Veteran Telugu actor-filmmaker G. Vijaya Nirmala passed away on Thursday. She was 75 years of age. The news was confirmed by her son Naresh, who took to Twitter to make the announcement. According to the announcement, the actor passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning in Hyderabad.
“I regret to inform you that my Mother senior Artiste, prominent Producer & Director, Dr. G Vijayanirmala Garu passed away during early hours today, that is, 27.6.2019, at Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad, due to sickness. She was 75,” he wrote.
He also mentioned that her final rites will be held on 28 June.
“Her body will be kept at our residence ( Nanakramguda) today from 11am Her final rites will be held tomorrow, that is, 28.6.2019. Further information will be updated.”
Vijaya Nirmala started her career as a child. She entered the industry at the tender age of five and made her debut with a 1950 Tamil Film Machcha Rekkai. Four years later she forayed into Telugu cinema with the film Panduranga Mahatyam. However, it wasn’t until 1964 that Vijaya shot to stardom with the Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam.
As a leading lady, she made her Telugu debut with Rangula Ratnam alongside Vanisri and Anjali Devi. In 1967, she starred in Telugu film Sakshi and it's on the sets of this film she met actor Krishna with whom she worked in 47 films and eventually ended up marrying. Krishna was her second husband. Her first husband was Krishna Murthy, with whom she had her son Naresh. She had no children with her second husband.
A Celebrated Filmmaker
Vijaya was also a celebrated filmmaker. She directed 44 films and was an established visionary filmmaker. Her directorial debut was the Telugu film Meena (1971), which was an adaptation of the eponymous novel written by Eddanapudi Sulochana Rani. Two year later, she directed her first Malayalam film Kavitha.
As a filmmaker, she had the privilege of directing major stars like Sivaji Ganesan and Rajinikanth. She directed the latter in the Telugu remake of Amar Akbar Anthony, which also starred her husband Krishna.
Other popular projects that she helmed include Rowdy Rangamma, Sirimalle Navvindi, Bezawada Bebbuli and Collector Vijaya, among others.
Life as a producer
Vijaya also bankrolled several films. Her career as a producer was an impressive one with 17 films under the banner of her home production house Vijaya Krishna Movies. She also managed Padmalaya Studios and Padmalaya Tele Films.
Vijaya was a woman of craft. She believed not just in quality but in quantity as well. With every new project, she honed her craft and carved a niche for herself. She holds a Guinness Record for most number of films directed by a female filmmaker. In 2008, the Andhra Pradesh government conferred her with Raghupathi Venkaiah award for her contribution to Telugu cinema.
(With inputs from IANS)
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