Manjula (Kannada actress)

Manjula
Born
Honnenahalli Shivanna Manjula

(1954-11-08)8 November 1954
Tumkur, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India
Died12 September 1986(1986-09-12) (aged 31)
Bangalore, India
Resting place
13°22′17″N 77°05′15″E / 13.371298°N 77.087395°E / 13.371298; 77.087395
OccupationFilm actress
Years active1966–1986
SpouseAmrutham
Children1

Honnenahalli Shivanna Manjula (8 November 1954 – 12 September 1986), known mononymously as Manjula was an Indian actress who mainly worked in Kannada films iand a few Tamil (credited as Kumari Manjula) and Telugu films (credited as Kannada Manjula). Regarded one of the most successful and prominent actresses in the history of Kannada cinema, Manjula was particularly noted for her versatility. During the 70s and early 80s she enacted a variety of roles and appeared in around 100 films, ranging in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas to rural themes. In a shor span of under 10 years she was the recipient of critical accolades and many awards for her performances,[1] including a Filmfare Award.

Manjula started her career as a child artist at the age of 11 in the 1966 film Mane Katti Nodu and subsequently made her debut as a heroine in the M. R. Vittal directed film Yaara Sakshi (1972). In 1973 she appeared in the multistarrer film Mooruvare Vajragalu where she was paired with Dr. Rajkumar. Her biggest breakthrough came in 1974 with Eradu Kanasu. Shec ontinued to act as Dr. Rajkumar's heroine in Sampathige Savaal (1974), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Daari Tappida Maga (1975) and Mayura (1975) which were all highly successful at the box-office.

Her pairing with Srinath, Shankar Nag and Vishnuvardhan resulted in multiple successful films that include Besuge (1976), Bangarada Gudi (1976), Sose Tanda Soubhagya (1977), Kittu Puttu (1977), Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978), Muyyige Muyyi (1978), Vasantha Lakshmi (1978) and Seetharamu (1979). Her role in Deepa (1977) garnered her wider recognition and her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

In the early 1980s she continued playing leading roles in several successful films including, Moogana Sedu (1980), Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980), Nee Nanna Gellalare (1981), Snehitara Savaal (1981), Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu (1982) and Kalinga Sarpa (1984). Her last notable role was in Savira Sullu where she played a supporting character. The long-delayed film Mana Gedda Maga came as a posthumous release in 1992.

Personal life

Manjula was born on 8 November 1954 in Honnenahalli, a village in Tumkur District, Karnataka.[2] Her father, M. H. Shivanna, was a police sub inspector while mother, Deveramma was a homemaker.

She was married to film director Amrutham who directed her in Hudugaatada Hudugi (1976) and Kanasu Nanasu (1976). The couple had a son, Abhishek. The couple had separated over differences before her accidental death in 1986.[3]

Death

Manjula died after suffering burns in a kitchen fire on 19 September 1986.[4][5] While initially deemed an accident, the Times of India reported the death as suicide.[6]

Career

Manjula started her acting career in 1965 with the drama troupe Prabhat Kalavidaru. She entered the Kannada film industry in a small role in Mane Katti Nodu in 1966. Her debut as a heroine was in the 1972 film Yaara Saakshi, directed by veteran director M. R. Vittal. In a career spanning 10 plus years she shared the screen with all the top Kannada actors including Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Ashok and Shankar Nag. Her most successful pairing[1] was with Srinath[7] and they acted together in about 35 films.[1]

She starred in over one hundred films. She specialized in the role of the bossy and tomboyish village belle which brought her huge success as a top Kannada heroine in the late 1970s. Some of her notable films are Sampathige Savaal, Eradu Kanasu, Sose Thanda Sowbhagya, Besuge and Seetharamu. She also acted with well known actors in other languages like Ramakrishna (Telugu), Kamalahasan and Rajinikanth (Tamil).

Filmography

Kannada

Year Film Role Notes
1966Mane Katti NoduManjuChild actress
1967PadhavidharaChild actress
1969Eradu MukhaNaliniChild actress (credited Kumari Manjula)
1972Yaara SakshiDebut as lead actress
1973Mooroovare VajragaluSatyabhama
1974Eradu KanasuLalitha
1974Sampathige SavaalDurga
1974Bhakta KumbaraManju
1974Professor HuchurayaGeetha
1974Sri Srinivasa KalyanaPadmavathi
1975Devara GudiVasanthi
1975Daari Tappida MagaPushpa
1975Ninagagi NaanuPrathima
1975MayuraPremavati
1975NireeksheVasumathi
1975Hennu Samsarada KannuRadha
1976Hudugatada HudugiSujatha
1976Baduku BangaravayithuMahadevi
1976BesugeSuma
1976ChiranjeeviSharada
1976Bangarada GudiRadha
1976ThulasiHema
1976Kanasu NanasuPriya
1977DeepaDeepaFilmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada
1977Sri Renukadevi MahatmeLakshmidevi
1977DhanalakshmiRohini
1977Bayasade Banda BhagyaShanthi
1977Sose Tanda SoubhagyaGeetha
1977Thayigintha DevarillaGeetha
1977Kittu PuttuRoopa
1977Ganda HendathiGeetha
1977Kumkuma RaksheSeetha
1977Galate SamsaraJanaki
1977Chanda MaruthaSpecial appearance
1977Veera Sindhura LakshmanaSpecial appearance
1978Anuraga BandhanaSpecial appearance
1978Halli HaidaParvathi
1978Muyyige MuyyiPallavi
1978Aparadhi NaanallaPankaja
1978Nanna PrayaschitthaSuneetha
1978Sneha SeduSeetha
1978Vasantha LakshmiLakshmi
1978Chithegu ChintheMalini
1978Bhale HudugaGeetha
1978Madhura SangamaSharada
1978Singaporenalli Raja KullaThara
1979Adalu BadaluLatha/BangariSpecial appearance
1979Aliya DevaruGeetha
1979SeetharamuSeetha
1979Pakka KallaLatha
1979Putani Agent 123
1979Savathiya NeraluPadmini
1979Preethi Madu Thamashe NoduMadhavi
1979Mallige Sampige
1979Ene Barali Preethi Irali
1980Point ParimalaParimala
1980Rama Parashurama
1980Rama Lakshmana
1980Moogana SeduMangala
1980Haddina Kannu"Benne" Bhagya
1980Manjina ThereKusuma
1980Usha SwayamvaraUsha
1980Simha JodiUma
1980Manku ThimmaGowri
1980Janma Janmada AnubandhaPutti
1980MithunaRaaji
1980Pattanakke Banda PathniyaruMaananda
1980Rusthum JodiPadmaSpecial appearance
1981Simhada Mari SainyaSpecial appearance
1981Nee Nanna GellalareNalini
1981PremanubandhaVaasanthi
1981Avali JavaliGeetha
1981Guru ShishyaruChitralekha
1981Mareyada HaaduAshwini
1981Snehitara SavaalGeetha
1981ShikariAasha
1982RudriRudramma
1982Kempu Hori
1982Chellida RakthaGirija
1982Mareyalagada KatheShanti
1982Swarnamahal Rahasya
1982Guna Nodi Hennu KoduUmaa
1982Benki ChenduSeetha
1982Mava Sose SavalRadha
1982Snehada SankoleNalini
1982Betthale SeveDevi
1982ArchanaRaniSpecial appearance
1982Hasyaratna RamakrishnaRadhasani, dancerSpecial appearance
1983Kranthiyogi BasavannaNeelambike
1983Hosa TheerpuDancerSpecial appearance
1983Keralida HennuJayalakshmiSpecial appearance
1983Ananda SagaraDhairyalakshmiSpecial appearance
1984Onti DhwaniLathaSpecial appearance
1984Kalinga SarpaMuthu
1984Enka Manka
1985Savira SulluDurga
1985Bhayankara Bhasmasura
1992Mana Gedda MagaChandraa

Other languages

Year Film Role Language Notes
1974 Thota Ramudu Durga Telugu
1975 Pooja Lalitha Telugu (remake of Eradu Kanasu)
Puthu Vellam Tamil
Maalai Sooda VaaRadha
Edupparkai Pillai
1980Kaalam Badhil Sollum

Manjula died after suffering burns during a kitchen fire on 9 September 1986. While initially deemed an accident, the Times of India reported the death as suicide.[8]

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 "Manjula's Profile". Chitraranga.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  2. ↑ Patil, S.H. (2002). Community dominance and political modernisation: the Lingayats. Mittal Publications. p. 50. ISBN 81-7099-867-0.
  3. ↑ "ನಟಿ ಮಂಜುಳಾ ಸಾವಿನ ಸತ್ಯಕಥೆ ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟ ಅತ್ತಿಗೆ, ನಿಜವಾಗಿ ಅಂದು ಅಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದಿದ್ದೇನು?". Asianet (in Kannada). 22 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Suresh Angadi (21 March 2021). "Kannada talents that departed early". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "This Sandalwood sensation rose from dustbin to success and met a fiery end". Suvarna Newstable. March 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  6. ↑ "From Soundarya and Shankar Nag to Kalpana, Manjula and Sunil - Sandalwood stars who passed away too soon". The Times of India. 5 February 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. ↑ B. V. Shiva Shankar (30 March 2007). "Made for each other". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "From Soundarya and Shankar Nag to Kalpana, Manjula and Sunil - Sandalwood stars who passed away too soon". The Times of India. 5 February 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
Sources
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