# Kanchana (actress)

Vasundhara Devi (born 16 August 1939), known by her stage name Kanchana, is an Indian actress who primarily worked in Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada films, in addition to Malayalam and Hindi films.

## Early life

Kanchana was born as Vasundhara Devi on 16 August 1939 in Madras (now Chennai). She is the daughter of Ramakrishna Sastri, a civil engineer. From a young age, Kanchana exhibited a strong artistic inclination, which was nurtured alongside her academic pursuits. She learned Bharatanatyam at an early age and performed her Arangetram at the Museum Theatre when she was just nine years old.
Kanchana pursued her education at Good Shepherd Convent, where she excelled in her studies. She later attended Ethiraj College for Women, where she continued to distinguish herself as a talented student. During her college years, she began participating in stage plays, notably portraying Celia in As You Like It and Sita in Manohar’s popular play Lankeswaran.

## Career

Initially interested in a career as an air hostess, Kanchana left college during her Intermediate studies to join Indian Airlines. However, her artistic aspirations soon led her to the film industry. While on a trip to Bombay, director Mahesh Kaul noticed her and offered her a screen test. Around the same time, producer Chezhian introduced her to director C. V. Sridhar at the Madras airport. Sridhar recognized her potential and offered her a role, which she accepted, preferring to start her film career in her hometown.

### Film Career

Kanchana had acted in minor roles in Suvarna sundari (1957) film and Seeta (1960) film but in January 1963, Kanchana joined Chithralaya as a permanent artist, marking the beginning of her acting career. Sridhar gave her the lead role in his film Kaadhalikka Neramillai (1963) and changed her name to Kanchana, since there was already another actress named Vasundhara Devi, mother of actress Vyjayanthimala. Her performance in the film received critical acclaim, setting the stage for her future success in the film industry.
Kanchana acted in over 150 films – Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi, with a successful acting career. She had a successful career in Tamil films, especially between 1964 and 1977 as a lead heroine. Her critically acclaimed films include Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Thedi Vantha Thirumagal, Parakkum Paavai, Kodimalar, Adhey Kangal, Bama Vijayam, Naalum Therindavan, Thangai, Thulabaram, Ponnu Mappilai, Shanti Nilayam, Chella Penn, Uthiravindri Ulle Vaa, Vilaiyaattu Pillai, Sivanda Mann, Nyayam Ketkirom, Avalukendru Or Manam, and Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum. She retired from films in the mid-80s itself.
In 2005, she was presented with the MGR award and in 2007 the ANR Swarna Kankanam award. In Tamil, her pairing with Ravichandran was the most famous with all their films - Adhey Kangal, Kadhalikka Neram Illai, Utharavindri Ullevaa, Kadhal Jyoti, Thedivandha Thirumagal and Naalum Therindavan being hits. She acted in some films with R. Muthuraman including Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Kodimalar, Thulabharam (Tamil version), Thangai, Bama Vijayam and Avalukendru Or Manam. She also acted with Sivaji Ganesan in Sivandha Mann, which was a blockbuster hit along with Vilayattu Pillai and Avan Oru Sarithiram.
She did two films with MGR - Naan Yen Pirandhen and Parakkum Paavai as the second lead heroine of the film. Apart from that, she was paired with many Tamil heroes like A. V. M. Rajan, S. S. Rajendran, Gemini Ganesan, Jaishankar, Ravichandran and Sivakumar in Tamil. Her last film as lead heroine in Tamil was Avan Oru Sarithiram in Tamil and Babruvahana in Kannada, both in 1977. Her performances in the movies Pavitra Bandham & Manchivaadu were well appreciated and recognized. She played Uttara in the film Veerabhimanyu. The following year she acted in the Annapurna Pictures' film Aatma Gowravam with veteran director K. Viswanath. She acted with Krishnam Raju in some glamorous roles in Neeti Nijayitee (1972), Parivartana (1975), Nenante Nene and Dharma Daata in addition to Shri Krishnavataram (1967).
After her retirement as a heroine, she acted in supporting roles in films such as Ananda Bhairavi, Srimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra, Johnny and Mouna Ragam. Kanchana appeared in an OLX commercial (Telugu/Tamil) in 2015. She made her comeback to films with Arjun Reddy in 2017 as the titular character's grandmother.

## Personal life

The actress later won back her properties in T. Nagar, Chennai around 6 grounds, with the Court ruling against her parents. It was learned that one day her father took the signature of Kanchana on a white paper and without her knowledge converted total assets on his name. After a long legal battle, she won and regained her wealth.. Kanchana along with her sister, Girija, donated their property in Chennai, then worth around Rs. 15 crore, to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on 25 October 2010. She is currently residing in Bangalore.

## Filmography
### Telugu

| Year | Movie | Role |
| 1957 | Suvarna Sundari | Naaga kanyaa |
| 1961 | Seeta | Kausalya |
| 1965 | Aatma Gowravam | Savitri/Sarala |
| 1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Kanchanamala |
| 1965 | Veerabhimanyu | Uttara |
| 1966 | Navarathri | Patient (cameo appearance) |
| 1966 | Dr. Anand | Vijaya |
| 1967 | Ave Kallu | Susheela |
| 1967 | Prana Mithrulu | Padmavathi |
| 1967 | Kanchukota | |
| 1967 | Private Master | Sundari |
| 1967 | Sri Krishnavataram | Sathyabhama |
| 1967 | Marapurani Katha | |
| 1968 | Manchi Kutumbam | Sharadha |
| 1968 | Bandhipotu Dongalu | Malli |
| 1968 | Nenante Nene | Geetha |
| 1968 | Deva Kanya | Kinnera/Lalasa |
| 1968 | Veeranjaneya | Sulochana |
| 1968 | Thalli Prema | |
| 1968 | Kalisochina Adrushtam | Sobha |
| 1968 | Vintha Kapuram | Vijaya |
| 1968 | Bhale Kodallu | |
| 1969 | Bhale Mastaru | Vijaya |
| 1969 | Manushulu Marali | |
| 1969 | Saptaswaralu | |
| 1969 | Natakala Rayudu | Geetha Devi |
| 1969 | Jarigina Katha | |
| 1970 | Dharma Daata | Padma |
| 1971 | Kalyana Mandapam | Devadasi |
| 1971 | Pavitra Bandham | |
| 1971 | Amaayakuraalu | Shobha |
| 1971 | Rangeli Raja | Vijaya |
| 1971 | Andam Kosam Pandem | Malathi |
| 1972 | Raitu Kutumbam | Radha |
| 1972 | Manchi Rojulu Vachchaayi | Geetha |
| 1972 | Vamsodharakudu | |
| 1973 | Pedda Koduku | |
| 1973 | Bhakta Tukaram | Bahina bai |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | Geetha |
| 1973 | Manchivadu | Lalitha |
| 1973 | Talli Kodukulu | |
| 1974 | Tatamma Kala | Seetha |
| 1975 | Maya Maschindra | Mohini |
| 1975 | Annadammula Anubandham | Geetha |
| 1976 | Mahakavi Kshetrayya | |
| 1976 | Secretary | Rekha Rani |
| 1977 | Daana Veera Soora Karna | Subhadra |
| 1977 | Indradhanusu | |
| 1977 | Raja Ramesh | Padmaja |
| 1978 | Kalanthakulu | Kamala |
| 1978 | Dongala Dopidi | Gowri |
| 1978 | Indradhanussu | Saraswathi |
| 1979 | Driver Ramudu | Kalavathi |
| 1981 | Gadasari Attaha Sosagara Kodalu | |
| 1982 | Naa Desam | Saraswati Devi |
| 1983 | Anandha Bhairavi | |
| 1984 | Srimadvirat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra | Govindamma |
| 1985 | Sri Datta Darsanam | |
| 1986 | Kirayi Mogudu | Janaki |
| 1986 | Jayam Manade | Savithri |
| 1986 | Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam | |
| 1988 | Premayanam | |
| 2017 | Arjun Reddy | Arjun's grandmother |

### Tamil

| Year | Movies | Role | Note |
| 1964 | Kaadhalikka Neramillai | Kanchana | Debut film |
| 1965 | Veera Abhimanyu | Uttara | |
| 1966 | Motor Sundaram Pillai | Kamala | |
| 1966 | Thedi Vantha Thirumagal | Susheela | |
| 1966 | Parakkum Paavai | Shantha | |
| 1966 | Kodimalar | Parvathi | |
| 1966 | Marakka Mudiyumaa? | | |
| 1967 | Adhey Kangal | Susheela | |
| 1967 | Bama Vijayam | Seetha | |
| 1967 | Thangai | Lalitha | |
| 1968 | Naalum Therindhvan | Mala | |
| 1969 | Chella Penn | | |
| 1969 | Ponnu Mappillai | Bhuvana | |
| 1969 | Shanti Nilayam | Malathi | |
| 1969 | Thulabaram | Vatsala | |
| 1969 | Sivandha Mann | Chitralekha | |
| 1970 | Noorandu Kaalam Vazgha | Leela | |
| 1970 | Vilaiyaattu Pillai | Indu | |
| 1970 | Kadhal Jothi | Dr. Suguna | |
| 1971 | Avalukendru Or Manam | Meena | |
| 1971 | Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa | Janaki | |
| 1972 | Naan Yen Pirandhen | Radha | |
| 1973 | Nyayam Ketkirom | | |
| 1975 | Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum | | |
| 1977 | Avan Oru Sarithiram | Kalpana | |
| 1979 | Ninaivil Oru Malar | | |
| 1979 | Neethiyaa Nyayamaa | | |
| 1979 | Jaya Nee Jayichutte | | |
| 1980 | Johnny | Johnny's mother | |
| 1981 | Lorry Driver Rajakannu | Ramu's wife | |
| 1982 | Pagadai Panirendu | Anand's mother | |
| 1985 | Kattukkulle Thiruvizha | | |
| 1986 | Mouna Raagam | Lawyer | |
| 1986 | Kulirkaala Megangal | Maheswari | |
| 1987 | Naanum Neeyum | | |
| 1987 | Kizhakku Africavil Sheela | Kumudha | |

### Kannada

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1977 | Babruvahana | Uloochi |
| 1978 | Nanobba Kalla | Savitri |
| 1978 | Shankar Guru | Sumati |
| 1980 | Biligiriya Banadalli | |
| 1980 | Aarada Gaaya | Mangala |
| 1981 | Jeevakke Jeeva | Seetha |
| 1981 | Bhagyavantha | |
| 1982 | Nyaya Ellide | Durga |
| 1982 | Pedda Gedda | |
| 1982 | Prachanda Kulla | Rama's mother |
| 1983 | Anandha Bhairavi | |
| 1983 | Bhakta Prahlada | Diti |
| 1984 | Maryade Mahalu | |
| 1984 | Raktha Thilaka | Durga |
| 1984 | Bandhana | |
| 1984 | Pralayanthaka | |
| 1984 | Samayada Gombe | Kamakshi |
| 1985 | Veeradhi Veera | |
| 1985 | Nanna Prathigne | Mangala |
| 1985 | Chaduranga | Dr. Maheshwari |
| 1985 | Bidugadeya Bedi | Ratna |
| 1986 | Ratha Sapthami | Sharada |
| 1986 | Beegara Pandya | |
| 1986 | Africadalli Sheela | |
| 1987 | Vijayothsava | |
| 1987 | Jayasimha | |
| 1988 | Chiranjeevi Sudhakar | |
| 1988 | Dharma Pathni | |
| 1988 | Devatha Manushya | |

### Malayalam

| Year | Movie | Role |
| 1960 | Seeta | Kausalya |
| 1964 | Atom Bomb | |
| 1973 | Azhakulla Saleena | Lucyamma |
| 1974 | Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree | |
| 1977 | Ammaayi Amma | |
| 1979 | Nithya Vasantham | |
| 1979 | Rakthamillatha Manushyan | |
| 1982 | Ina | Aunty |
| 1984 | Sreekrishna Parunthu | Kumaran's mother |
| 1985 | Njaan Piranna Naattil | Nandini |

### Hindi

| Year | Movie | Role | Note |
| 1957 | Suvarna Sundari | Naag Kanya | Credited as "Vasundhra" |
| 1967 | Farz | | |
| 1968 | Teen Bahuraniyan | | Remake of Bhama Vijayam |
| 1970 | Samaj Ko Badal Dalo | | Remake of Thulabaaram |
| 1974 | Prem Nagar | Dancer | Remake of same name in Telugu |

## Awards

* She was presented with the MGR award in 2005.
* ANR Swarna Kankanam award in 2007.
* Kalaimamani award for her distinguished services for Tamil Cinema by the Government of Tamil Nadu, 2013
* Karnataka Rajyotsava Award by State Government Of Karnataka in 2017