavataram	Telugu	Draupadi		T. V. Raju
1967	Ummadi Kutumbam	Telugu	Kantham	None	T. V. Raju
1968	Nindu Samsaram	Telugu	Tulasamma	None	Master Venu
1968	Panama Pasama	Tamil	Meenakshi	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1969	Aadarsa Kutumbam	Telugu	Jaya	None	S. Rajeswara Rao
1969	Poova Thalaiya	Tamil	Paruvathamma	None	M. S. Viswanathan
1969	Sattekalapu Satteya	Telugu		None	M. S. Viswanathan
1969	Thanga Surangam	Tamil	Kamakshi	* Petramanam Sirayile	T. K. Ramamoorthy
1970	Kaaviya Thalaivi	Tamil		* Kavidhaiyil Ezhudhiya Eduthnatharadi Kaviya Thalaivi (with P. Susheela)	K. V. Mahadevan
1970	Drohi	Telugu
1970	Maattukara Velan	Tamil	Annapurna	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1971	Aathi Parasakthi	Tamil	Aathi Parasakthi	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1971	Bomma Borusa	Telugu	Parvathamma	None	R. Govardhanam
1971	Ilangeswaran	Tamil		* Jothimayamana	S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
1971	Kannan Karunai	Tamil			S. V. Venkatraman
1971	Meendum Vazhven	Tamil	Shantha Lakshmi	None	M. S. Viswanathan
1971	Prem Nagar	Telugu		None	K. V. Mahadevan
1971	Sri Krishna Satya	Telugu		None	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1971	Thirumagal	Tamil	Maragatham	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1971	Veguli Penn	Tamil	Doctor S. V. Lakshmi		V. Kumar
1972	Bala Bharatam	Telugu	Gandhari		S. Rajeswara Rao
1972	Pillaiyo Pillai	Tamil		None	M. S. Viswanathan
1972	Sri Krishna Satya	Telugu	Draupadi	None	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1972	Velli Vizha	Tamil	Sivakami	None	V. Kumar
1973	Bangaru Babu	Telugu		None	K. V. Mahadevan
1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu	Telugu	Varalakshmi	None	Ramesh Naidu
1973	Karaikkal Ammaiyar	Tamil		* Anbe Sivam Endru Paduvome	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan
1973	Nathayil Muthu	Tamil		None	Sankar Ganesh
1973	Rajaraja Cholan	Tamil	Kundavai Pirāttiyār	* Eduthandhanadi Thillayile (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan) * Thanjai Preiya Koyil Pallandu Vaazhgave (with Seerkazhi Govindarajan & T. R. Mahalingam)	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan
1974	Thaai	Tamil	Karpagam	* Mangalam Kaappaal Sivasakthi	M. S. Viswanathan
1973	Thirumalai Deivam	Tamil		* Neela Nira Megamellaam Neeye Kanna	Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan
1974	Devi Sri Karumari Amman	Tamil	Meenakshi	* Kanne Kanmainiye Karumaari	Shankar-Ganesh
1975	Abhimanavathi	Telugu
1975	Cinema Paithiyam	Tamil	None		Sankar Ganesh
1975	Yashoda Krishna	Telugu		None	S. Rajeswara Rao
1975	Ramuni Minchina Ramudu	Telugu		None	T. Chalapathi Rao
1976	Dasavatharam	Tamil	Aathi Parasakthi	None	S. Rajeswara Rao
1976	Needhikku Thalaivanangu	Tamil	Maragadham	* Intha Pachai Killikoru	M. S. Viswanathan
1976	Rojavin Raja	Tamil	None	None	M. S. Viswanathan
1976	Vazhvu En Pakkam	Tamil	Vijayalakshmi	None	M. S. Viswanathan
1977	Chanakya Chandragupta	Telugu	Muradevi	None	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1977	Daana Veera Soora Karna	Telugu	Kunti	None	Pendyala Nageswara Rao
1977	Navarathinam	Tamil		None	Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
1977	Sri Krishna Leela	Tamil	Yasodha	* Nalla Naal	K. V. Mahadevan
1977	Unnai Suttrum Ulagam	Tamil		None	Shankar Ganesh
1979	Kavari Maan	Tamil		* Sollavallaayo Kiliye	Ilaiyaraaja
1979	Suvarilladha Chiththirangal	Tamil	Parvathy		Gangai Amaran
1980	Sarada Ramudu	Telugu	Suvrchala	None	K. Chakravarthy
1980	Sardar Papa Rayudu	Telugu	Urmila Devi	None	K. Chakravarthy
1981	Aggi Ravva	Telugu	Meenakshi	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1981	Guru Sishyulu	Telugu	Meenakshi	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1981	Prema Simhasanam	Telugu	Anasuya Devi	None	K. Chakravarthy
1982	Dheviyin Thiruvilaiyadal	Tamil			M. S. Viswanathan
1982	Kaliyuga Ramudu	Telugu	Jayamma & Suramma	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1982	Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu	Telugu	Seetamma	None	Rajan–Nagendra
1983	Adutha Varisu	Tamil	Rani Amma	None	Ilaiyaraaja
1983	Muddula Mogudu	Telugu		None	S. Rajeswara Rao
1983	Neti Bharatam	Telugu		None	K. Chakravarthi
1983	Sri Ranga Neethulu	Telugu	Raja Rajeswari Devi	None	K. Chakravarthy
1984	Tharaasu	Tamil		None	M. S. Viswanathan
1984	Thiruppam	Tamil		None	M. S. Viswanathan
1985	Bullet	Telugu		None	K. V. Mahadevan
1986	Muddula Krishnaiah	Telugu	Mangalagiri Ramanamma	None	K. V. Mahadevan
1987	Lawyer Suhasini	Telugu		None	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
1991	Guna	Tamil	Manonmani	* Unnai Naan Ariven	Ilaiyaraja
1995	Sankalpam	Telugu	Mathaji	None	Koti

References

1. Melody-filled screen presence by Randor Guy in The Hindu, 2009
2. Veteran actress passes away IndiaGlitz. Retrieved on 25 September 2009.

External links

• S. Varalakshmi on IMDb