# Vijaya Nirmala

Vijaya Nirmala (born Nidudavolu Nirmala; 20 February 1946 – 27 June 2019) was an Indian actress, director, and producer known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Malayalam and Tamil films. In a career spanning over six decades, she acted in more than 200 films and directed 44 films. In 2002, she entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the female director who has directed the most number of films in the world. In 2008, she received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for lifetime achievement in Telugu cinema.
Born as Nirmala, she ventured into acting as a child artist with films like Macha Rekai (1950) and Panduranga Mahatyam (1957). She debuted as a lead actress in the 1964 Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam which became one of the biggest hits of that year. She then acted in the Tamil film Enga Veettu Penn (1965) produced by Vijaya Productions. She added Vijaya to her name as a mark of gratitude to the production house that gave her a break as an artiste. She debuted as a leading lady in Telugu with Rangula Ratnam (1966).
She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena (1973) and went on to direct over 44 films. She acted with her husband Krishna in over 40 films from Sakshi (1967) to Sri Sri (2016) and the duo was considered as a hit pair. She launched her own production house – Vijaya Krishna Movies and went on to produce 15 films under the banner. She also handled the operations of Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Tele Films. Her son Naresh is also a noted actor in Telugu cinema.

## Early life

She was born as Nidudavolu Nirmala on 20 February 1946 into a Telugu Brahmin family settled in Tamil Nadu who were originally from Narasaraopet. Her father was a film producer. Her paternal uncle was scholar and literary historian Nidudavolu Venkatarao. Actress Jayasudha is Venkatrao's granddaughter while singer R. Balasaraswathi Devi is her paternal aunt's daughter.

## Personal life

Vijaya Nirmala was married to Krishna Murthy and had a son Naresh, who is also an actor. She later married actor Krishna.

## Career

Vijaya Nirmala entered cinema as a child artist with the Tamil movie Macha Rekai (1950). At age eleven, she debuted in Telugu films with Panduranga Mahatmyam (1957). In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and rose to stardom with the Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam. Also, in 1967, she starred again opposite Prem Nazir in Udhyogastha, by P. Venu. She debuted in the Telugu industry in the film Rangula Ratnam (1966).
Her first film in Tamil was Enga Veettu Penn (1965), which was followed by Panama Pasama (1968), Uyira Maanama (1968), En Annan (1970), and Gnana Oli (1972). She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Sakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Sakshi that kindled her interest in direction. She has acted in over 200 films with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.
Her small screen debut came with Balaji Telefilms' Pelli Kanuka. Soon after, she launched her own banner Vijaya Krishna Movies and produced 15 films. She added Vijaya to her name as a gratitude to the production house. She made her directorial debut with a Malayalam film on a budget of 3 lakhs. She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena and directed 40 films in Telugu and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh). The actress-director was based in Hyderabad and managed Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.

## Selected filmography
### Telugu

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1957 | Panduranga Mahatyam | Bala Krishnudu | |
| 1958 | Bhookailas | Goddess Seetha | |
| 1966 | Rangula Ratnam | | |
| 1967 | Poola Rangadu | Padma | |
| 1967 | Sakshi | | |
| 1968 | Manchi Kutumbam | | |
| 1968 | Attagaru Kotha Kodallu | | |
| 1968 | Bangaru Pichika | | |
| 1968 | Circar Express | | |
| 1968 | Asadhyudu | Radha | |
| 1968 | Bangaru Gaajulu | Radha | |
| 1968 | Nadamantrapu Siri | | |
| 1968 | Rana Bheri | | |
| 1969 | Aatmiyulu | Saroja | |
| 1969 | Muhurtha Balam | Kamala | |
| 1969 | Buddhimantudu | | |
| 1969 | Saptaswaralu | | |
| 1969 | Bandhipotu Bheemanna | | |
| 1969 | Vichitra Kutumbam | | |
| 1969 | Takkari Donga Chakkani Chukka | Geeta | |
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Lawyer Vijaya | |
| 1970 | Vidhi Vilasam | Nirmala | |
| 1970 | Thaali Bottu | Nirmala | |
| 1971 | Bomma Borusa | | |
| 1971 | Anuradha | Anuradha | |
| 1971 | Mosagallaku Mosagadu | Radha | |
| 1972 | Tata Manavadu | Rani | |
| 1972 | Kathula Rathaiah | | |
| 1972 | Bhale Mosagadu | Rani, Agent 117 | |
| 1972 | Pandanti Kapuram | | |
| 1973 | Devudu Chesina Manushulu | | |
| 1973 | Sahasame Naa Oopiri | | |
| 1973 | Pinni | | |
| 1973 | Buddhimantudu | | |
| 1973 | Patnavasam | | |
| 1973 | Manchi Vallaki Manchivadu | Saakhi | |
| 1973 | Marina Manishi | | |
| 1973 | Meena | Meena | |
| 1974 | Alluri Seetarama Raju | Seeta | |
| 1974 | Devadasu | Parvathy | |
| 1974 | Dhanavanthulu Gunavanthulu | Padma | |
| 1974 | Bantrotu Bharya | | |
| 1975 | Mallela Manasulu | Radha Devi | |
| 1976 | Padi Pantalu | Radha | |
| 1977 | Kurukshetram | Subhadra | |
| 1978 | Patnavasam | Geetha | |
| 1979 | Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu | Gowri, Uma Devi | Dual Role |
| 1979 | Hema Hemeelu | Vijaya | |
| 1988 | Collector Vijaya | | |
| 1989 | Atha Mechina Alludu | Parvathi | |
| 1989 | Pinni | | |
| 1989 | Sahasame Naa Oopiri | Lakshmi | |
| 1989 | Gandipeta Rahasyam | | |
| 1990 | Prajala Manishi | Jhansi | |
| 2005 | Sravanamasam | | |
| 2009 | Neramu Siksha | Archana | |
| 2016 | Sri Sri | Sumathi | |

### Malayalam

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1964 | Bhargavi Nilayam | Bhargavi |
| 1965 | Rosie | Leena |
| 1965 | Kalyanarathriyil | Karthika |
| 1966 | Poochakkanni | Maheshwari |
| 1973 | Pooja | Radha |
| 1973 | Udhyogastha | Sujatha |
| 1973 | Anweshichu Kandethiyilla | Radhika |
| 1968 | Karutha Pournami | Janamma |
| 1974 | Nishagandhi | Padmini |
| 1974 | Vivaham Swargathil | Lisy |
| 1976 | Aana Valarthiya Vanampadiyude Makan | Omana |
| 1973 | Kalippava | Rani |
| 1973 | Pulliman | Devika |
| 1973 | Postmane Kananilla | Nalini |
| 1973 | Thenaruvi | Sudha |
| 1973 | Kattuvithachavan | Lakshmi |
| 1973 | Ponnapuram Kotta | Kanni |
| 1973 | Kavitha | Kavitha |
| 1974 | Durga | Thulasi |
| 1978 | Kenalum Collectorum | Indhulekha |

### Tamil

| Year | Film | Role |
| 1950 | Macha Rekai | Young Mahalingam |
| 1965 | Enga Veetu Penn | |
| 1966 | Chitthi | Saroja |
| 1967 | Pandhayam | |
| 1968 | Neelagiri Express | Geetha |
| 1968 | Panama Pasama | Kannamma aka Baby |
| 1968 | Siritha Mugam | |
| 1968 | Sathiyam Thavaradhey | |
| 1968 | Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi | Latha |
| 1968 | Uyira Manama | |
| 1969 | Anbalippu | Meena |
| 1970 | En Annan | Thangam |
| 1971 | Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan | |
| 1972 | Gnana Oli | |
| 1974 | Puthiya Manithan | |
| 1984 | Sumangali Kolam | |

### Director

| Year | Film | Notes |
| 1973 | Kavitha | Malayalam |
| 1973 | Meena | Based on the novel Meena by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani which was later adapted into 2016 movie A Aa |
| 1974 | Devadasu | |
| 1976 | Devude Gelichadu | Remake of Malayalam film Yakshagaanam |
| 1976 | Kavitha | |
| 1977 | Panchayathi | |
| 1978 | Rowdy Rangamma | |
| 1979 | Moodu Puvvulu Aaru Kayalu | |
| 1979 | Sanku Theertham | |
| 1979 | Hema Hemeelu | |
| 1980 | Ram Robert Rahim | Remake of Hindi film Amar Akbar Anthony |
| 1980 | Kiladi Krishnudu | |
| 1980 | Sangham Chekkina Silpalu | |
| 1980 | Sirimalle Navvindi | |
| 1981 | Bhogi Mantalu | |
| 1981 | Antham Kadidi Aarambam | Remake of Kannada film Antha |
| 1982 | Doctor Cine Actor | |
| 1983 | Bezawada Bebbuli | |
| 1984 | Mukhyamantri | Remake of Kannada film Chakravyuha |
| 1984 | Mukkopi | |
| 1985 | Lanke Bindelu | |
| 1985 | Surya Chandra | |
| 1988 | Collector Vijaya | |
| 1989 | Sahasame Naa Oopiri | |
| 1989 | Ajatha Satruvu | |
| 1990 | Prajala Manishi | |
| 1991 | Vadina Maata | |
| 1992 | Mogudu Pellala Dongaata | |
| 1994 | Yes Nenante Nene | |
| 1996 | Puttinti Gowravam | |
| 1996 | Rendu Kutumbala Katha | |
| 2009 | Neramu Siksha | |