Vijaya Nirmala is a South Indian actress and director. In 2002, the Guinness Book of Records named her as the female director who had made the highest number of films. She has directed 47 movies.

Career

Vijaya Nirmala's entry into the film industry was as a child artiste in Panduranga Mahatmyam

Panduranga Mahatyam (film)

Panduranga Mahatyam is a 1957 Telugu film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and starring N. T. Rama Rao playing the role of Pundarika. The Lyrics written by Samudrala Ramanujacharya are excellent...

(1957) at the age of 7. In 1964, she starred opposite Prem Nazir

Prem Nazir

Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...

 in the landmark Malayalam film Bhargavi Nilayam

Bhargavi Nilayam

Bhargavi Nilayam is a 1964 Malayalam horror - romance film written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and directed by A. Vincent. The film stars Prem Nazir, Madhu and Vijaya Nirmala in the lead roles, and had its story, screenplay and dialogues are written by noted Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad...

. She debuted in Telugu industry through the film Rangula Ratnam

Rangula Ratnam

Rangula Ratnam is a Telugu movie directed by B. N. Reddy, starring Chandra Mohan, Vanisri and Anjali Devi, under the banner of Vahini pictures. It is a social and political sattire involving a middle class family in the backdrop of politics and elections. The film bagged golden Nandi Award in the...

. Her debut film in Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

 was Engaveettu Penn, which was followed by movies including Panama Paasama, En Annan, Gnanaoli, and Uyira Maanama. She met her second husband Krishna on the sets of Saakshi (1967), her second film in Telugu, and they starred together in 47 films. It was Saakshi, that kindled her interest in direction.

To date, 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 made her directional debut with a Malayalam film with a budget of 3 lakhs. She made her directorial debut in Telugu with Meena and directed 40 films in 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...

 and one film each in Malayalam (directorial debut film) and Tamil (Kungumachimizh). Currently the actress-director is based in Hyderabad and is managing Padmalaya Studios

Padmalaya Studios

Padmalaya Film Studios is Film production company located in the Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, India. It is owned by Ghattamaneni Krishna and his brothers G. Hanumantha Rao and G. Adiseshagiri Rao...

 and Padmalaya Telefilms Ltd.

Vijaya Nirmala has a son Naresh

Naresh (actor)

Vijaya Naresh is an Indian movie actor who portrayed lead comic roles in Tollywood in 1980s and 1990s and appears occasionally in supporting roles in 2000s. He's recently married a politician's niece, which is his third marriage.- Early life :He is the son of actress Vijaya Nirmala...

 who is also an actor, from her first marriage. In 1969, she married actor Krishna

Krishna (actor)

Warning: It is not an impartial presentation and it seems to be written by an Aficionado without any citations. Superfluous and presumptious.Ghattamaneni Siva Rama Krishna , commonly referred to as Krishna, is a Telugu film actor...

. She has indicated that she has an amiable relationship with her husband's first wife Indira and her children.

Vijaya Nirmala received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

Raghupathi Venkaiah Award

The Raghupathi Venkaiah Naidu Award is an annual award introduced to recognize people for their lifetime achievements and contributions to the Telugu film industry....

 for 2008 regarding her contributions to Telugu film industry.

Filmography

This is selected filmography of Vijaya Nirmala. Kindly help expanding it.

Year	Film	Language	Role
1957	Panduranga Mahatyam Panduranga Mahatyam (film) Panduranga Mahatyam is a 1957 Telugu film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and starring N. T. Rama Rao playing the role of Pundarika. The Lyrics written by Samudrala Ramanujacharya are excellent...	Telugu	Bala Krishnudu
1958	Bhookailas Bhookailas (1958 film) Bhookailas is a mythological Telugu film directed by K. Shankar and written by Samudrala Raghavacharya. It is an AVM Productions. The story is based on the Sthala Purana of Gokarna Kshetram in Karnataka.-Plot:...	Telugu	Goddess Seetha
1964	Bhargavi Nilayam Bhargavi Nilayam Bhargavi Nilayam is a 1964 Malayalam horror - romance film written by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and directed by A. Vincent. The film stars Prem Nazir, Madhu and Vijaya Nirmala in the lead roles, and had its story, screenplay and dialogues are written by noted Malayalam writer Vaikom Muhammad...	Malayalam	Bhargavi
1965	Enga Veetu Penn	Tamil
1965	Manchi Kutumbam Manchi Kutumbam Manchi Kutumbam is a 1965 Telugu Drama film directed by V. Madhusudan Rao.It is a musical hit film with music score provided by S. P. Kodandapani. There are many good songs rendered by Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao, P...	Telugu
1965	Rosie Rosie (1965 film) Rosie or Rosy is a 1965 Indian Malayalam film written by P. J. Antony and directed by P. N. Menon. It stars Prem Nazir, Vijaya Nirmala, T. S. Muthaiah, D. K. Chellappan, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, P. J. Antony and Kaviyoor Ponnamma. The famous song "Alliyambal Kadavilannarakku Vellam" — composed...	Malayalam
1966	Rangula Ratnam Rangula Ratnam Rangula Ratnam is a Telugu movie directed by B. N. Reddy, starring Chandra Mohan, Vanisri and Anjali Devi, under the banner of Vahini pictures. It is a social and political sattire involving a middle class family in the backdrop of politics and elections. The film bagged golden Nandi Award in the...	Telugu
1967	Poola Rangadu	Telugu	Padma
1967	Saakshi	Telugu
1968	Anveshichu Kandethiyilla Anveshichu Kandethiyilla Anveshichu Kandethiyilla is a 1968 Malayalam language film directed by P. Bhaskaran and starring Sathyan and K. R. Vijaya in the lead. The film recounts the quest for happiness by a nurse with the best of intentions but who is disillusioned. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in...	Malayalam
1968	Bangaru Gaajulu Bangaru Gaajulu Bangaru Gaajulu is 1968 Telugu Drama film written by Rajashri and directed by C. S. Rao. The Nandi Award winning film revolves around the family bond between a Brother and Sister.-Cast:* Akkineni Nageshwara Rao - Ramu * Bharati Devi...	Telugu	Radha
1968	Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi Soaappu Seeppu Kannadi is a 1968 Tamil family comedy drama starring Nagesh, Vijayanirmala in lead roles. It is produced by Karthikeya Films and directed by Thirumalai.-Plot:...	Tamil	Latha
1969	Aatmiyulu Aatmiyulu -The Plot:Veerayya works for Landlord Jagannadham . He dies in an attempt to save the life of Jagannadham. Veerayya has a son Suryam and a daughter Seetha . Later Jagannadham shifted to city and makes arrangement for the maintenance of Veerayya's children. But Mahankali did not takes care of...	Telugu	Saroja
1970	Akka Chellelu Akka Chellelu Akka Chellelu is a 1970 Telugu drama film produced by V. Krishna Prasad of Jagapathi Films and directed by A. Sanjeevi.The story is about the Family relationship between two sisters, Akka and Chellelu , with mystery as background. There are some melodious songs particularly Pandavulu Pandavulu...	Telugu	Lawyer Vijaya
1971	Bomma Borusa Bomma Borusa Bomma Borusa is a 1971 Indian Telugu language Comedy / Drama film directed by Padma Shri awardee K. Balachander....	Telugu
1971	Mosagallaku Mosagadu Mosagallaku Mosagadu Mosagallaku Mosagadu was the first cowboy film in India. It was produced by G. Adisheshagiri Rao, directed by K. S. R. Das in the banner of Sri Padmalaya Films in 1971. This was the first Telugu movie to be dubbed into English, and it was screened in more than 125 countries, which is a record in...	Telugu	Radha
1972	Tata Manavadu Tata Manavadu Tata Manavadu or Thatha Manavadu is a 1972 Telugu film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao . This is the first film as a hero to comedian Raja Babu paired with Guinness record holding director and actress Vijaya Nirmala. The film won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film...	Telugu	Rani
1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu Devudu Chesina Manushulu Devudu Chesina Manushulu is a 1973 blockbuster Telugu drama directed by V. Ramachandra Rao and produced by Ghattamaneni Krishna under the banner of Padmalaya Studios. It was remade as Takkar in Hindi in 1980.-Cast:...	Telugu
1973	Meena Meena Meena Durairaj, mononymously known as Meena, born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is a South Indian film and television actress. Meena debuted as a child artist in Telugu and Tamil films and has later starred in films produced by various regional industries. She is one of the most established...	Telugu
1974	Alluri Seetharama Raju	Telugu	Seetha
1976	Paadipantalu	Telugu
1977	Kurukshetramu	Telugu	Draupadi