Pasupuleti Kannamba (September 20, 1912 – May 7, 1964) was a versatile actress, playback singer and film producer of Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

 cinema, Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. She acted in more than 170 films and produced about 25 films in Telugu and Tamil languages during 1930s to 1960s.

Career

Kannamba was born in Eluru

Eluru

Eluru is a city and a municipal corporation in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of West Godavari district and has a population of 5,15,343 approximately. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and about east of state...

. She started acting in dramas at the age of 13 years. She performed many characters such as Sati savitri, Anasuya, Chandramati.

Her film career began with Chandramati character in Harischandra (1935) of Star combines. She has acted in about 150 films and won accolades for her roles in Draupadi Vastrapaharanam, Kanakadhara, Saranagadhara, Grihalakshmi, Chandika etc. She has acted in the title role of Kannagi

Kannagi

Kannagi or , a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram. Legend states that Kannagi took revenge on the King of Madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband Kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster.-The story:Kovalan, the son of a...

in Tamil with unparalleled ease and gained so much popularity and in Palnati Yudham

Palnati Yudham

Palnati Yudham is a 1947 historical based on the battle of Palnadu. This film is directed by L. V. Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabramham. The film starring Govindarajula Subba Rao, Pasupuleti Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.-Soundtrack:...

as Nayakuralu Nagamma opposite Govindarajula Subba Rao

Govindarajula Subba Rao

Dr. Govindarajula Venkata Subba Rao is famous Telugu drama and film actor.-Life sketch:He played in the drama Merchant of Venice during the school days in Tenali. He portrayed Satyaki and Bheema in Gayopakhyanam as his debut performance during the convocation function. Subsequently he acted many...

. She has acted in Ashok Kumar (1941) as Queen opposite another great actor Chittor V. Nagaiah

Chittor V. Nagaiah

Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The...

. She had acted together P. U. Chinnappa in many movies such as Kannagi, Mahamaya, Harischandra and Tulasi Jalandhar.
She married Kadaru Nagabhushanam

Kadaru Nagabhushanam

Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam was a Telugu and Tamil film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s. He was the husband of Pasupuleti Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari Films and produced many mythological films starring Kannamba in the lead role including Harischandra...

 in the year 1941. They established "Raja Rajeswari Films" and produced about 30 films including Sumati, Padhuka Pattabhishekam, Saudamani, Peda Raitu, Lakshmi, Sri Krishna Tulabharam, Sati Sakkubhai, Sati Anasuya. Their Navajeevanam (1949) film is awarded as the best film by Combined Madras state and felicited them.

She died at the age of 51 years on May 7, 1964 at a Nursing Home in Chennai

Chennai

Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

.

Actress

This is the complete list of her films compiled by H. Ramesh Babu.

Year	Film	Language	Character
1934	Seeta Kalyanam
1935	Harishchandra Harishchandra Harishchandra, in Hindu religious texts is the 36th king of the Solar Dynasty, Surya Maharishi Gothram . His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour".Harishchandra had two...	Telugu	Chandramathi
1936	Draupadi Vastrapaharanam Draupadi Vastrapaharanam Draupadi Vastrapaharanam is a 1936 Telugu film. It was made to compete with Draupadi Manasamrakshanam . This film was a major boxoffice success, whereas the Manasamrakshanam failed. The film is remembered for the rendition of poems with acting performances by C. S. R...	Telugu	Draupadi Draupadi In the epic Mahābhārata, Draupadi, also known as ' is the "emerged" daughter of King Drupada of Panchāla and the wife of the five Pandavas. When Yudhisthira becomes the king of Hastinapura at the end of the war, Draupadi becomes the queen of Indraprastha...
1937	Kanakatara Kanakatara Kanakatara was made as a film by Saraswathi Talkies in 1937 under the direction of H. V. Babu. It was starring Dommeti Suryanarayana, Kannamba and P. Suribabu.-1956 film:...	Telugu
1937	Sarangadhara Sarangadhara -1930 film:Sarangadhara is a 1930 silent film directed by Y. V. Rao under the General Pictures Corporation.-1935 Tamil film:Sarangadhara is a 1935 Tamil film directed by V. S. K. Padham under the Lotus Pictures, filmed at Wadia Movietone Studios in Bombay. Starred by Kothamangalam Cheenu and T....	Telugu
1938	Grihalakshmi Grihalakshmi Gruhalakshmi was a 1938 Telugu film produced and directed by H. M. Reddy. It was the maiden film for Rohini Pictures and Chittor V. Nagaiah. The film was adaptation of the popular stage play Rangoon Rowdy written by Somaraju Ramanuja Rao.-The plot:The social film is about a decadent dancer,...	Telugu	Radha
1939	Mahananda
1940	Bhoja Kalidasa
1940	Chandika Chandika (film) Chandika is a 1940 Telugu film directed by R. S. Prakash. Veteran actress Pasupuleti Kannamba portrayed the role of Chandika.-The Plot:Chandika is the princess of a kingdom. She is unhappy with the ruling of King Giriraju . She wanted to dethrown him and his husband prince to become the Rajah....	Telugu	Chandika
1941	Ashok Kumar	Tamil	Tishyaralshithai
1941	Talliprema	Telugu	Santha
1942	Kannagi Kannagi (film) Kannagi is a Tamil epic film directed by R.S Mani based on the Greatest Tamil epic Silapadhigaaram released in the year 1942. This is the first Tamil flim based on the epic Silapadhigaaram. A second movie named Poompuhar released later in the year 1964....	Tamil	Kannagi Kannagi Kannagi or , a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram. Legend states that Kannagi took revenge on the King of Madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband Kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster.-The story:Kovalan, the son of a...
1942	Sumati
1944	Mahamaya		Mahamaya
1945	Mayalokam Mayalokam Maya Lokam or Mayalokam is a 1945 Telugu film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam.It is debut film for veteran actor and producer B. Padmanabham.-Cast:* Chilakalapudi Seetha Rama Anjaneyulu * Kannamba...	Telugu
1945	Maya Machhindra	Telugu
1945	Paduka Pattabhishekam Paduka Pattabhishekam Paduka Pattabhishekam is a 1945 Magnum Opus Telugu film directed and produced by Kadaru Nagabhushanam.-The Plot:The story of the film is from the Hindu epic Ramayana. According to the father's wish Rama with Sita and Lakshmana goes to the forest. Bharata in stead of becoming the crown king, as his...	Telugu	Kaikeyi Kaikeyi Kaikeyi , in the Hindu epic Rāmāyaṇa, was the second of King Daśaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhyā. She was the mother of Bharata...
1946	Mugguru Maratilu Mugguru Maratilu Mugguru Maratilu is a 1946 Telugu film produced and directed by Ghantasala Balaramaiah. It ran for more than 100 days and established Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Kasturi Shiva Rao in the Telugu cinema field.It is a Musical film with some memorable songs....	Telugu
1947	Palnati Yudham Palnati Yudham Palnati Yudham is a 1947 historical based on the battle of Palnadu. This film is directed by L. V. Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabramham. The film starring Govindarajula Subba Rao, Pasupuleti Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.-Soundtrack:...	Telugu	Naagamma
1947	Tulasi Jalandhar	Tamil
1949	Navajeevanam	Tamil
1951	Saudamini	Tamil
1951	Saudamini	Telugu
1951	Sudarshan	Tamil
1952	Ezhai Uzhavan	Tamil
1952	Mugguru Kodukulu	Telugu
1952	Peda Rytu	Telugu
1953	Lakshmi	Tamil
1953	Lakshmi	Telugu
1954	Manohara	Hindi	Queen
1954	Manohara	Tamil	Queen
1954	Manohara	Telugu	Queen
1954	Sati Sakkubai	Telugu
1955	Anarkali	Telugu
1955	Chellapillai	Tamil
1955	Pennarasi	Tamil
1955	Shri Krishna Tulabharam	Telugu
1955	Vadina Vadina Vadina is a 1955 Telugu Drama film directed by M. V. Raman and produced by A. V. Meiyappan under the banner of A. V. M. Productions.-Cast:* B...	Telugu
1956	Charana Daasi	Telugu
1956	Naga Panchami	Tamil
1956	Naga Panchami	Telugu
1956	Umasundari	Telugu
1957	Kudumba Gauravam	Tamil
1957	Kutumba Gauravam	Telugu
1957	Makkalai Petra Maharasi	Tamil	Angamma
1957	Todi Kodallu	Telugu	Kamala
1958	Aadapettanam	Telugu
1958	Anna Thammudu	Telugu
1958	Bommai Kalyanam	Tamil
1958	Karthavarayani Katha	Telugu
1958	Mangalya Balam	Telugu
1958	Shri Krishna Maya	Telugu
1959	Raja Makutam Raja Makutam Raja Makutam or Rajamakutam is a 1959 Telugu film directed by veteran B. Narasimha Reddy.-Synopsis:...	Telugu
1959	Raja Sevai	Tamil
1959	Rechukka Pagatichukka	Telugu
1959	Veera Bhaskaradu	Telugu
1960	Abhimanam	Telugu	Mother
1960	Dharmame Jayam	Telugu
1960	Jalsarayudu	Telugu
1960	Maa Babu	Telugu
1960	Padikkatha Methai	Tamil
1961	Jagadeka Veeruni Katha Jagadeka Veeruni Katha Jagadeka Veeruni Katha is a 1961 Telugu Drama film directed and produced by Kadiri Venkata Reddy under the banner of Vijaya Pictures. It is subsequently dubbed into Tamil language entitled Jagathala Prathapan and Kannada, Bengali, Oriya and Hindi languages.It is a Musical film with music score...	Telugu	Parvathi Devi
1961	Krishna Kuchela	Telugu
1961	Nichaya Thamboolam	Tamil
1961	Pelli Thambulam	Telugu
1961	Pendli Pilupu	Telugu
1961	Usha Parinayam Usha Parinayam Usha Parinayam was taken as a Telugu film in 1961 by Kadaru Nagabhushanam under Rajarajeshwari films. It was starring Tadepalli Lakshmi Kanta Rao as Anirudha, S. V. Ranga Rao as Banasura and Jamuna as Lady Usha. Rajanala Kaleswara Rao, Kannamba, Mukkamala, Relangi Venkataramaiah and Peketi Sivaram...	Telugu	Wife of Banasura
1962	Atma Bandhuvu	Telugu
1962	Dakshayagnam	Tamil	Daksha's wife
1962	Dakshayagnam	Telugu	Daksha's wife
1962	Swarnamanjari	Telugu
1963	Apta Mithrulu	Telugu
1963	Idhu Sathyam	Tamil
1963	Lava Kusha Lava Kusha Lava Kusha is a classical Telugu cinema directed by C. S. Rao and Chittajallu Pullayya and the story of the movie is written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. It is produced by A Shankara Reddy under Lalitha Siva Jyoti Pictures. The movie was released on 29 March 1963 and instantly became one of the...	Tamil
1963	Lava Kusha Lava Kusha Lava Kusha is a classical Telugu cinema directed by C. S. Rao and Chittajallu Pullayya and the story of the movie is written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. It is produced by A Shankara Reddy under Lalitha Siva Jyoti Pictures. The movie was released on 29 March 1963 and instantly became one of the...	Telugu	Kousalya
1963	Paruvu Prathishta	Telugu
1964	Aatma Balam	Telugu
1964	Ramadasu	Telugu	Ramadasu's wife
1965	Antastulu	Telugu
1965	Chaduvukunna Bharya	Telugu
1965	Keelu Bommalu Keelu Bommalu Keelu Bommalu is a 1965 Telugu film directed by C. S. Rao and produced by Gangaram of Hyderabad Films.-The plot:Drama of a student of religion who comes to realise he is selfish and learns to help others.-Cast:...	Telugu

Playback singer

These are some of the Telugu songs voiced by her for the films.

Year	Film	Songs
1935	Harishchandra	Jananamu Dhanyata Gaada, Karunakara, Sritajana Bandhu
1937	Kanakatara Kanakatara Kanakatara was made as a film by Saraswathi Talkies in 1937 under the direction of H. V. Babu. It was starring Dommeti Suryanarayana, Kannamba and P. Suribabu.-1956 film:...	Ee Vasantha Sobha
1938	Grihalakshmi Grihalakshmi Gruhalakshmi was a 1938 Telugu film produced and directed by H. M. Reddy. It was the maiden film for Rohini Pictures and Chittor V. Nagaiah. The film was adaptation of the popular stage play Rangoon Rowdy written by Somaraju Ramanuja Rao.-The plot:The social film is about a decadent dancer,...	Badha Sahaname, Naa Premaye, Sagamu Rathiri Ayyane, Yashoda Nandana
1940	Chandika Chandika (film) Chandika is a 1940 Telugu film directed by R. S. Prakash. Veteran actress Pasupuleti Kannamba portrayed the role of Chandika.-The Plot:Chandika is the princess of a kingdom. She is unhappy with the ruling of King Giriraju . She wanted to dethrown him and his husband prince to become the Rajah....	Anandamaye Naho, Eme O Koyila, Nene Raninaithe
1941	Talliprema	Jo Jo Nandabala, Prema Nidhanamu
1942	Sumati	Jayahe Thrishooladhari
1945	Maya Machhindra	Dhanyambayyenu Janmamu, Haayiga Paadedanu, Meluko, O Malathi
1946	Mugguru Maratilu	Stree Bhagyame Bhagyamu, Teerugada Asha Nedu
1947	Palnati Yudham Palnati Yudham Palnati Yudham is a 1947 historical based on the battle of Palnadu. This film is directed by L. V. Prasad and Gudavalli Ramabramham. The film starring Govindarajula Subba Rao, Pasupuleti Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.-Soundtrack:...	Evaravaya Deva, Thana Pantamu Naathona, Thera Teeyagarada

Producer

She has produced about 25-30 films along with her husband Kadaru Nagabhushanam

Kadaru Nagabhushanam

Kadaru Nagabhushanam or K. B. Nagabhushanam was a Telugu and Tamil film director and producer in the 1940s to 1960s. He was the husband of Pasupuleti Kannamba. They established Rajarajeshwari Films and produced many mythological films starring Kannamba in the lead role including Harischandra...

 under the banners of Sri Rajarajeswari films, Rajasri pictures and Sri Varalakshmi films.

Year	Film	Language
1941	Talliprema	Telugu
1942	Sumati	Telugu
1944	Harishchandra	Tamil
1945	Paduka Pattabhishekam	Telugu
1946	Bhakta Tulasidas	Telugu
1949	Navajeevanam	Tamil
1949	Navajeevanam	Telugu
1949	Tulasi Jalandhar	Tamil
1951	Saudamini	Tamil
1951	Saudamini	Telugu
1952	Ezhai Uzhavan	Tamil
1952	Peda Rytu	Telugu
1953	Lakshmi	Tamil
1953	Lakshmi	Telugu
1954	Sati Sakkubai	Telugu
1955	Shri Krishna Thulabaram	Telugu
1956	Naga Panchami	Tamil
1956	Naga Panchami	Telugu
1958	Sri Krishna Maya	Telugu
1959	Veera Bhaskarudu	Telugu
1960	Dharmame Jayam	Telugu
1961	Usha Parinayam	Telugu
1962	Dakshayagnam	Tamil
1962	Dakshayagnam	Telugu
1963	Apta Mithrulu	Telugu
1965	Chaduvukunna Bharya	Telugu

External links

• http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0437786/