# Jamuna (actress)

Jamuna (30 August 1936 – 27 January 2023; née Nippani) was an Indian actress, director, and politician who appeared mainly in Telugu cinema. She made her acting debut at age 16 in Dr. Garikapati Rajarao's Puttillu (1953), and received her breakthrough with L. V. Prasad's Missamma (1955). Her filmography also includes Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films. She won a Filmfare Award and an award at Filmfare Awards South. She was a member of parliament in the 9th Lok Sabha (1989–1991) representing the Rajahmundry constituency.

## Early life

Jamuna was born in Hampi in present-day Karnataka in a Kannada Madhva Brahmin family. Her parents were Nippani Srinivasa Rao and Kowsalya Devi. She first was named Jana Bai. Her father was a Madhva Brahmin, while her mother was a Vaisya, resulting in an inter-caste love marriage. Jamuna grew up in Duggirala, in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh. Her father was involved in the business of turmeric and tobacco and their family moved there when she was seven years old. When Savitri was performing drama in Duggirala, she would stay at Jamuna's house. Later, Savitri invited Jamuna to act in films. She began performing as heroines in movies at the age of 16.

## Film career

Jamuna was a stage artist in school. Her mother taught her vocal music and harmonium. In 1952, Dr. Garikipati Raja Rao of the Indian People's Theatre Association saw her stage show Maa Bhoomi and offered her a role in his film Puttillu.
Jamuna acted in 198 films in Telugu and other south Indian languages. She also acted in Hindi films, winning the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Milan (1967), repeating her role from the original Telugu film Mooga Manasulu (1964).
Jamuna also established the Telugu artist association and provided social services through it for 25 years.

## Political career

Jamuna joined the Congress party in the 1980s and was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Rajahmundry constituency in 1989. She lost the 1991 election and quit politics, but briefly campaigned for the BJP in the late 1990s during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure.

## Personal life and death

In 1965 Jamuna married Juluri Ramana Rao, a zoology professor at SV University; he died from cardiac arrest on 10 November 2014 at age 86. They had a son, Vamsee Juluri and a daughter, Sravanthi Juluri, and lived in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Jamuna died at her home in Hyderabad on 27 January 2023, at age 86.

## Awards

* 1968: Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress - Milan
* 1972: Filmfare Special Award - South - Pandanti Kapuram
* 1999: Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - MGR Award
* 2008: NTR National Award
* 2010: B. Saroja Devi National Award
* 2019: Santosham Lifetime Achievement Award at 17th Santosham Film Awards

## Filmography
### Telugu

* Puttilu (1953)
* Maa Gopi (1954)
* Bangaru Papa (1954)
* Nirupedalu (1954)
* Vaddante Dabbu (1954)
* Iddaru Pellalu (1954)
* Donga Ramudu (1955)
* Santosham (1955)
* Missamma (1955)
* Tenali Ramakrishna (1956)
* Chiranjeevulu (1956)
* Ilavelpu (1956) as Sarala
* Muddu Bidda (1956)
* Chintamani (1956)
* Veera Kankanam (1957) as Parvathi
* Bhagya Rekha (1957)
* Sati Anasuya (1957)
* Maa Inti Mahalakshmi (1958)
* Bhookailas (1958) as Mandodari
* Pellinaati Pramanalu (1958) as Rukmini
* Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959)
* Illarikam (1959)
* Jalsa Rayudu (1960)
* Annapurna (1960) as Annapurna
* Pelli Kani Pillalu (1961)
* Gulebakavali Katha (1962)
* Gundamma Katha (1962)
* Srikakula Andhramaha Vishnu (1962)
* Eedu Jodu (1963) as Santha
* Thobuttuvulu (1963) as Rajani
* Pooja Phalam (1964)
* Bobbili Yuddham (1964)
* Manchi Manishi (1964)
* Mooga Manasulu (1964)
* Muralikrishna (1964)
* Ramudu Bheemudu (1964)
* Bobbili Yuddham(1964)
* Dorikithe Dongalu(1965)
* Mangamma Sapatham (1965) as Mangamma
* Keelu Bommalu (1965)
* Thodu Needa (1965)
* Naadi Aada Janme (1965) as Malathi
* Sri Krishna Tulabharam (1965) as Satyabhama
* Leta Manasulu (1966)
* Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha (1966) as Sujatha
* Navarathri (1966)
* Adugu Jaadalu (1966) as Parvathi
* Palnati Yuddham (1966) as Maguva Manchala
* Chadarangam (1967)
* Upayamlo Apayam (1967)
* Poola Rangadu (1967)
* Chinnari Paapalu (1968)
* Bandipotu Dongalu (1968)
* Ramu (1968)
* Undamma Bottu Pedata (1968)
* Amayakudu (1968)
* Atta O Kodalu (1969)
* Muhurtha Balam (1969) as Radha
* Mooga Nomu (1969) as Gauri
* Ekaveera (1969)
* Mattilo Manikyam (1971) as Lakshmi
* Tahsildar Gari Ammayi (1971) as Madhumathi
* Srimanthudu (1971) as Radha
* Manasu Mangalyam (1971) as Manjula
* Attanu Diddina Kodalu (1972)
* Pandanti Kapuram (1972)
* Dabbuki Lokam Dasoham (1973) as Aruna
* Dhanama? Daivama? (1973) as Janaki
* Nindu Kutumbam (1973) as Mohini
* Bhoomi Kosam (1974) as Raji
* Samsaram (1975)
* Moguda Pellama (1975)
* Manushulanta Okkate (1976)
* Seetha Kalyanam (1977)
* Kuruskhetram (1977) as Draupadi
* Chiranjeevi Rambabu (1977) as Rathnam
* Gadusu Pillodu (1977) as Parvathi
* Seetha Rama Vanavasam (1977)
* Rajaputra Rahasyam (1978) as Tripurasundari Devi
* Akbar Salim Anarkali (1978) as Jodha
* Adajanma
* Vanaja Girija
* Collector Janaki
* Mama Allulla Saval (1980)
* Bangaru Koduku (1982)
* Bangaru Thalli
* Gauri
* Pelliroju
* Pelliroju
* Allude Menalludu
* Sati Anasuya
* Ramalayam
* Kaksha
* Challani Needa
* Bangaru Sankellu
* Palamanasulu
* Menakodalu
* Mamatha
* Snehabandham
* Peddalu Marali
* Naa Desam
* Manushulu Mattibommalu
* Adambaralu Anubandhalu
* Deerghasumangali
* Mandaladeesudu
* Annapurnamma gari manavadu
* Bahubali
* Tarzan Sundari (1988)

### Tamil

* Panam Paduthum Padu (1954)
* Jaya Gopi (1955)
* Missiamma (1955)
* Thiruttu Raman (1955)
* Tenali Raman (1956)
* Naga Devathai (1956)
* Kudumba Villakku (1956)
* Thangamalai Ragasiyam (1957)
* Pakka Thirudan (1957)
* Kula Gouravam (1957)
* Bhaktha Ravana (1958)
* Kadan Vaangi Kalyaanam (1958)
* Bommai Kalyanam (1958)
* Vaazhkai Oppandham (1959)
* Kanniraindha Kanavan (1959)
* Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali (1959)
* Nalla Theerpu (1959)
* Kadavulin Kuzhandhai (1960)
* Marutha Nattu Veeran (1961)
* Revathi (1961)
* Nichaya Thaamboolam (1962) as Seetha
* Dakshayagnam (1962)
* Manithan Maravillai (1962)
* Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum (1965)
* Anbu Sagodharargal (1973)
* Naan Nandri Solven (1979)
* Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey (1983)

### Kannada

* Aadarsha Sathi (1955)
* Tenali Ramakrishna (1956)
* Bhookailasa (1956)
* Rathnagiri Rahasya (1957)
* Sakshatkara (1971)
* Mayeya Musuku (1980)
* Guru Sarwabhowma Sri Raghavendra Karune (1980)
* Police Matthu Dada (1991)

### Hindi

* Miss Mary (1957)
* Ramu Dada (1961)
* Ek Raaz (1963)
* Hamrahi (1963)
* Beti Bete (1964)
* Rishte Naate (1965)
* Milan (1967) (Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award)
* Dulhan (1975)
* Naukar Biwi Ka (1983)
* Raaj Tilak (1984)
* Yaadgaar (1984)
* Ek Raaz(1963)