Honnenahalli Shivanna Manjula (8 November 1954 – 12 September 1986), known mononymously as Manjula was an Indian actress who mainly worked in Kannada films iand a few Tamil (credited as Kumari Manjula) and Telugu films (credited as Kannada Manjula). Regarded one of the most successful and prominent actresses in the history of Kannada cinema, Manjula was particularly noted for her versatility. During the 70s and early 80s she enacted a variety of roles and appeared in around 100 films, ranging in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas to rural themes. In a shor span of under 10 years she was the recipient of critical accolades and many awards for her performances, including a Filmfare Award.
Manjula started her career as a child artist at the age of 11 in the 1966 film Mane Katti Nodu and subsequently made her debut as a heroine in the M. R. Vittal directed film Yaara Sakshi (1972). In 1973 she appeared in the multistarrer film Mooruvare Vajragalu where she was paired with Dr. Rajkumar. Her biggest breakthrough came in 1974 with Eradu Kanasu. Shec ontinued to act as Dr. Rajkumar's heroine in Sampathige Savaal (1974), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Daari Tappida Maga (1975) and Mayura (1975) which were all highly successful at the box-office.
Her pairing with Srinath, Shankar Nag and Vishnuvardhan resulted in multiple successful films that include Besuge (1976), Bangarada Gudi (1976), Sose Tanda Soubhagya (1977), Kittu Puttu (1977), Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978), Muyyige Muyyi (1978), Vasantha Lakshmi (1978) and Seetharamu (1979). Her role in Deepa (1977) garnered her wider recognition and her first Filmfare Award for Best Actress.
In the early 1980s she continued playing leading roles in several successful films including, Moogana Sedu (1980), Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980), Nee Nanna Gellalare (1981), Snehitara Savaal (1981), Guna Nodi Hennu Kodu (1982) and Kalinga Sarpa (1984). Her last notable role was in Savira Sullu where she played a supporting character. The long-delayed film Mana Gedda Maga came as a posthumous release in 1992.
Contents
Personal life
Manjula was born on 8 November 1954 in Honnenahalli, a village in Tumkur District, Karnataka. Her father, M. H. Shivanna, was a police sub inspector while mother, Deveramma was a homemaker.
She was married to film director Amrutham who directed her in Hudugaatada Hudugi (1976) and Kanasu Nanasu (1976). The couple had a son, Abhishek. The couple had separated over differences before her accidental death in 1986.
Death
Manjula died after suffering burns 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 the 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. In a career spanning 10 plus years 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 bold village belle which brought her huge success and shw was a top Kannada heroine in the late 1970s. Some of her notable films include 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
Other languages
Citations
Sources
"Kumari Manjula [Kannada Manjula]". Antrukandamugam.wordpress.com. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
