Manju Bhargavi
Encyclopedia
Manju Bhargavi is an actress and dancer, best known for her performance in the Telugu
blockbuster film Shankarabharanam (1979).
but settled in Madras. She was originally named Manjula, but later changed it to Manju Bhargavi.
(1974), Soggadu
(1975) and Yamagola
(1977). She was also seen as a vamp in Nayakudu-Vinayakudu opposite ANR
. She was then cast in the film President Peramma where she performed a dance number, and then the film's director K. Vishwanath asked her to submit some photographs where she wasn't wearing any make-up. She complied and he liked the results and cast her in the lead role as an unglamorous dancer in his next film Shankarabharanam (1979), a film that broke box office records and became a landmark in Telugu
cinema. Manju Bhargavi acted in an unnamed cameo role in the popular Rajinikanth superhit film, Billa
(1980 film). Although, she was very satisfied with the film as it gave her fame and respect, she didn't act in many films after that, choosing to concentrate on her dance shows. Her husband is the son of a retired Chief Secretary. His family is also originally from Andhra Pradesh
but later settled in Bangalore
, which is where she currently lives. She had twin sons with her husband, but one of her sons died of cancer in 2007. She runs a dance school in Bangalore
, and because of that and her dance shows, she doesn't have much time to act in films, taking an occasional role when it fits into her busy schedule. In 2008, she made her Kannada film debut in Hodi Maga playing Shivaraj Kumar's mother.
Telugu cinema
The Cinema of Andhra Pradesh, also referred to as Telugu Cinema or Tollywood, is the Telugu film industry in India. The Telugu language film industry is known for being one of the three largest in terms of no.of films produced yearly in India. The Prasads IMAX theatre in Hyderabad is one of the...
blockbuster film Shankarabharanam (1979).
Early life
Manju Bhargavi parents originally hail from Andhra PradeshAndhra 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...
but settled in Madras. She was originally named Manjula, but later changed it to Manju Bhargavi.
Career
She was trained as a classical dancer and performed at many dance shows. At one of these shows, filmmaker Prakash Rao saw her and cast her in a dance sequence for the Telugu film Gaalipataalu (1974). It led to dance numbers in hit films KrishnaveniKrishnaveni (film)
Krishnaveni is a 1974 Telugu feature film directed by V. Madhusudhan Rao, starring Vanisri and Krishnam Raju, under the banner of Gopikrishna Movies. The film met with a strong critical reception and commercial success upon release...
(1974), Soggadu
Soggadu (1975 film)
Soggadu is a 1975 blockbuster Telugu drama film directed by K. Bapaiah. It was remade as Dildaar in Hindi in 1977, starring Jeetendra and Rekha.-The plot:...
(1975) and Yamagola
Yamagola
Yamagola or Yama Gola is a 1977 Silver Jubilee Telugu film directed by Tatineni Rama Rao and produced by cinematographer S. Venkataratnam. It is a Fantasy and Comedy film starring N.T. Rama Rao and Jayaprada in lead roles...
(1977). She was also seen as a vamp in Nayakudu-Vinayakudu opposite ANR
ANR
ANR is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* Absolute neighborhood retract, a type of topological space * IATA code for Antwerp International Airport...
. She was then cast in the film President Peramma where she performed a dance number, and then the film's director K. Vishwanath asked her to submit some photographs where she wasn't wearing any make-up. She complied and he liked the results and cast her in the lead role as an unglamorous dancer in his next film Shankarabharanam (1979), a film that broke box office records and became a landmark 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...
cinema. Manju Bhargavi acted in an unnamed cameo role in the popular Rajinikanth superhit film, Billa
Billa (1980 film)
Billa is a 1980 Tamil film produced by K.Balaji and directed by R.Krishnamurthy. The film stars Rajinikanth, Suresh Balaje, Thengai Srinivasan, Manorama, Sripriya, Reena Roy and Major Sundarrajan...
(1980 film). Although, she was very satisfied with the film as it gave her fame and respect, she didn't act in many films after that, choosing to concentrate on her dance shows. Her husband is the son of a retired Chief Secretary. His family is also originally from 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...
but later settled in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, which is where she currently lives. She had twin sons with her husband, but one of her sons died of cancer in 2007. She runs a dance school in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, and because of that and her dance shows, she doesn't have much time to act in films, taking an occasional role when it fits into her busy schedule. In 2008, she made her Kannada film debut in Hodi Maga playing Shivaraj Kumar's mother.