G. Varalakshmi


Garikapati Varalakshmi was an Indian actress, stage artist, singer, and director who worked in Telugu and Tamil films.

Early life and career

Varalakshmi was born in 1926 in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father was a pehelwan. She started acting on stage in Vijayawada when she was 11 years old. She acted along with stage actors Thungala Chalapathi and Dasari Kotiratnam and became popular for her roles in plays like Sakkubai and Rangoon Rowdy.
Her first two movie roles aged 14 were in Barrister Parvatheesam, produced by Raghupathy Prakash, and Bondam Pelli, produced by H. M. Reddy. These two movies were released together as a two-in-one movie. She then moved to Bombay to sing in the chorus for Naushad in 1942. As her career as a singer was not successful, she returned to Madras in 1946. She married the filmmaker and studio-owner K. S. Prakash Rao. Her husband and she acted in and produced a controversial and popular movie, Drohi in which she played the part of an arrogant daughter.
Drohi was followed by popular movies like Kula Gotralu, Kanna Talli and Pelli Chesi Choodu in which she acted with all the top heroes of Indian films of the 1940s and 1950s in Telugu and Tamil, playing roles ranging from the loving woman and arrogant sister to the mother-in-law. She also directed a social movie, Moogajeevulu. She got involved in politics and supported M.G.R for a short time and was an active member of Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali.

Personal life

She was the mother of two children, one daughter Kovelamudi Kanaka Durga and a son Kovelamudi Siva Prakash who became a famous cameraman. She is also the step-mother of the famous director Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao. Her granddaughter Manasa acted in the film Nandanavanam 120km.

Filmography

Note: The list is not comprehensive.

Actress

YearFilmLanguageCharacter
1940Barrister ParvateesamTelugu
1940Bondam PelliTelugu
1941DakshayagnamTelugu
1942Bhakta PrahladaTelugu
1946VanaraniTelugu
1948VindhyaraniTelugu
1948DrohiTeluguSaroja
1950Maaya RambhaTamilRambha
1950Maaya RambhaTeluguRambha
1950Modati RathriTelugu
1950LakshmammaTamil
1950Sri Lakshmamma KathaTeluguPichamma
1950Swapna SundariTamilRani
1950Swapna SundariTeluguRani
1951AnniTamil
1951DeekshaTelugu
1951NiraparadhiTamilTara
1951NirdoshiTeluguTara
1952ManavathiTamil
1952ManavathiTelugu
1952Kalyanam Panni PaarTamil
1952Pelli Chesi ChooduTeluguAmmadu
1953Naa ChelleluTelugu
1953Kanna TalliTeluguShanta
1953Petra ThaiTamilSanta
1953PrapanchamTelugu
1953ParopakaramTamil
1953ParopakaramTelugu
1954JyotiTelugu
1954KudumbamTamilSeetha
1954MenarikamTeluguSeetha
1954Maa GopiTelugu
1954Palle PaduchuTelugu
1955Ante KavaliTelugu
1955GulebakavaliTamilQueen Bakavali
1955Jaya GopiTamil
1955Pasupu KunkumaTelugu
1956Balasanyasamma KathaTelugu
1956MarumalarchiTamil
1956MelukolupuTelugu
1956Naan Petra SelvamTamilGowri
1956PaasavalaiTamil
1956Vazhvile Oru NaalTamilJanaki/Kaladevi
1957DhampathyamTelugu
1957Dongallo DoraTeluguKamini
1957Pakka ThirudanTamilKamini
1957AravalliTamilQueen Aravalli
1957KarpurakarasiTamilChandrika
1957Uthama IllaluTeluguChandrika
1957Pathini DeivamTamilSivagami
1958Raja NandiniTeluguVimala
1958Sampoorna RamayanamTamilKaikeyi
1958Dongalunnaru JagrathaTelugu
1958Thirudargal JakkirathaiTamil
1958Mangalya BalamTeluguSeeta
1958Manjal MahimaiTamilSeeta
1959Mamiyar Mechina MarumagalTamilSeeta
1960Renukadevi MahatyamTelugu
1960SivagamiTamilSivagami
1961Bikari RamaduTelugu
1961Iddaru MitruluTelugu
1961NagarjunaKannadaUluchi
1962BhishmaTelugu
1962Kalimi LemuluTeluguManikyamba
1962Kula GothraluTelugu
1962Padandi MundukuTelugu
1962NagarjunaTelugu
1963AnuragamTelugu
1965Aavadhellaam PennaaleTamil
1965AntastuluTeluguRoopa Devi
1965SumangaliTelugu
1965Kuzhandaiyum DeivamumTamilAlamelu
1965Paditha ManaiviTamil
1965Veera AbhimanyuTamilDraupadi
1965VeerabhimanyuTeluguDraupadi
1966Aata BommaluTelugu
1966AastiparuluTeluguRajyalakshmi
1966Letha ManasuluTeluguKanaka Durgamma
1967Pattathu RaniTamil
1967RahasyamTeluguChandramma
1968AmayakuduTelugu
1968HarichandraTamil
1968Bangaru SankeluTelugu
1968Mooga JeevuluTelugu
1968VeeranjaneyaTeluguMandodari
1969Jagath KiladeeluTelugu
1971Mooga PremaTelugu
1971Pavitra BandhamTeluguDurgamma
1971AnuradhaTeluguRukmini
1971Veettukoru PillaiTamil
1972Vazhaiyadi VazhaiTamil
1973Doctor BabuTeluguParvathi
1973Samsaram SagaramTelugu
1973Veettukku Vandha MarumagalTamil
1974ChakravakamTelugu
1974Premalu PellilluTelugu
1974TulasiTelugu
1974Vani RaniTamil
1975BabuTelugu
1975Kathanayakuni KathaTeluguPulatla Tayaramma
1975Rajyanlo RabanduluTelugu
1975Vayasochina PillaTelugu
1976AthavarilluTelugu
1976Ee Kalapu PillaluTelugu
1976MahatmuduTeluguParvathamma
1976Manchiki Maro PeruTelugu
1976Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee ClubTelugu
1977Unnai Suttrum UlagamTamil
1978Gorantha DeepamTelugu
1978Nindu ManishiTelugu
1980Kiladi KrishnuduTelugu
1980Sirimalle NavvindiTelugu
1986SirivennelaTelugu

Director

  1. ''Moogajeevulu''

Discography

YearFilmLanguageSongCo-singersMusic director
1940Barrister ParvateesamTeluguPremaye Jagathi DemuduKopparapu Subba Rao
1940Barrister ParvateesamTeluguPoyira Priyuda London PoyiraKopparapu Subba Rao
1948DrohiTeluguNede Theere Naa VaanchaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguPremaye Kaadha Sadha VilaasiM. S. Rama RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguChakkaligintalu Leva LevaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguPoovu Cheri PalumaaruGhantasalaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguNee Tetalenide Chitraniki GeetuPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguTrinamo Panamo VeyyandiPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguPadandira Padandira PadandiraPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguManovanchalu Eenaati KoolipoyePendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguCakkaru Kottuku VachavaKasturi Siva RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1948DrohiTeluguSari Sari Matala MoothaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Maaya RambhaTamilOgirala Ramachandra Rao
1950Maaya RambhaTamilOgirala Ramachandra Rao
1950Maaya RambhaTeluguRagamutho Nanu KanumaOgirala Ramachandra Rao
1950Maaya RambhaTeluguVeera Rasikulu KalarasikuluOgirala Ramachandra Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguCheliya Ee Sumamu Ye RanguPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguTaguna Pagaboona PenchinaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguMamatho Yemo ChandrudelaM. S. Rama Rao & R. Balasaraswathi DeviPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguOyi Naa Raja Oyyaree RajaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguSannagaa Tinnagaa RaraaKasturi Siva RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguOho Bava Oyi BavaMadhavapeddi SatyamPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguEduru Ledika Naakeduru LedikaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguAasalu Baasi Naa Aasalu BaasiPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Modhati RathriTeluguManasidemo OoyalaloogeM. S. Rama Rao & Kasturi Siva RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1950Swapna SundariTamilSagasam Therinthathaiya UnC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Swapna SundariTamilUllam Magizhnthu EnnaiyeC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Swapna SundariTamilMaranthatheno ManathuC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Swapna SundariTeluguNee Sari NeeveleC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Swapna SundariTeluguUllam Magizhnthu EnnaiyeC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Swapna SundariTeluguMarali Ravo Manasu LedoC. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala
1950Vaali SugreevaTeluguAhaha Mohana Prema PoojeS. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala
1950Vaali SugreevaTeluguNaa Aashaajyothiye AaripovunaaS. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala
1950Vaali SugreevaTeluguPriyatama Naa Hrdaya MandaraS. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala
1951AnniTamilPon Vilaindhathu Jai EnboamPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilEnna Aambule Nee Enna AambulePithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilPongalo Pongal Pongi VarudhammaPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilEnnamma Ennamma KannePithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilKanne Paapaa Kaniye PaapaaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilRama Harae Jaya Rama HaraePendyala Nageswara Rao
1951AnniTamilAnbu Kanindhaal PoodeviPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguPasidi Pantaku Jai AnaraPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguChalnathalli BhudeviPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguPithapuram Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguChinninanna ChittinannaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguSri RamasitaramakapadaravaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951DheekshaTeluguAmmagari Illu DharmalogilluPendyala Nageswara Rao
1951NiraparadhiTamilSarasa SangeethamadheH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
1951NiraparadhiTamilNaane RaaniyeH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
1951NirdoshiTeluguNene Janaga NerajanagaH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
1951NirdoshiTeluguSakha Naa RajuH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala
1952ManavathiTeluguMelukolipega Thane MelukolipegaH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao
1952ManavathiTeluguRao Elaravo EtannunavoH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao
1952ManavathiTeluguO Na Sakhi Pona SakhiH. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao
1953Pelli Chesi ChooduTeluguRaadhanuraayedavakuGhantasala, Joga Rao & P. LeelaGhantasala
1953Kanna TalliTeluguSirikin Cheppadu ShangkacahkraPendyala Nageshwara Rao
1953ManjariTeluguParipalayam Janani Karunamayi BhavaniH. R. Padmanabha Sastry
1953RohiniTamilG. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt
1953RohiniTeluguBratuke Shidhilamai PoyeG. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt
1954JyothiTeluguChitti Potti PapallaraPendyala Nageswara Rao
1954JyothiTeluguDeshmunu PremichumannaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1955Ante KaavaliTeluguO Vedalipoye PremikaPendyala Nageswara Rao
1955Ante KaavaliTeluguNijamena Nijamena NeePendyala Nageswara Rao
1955Ante KaavaliTeluguRaoyi Itu RaoyiM. S. Rama RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao