# Manjula (Kannada actress)

Honnenhalli Shivanna Manjula (8 November 1954 – 12 September 1986) was an Indian actress who acted in predominantly Kannada language films in addition to Tamil (credited as Kumari Manjula) and Telugu films (credited as Kannada Manjula). She was one of the most successful and prominent actresses of Kannada films in the 1970s and 1980s. She acted in more than 100 films and won several awards for her performances, including a Filmfare Award.

## Personal life

Manjula was born to M. H. Shivanna and Deveramma in Honnenahalli, a village in Tumkur District. Her father Shivanna was a police sub inspector. She was married to film director Amrutham who worked with her in films such as Hudugaatada Hudugi and Kanasu Nanasu. The couple had a son, Abhishek.

## Death

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

## Career

Manjula started her acting career in 1965 with a 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. She shared the screen with all the top Kannada actors including Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Srinath, Ashok and Shankar Nag. Her most successful pairing was with Srinath and they acted together in about 35 films.
She starred in over one hundred films. She specialized in the role of the bossy 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 |
| 1966 | Mane Katti Nodu | Manju | Child actress |
| 1967 | Padhavidhara | | Child actress |
| 1969 | Eradu Mukha | | Child actress (credited Kumari Manjula) |
| 1972 | Yaara Sakshi | | Debut as lead actress |
| 1973 | Mooroovare Vajragalu | Satyabhama | |
| 1974 | Eradu Kanasu | Lalitha | |
| 1974 | Sampathige Savaal | Durga | |
| 1974 | Bhakta Kumbara | Gora's sister-in-law | |
| 1974 | Professor Huchuraya | M. N. Geetha | |
| 1974 | Sri Srinivasa Kalyana | Padmavathi | |
| 1975 | Devara Gudi | Vasanthi | |
| 1975 | Daari Tappida Maga | Pushpa | |
| 1975 | Ninagagi Naanu | | |
| 1975 | Mayura | Premavati | |
| 1975 | Nireekshe | Vasumathi | |
| 1975 | Hennu Samsarada Kannu | | |
| 1976 | Hudugatada Hudugi | | |
| 1976 | Baduku Bangaravayithu | Mahadevi | |
| 1976 | Besuge | Suma | |
| 1976 | Chiranjeevi | | |
| 1976 | Bangarada Gudi | Radha | |
| 1976 | Thulasi | | |
| 1976 | Kanasu Nanasu | | |
| 1977 | Deepa | Deepa | Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada |
| 1977 | Sri Renukadevi Mahatme | | |
| 1977 | Dhanalakshmi | | |
| 1977 | Bayasade Banda Bhagya | | |
| 1977 | Sose Tanda Soubhagya | Geetha | |
| 1977 | Thayigintha Devarilla | | |
| 1977 | Veera Sindhura Lakshmana | | Special appearance |
| 1977 | Chanda Marutha | | Special appearance |
| 1977 | Kittu Puttu | Roopa | |
| 1977 | Ganda Hendathi | | |
| 1977 | Kumkuma Rakshe | | |
| 1977 | Galate Samsara | Janaki | |
| 1978 | Halli Haida | | |
| 1978 | Muyyige Muyyi | Pallavi | |
| 1978 | Anuraga Bandhana | | Special appearance |
| 1978 | Aparadhi Naanalla | Pankaja | |
| 1978 | Nanna Prayaschittha | | |
| 1978 | Sneha Sedu | | |
| 1978 | Vasantha Lakshmi | Lakshmi | |
| 1978 | Chithegu Chinte | | |
| 1978 | Bhale Huduga | | |
| 1978 | Madhura Sangama | Sharada | |
| 1978 | Singaporenalli Raja Kulla | Tara | |
| 1979 | Adalu Badalu | | Special appearance |
| 1979 | Aliya Devaru | | |
| 1979 | Seetharamu | Seetha | |
| 1979 | Pakka Kalla | | |
| 1979 | Putani Agent 123 | | |
| 1979 | Savathiya Neralu | Padmini | |
| 1979 | Preethi Madu Thamashe Nodu | Madhavi | |
| 1979 | Mallige Sampige | | |
| 1979 | Ene Barali Preethi Irali | | |
| 1980 | Point Parimala | Parimala | |
| 1980 | Rama Parashurama | | |
| 1980 | Rama Lakshmana | | |
| 1980 | Moogana Sedu | Mangala | |
| 1980 | Haddina Kannu | "Benne" Bhagya | |
| 1980 | Manjina There | | |
| 1980 | Usha Swayamvara | Usha | |
| 1980 | Simha Jodi | | |
| 1980 | Manku Thimma | | |
| 1980 | Rusthum Jodi | Padma | Special appearance |
| 1980 | Janma Janmada Anubandha | | |
| 1980 | Mithuna | | |
| 1980 | Pattanakke Banda Pathniyaru | | |
| 1981 | Nee Nanna Gellalare | Nalini | |
| 1981 | Premanubandha | | |
| 1981 | Avali Javali | | |
| 1981 | Simhada Mari Sainya | | Special appearance |
| 1981 | Guru Shishyaru | Chitralekha | |
| 1981 | Mareyada Haadu | | |
| 1981 | Snehitara Savaal | | |
| 1981 | Shikari | | |
| 1982 | Rudri | | |
| 1982 | Kempu Hori | | |
| 1982 | Chellida Raktha | | |
| 1982 | Mareyalagada Kathe | | |
| 1982 | Archana | Rani | Special appearance |
| 1982 | Swarna Mahal Rahasya | | |
| 1982 | Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu | | |
| 1982 | Benki Chendu | | |
| 1982 | Mava Sose Saval | | |
| 1982 | Snehada Sankole | | |
| 1982 | Hasyaratna Ramakrishna | | Special appearance |
| 1982 | Betthale Seve | | |
| 1983 | Hosa Theerpu | Dancer | Special appearance |
| 1983 | Keralida Hennu | Jayalakshmi | Special appearance |
| 1983 | Kranthiyogi Basavanna | Neelambike | |
| 1983 | Ananda Sagara | | Special appearance |
| 1984 | Onti Dhwani | | Special appearance |
| 1984 | Kalinga Sarpa | Muthu | |
| 1984 | Enka Manka | | |
| 1985 | Savira Sullu | | |
| 1985 | Bhayankara Bhasmasura | | |

### Tamil and Telugu

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