INDIAN ACTRESS KANCHANA BORN 16 AUGUST 1939

INDIAN ACTRESS KANCHANA BORN 16 AUGUST 1939

Vasundhara Devi, known by her stage name Kanchana (born 16 August 1939) is a noted Indian actress of the 1960s and 1970s. She acted in all four major south Indian languages:
Telugu, 
Tamil, 
Kannada, and 
Malayalam, as well as in a few
 Hindi films

Early life[edit]

She was born as Vasundhara Devi in a wealthy family originally from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. They moved to Madras (present Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, where Kanchana was born.[3] She learnt Bharata Natyam and Music.

Career[edit]

Her father suffered business losses, and she went to work as an air hostess to support her family, when she was discovered by the film director C. V. Sridhar on a plane where he was a passenger. 

He gave her the lead role in his film Kaadhalikka Neramillai in 1963 and changed her name to Kanchana, since there was already another actress named Vasundhara Devi, mother of star Vyjayanthimala.[4] Kanchana acted in over 150 films – Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, with a successful acting career.


She had extremely successful career in Tamil films especially between 1964 and 1977 as lead heroine. 
Her critically acclaimed films include 
Kaadhalikka Neramillai, 
Thedi Vantha Thirumagal, 
Parakkum Paavai, 
Kodimalar, 
Adhey Kangal, 
Bama Vijayam, 
Naalum Therindavan, 
Thangai, 
Thulabaram, 
Ponnu Mappilai, 
Shanti Nilayam, 
Chella Penn,
Uthiravindri Ulle Vaa, 
Vilaiyaattu Pillai, 
Sivanda Mann, 
Nyayam Ketkirom, 
Avalukendru Oru Manam, 
Pattondru Ketten, 
Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum. 

She retired from films in the early 1980s.[5] 

In 2005, she was presented with the MGR award and
 in 2007 the ANR Swarna Kankanam award.[6][7]

In Tamil, she acted with R. Muthuraman in about 19 films including Kaadhalikka Neramillai, Kodimalar, Thulabharam (Tamil version), Thangai, Bama Vijayam and Avalukendru Oru Manam. 

She also acted with Sivaji Ganesan in Sivandha Mann, Vilayattu Pillai and Avan Oru Sarithiram. 

She did two films with MGR, Naan Yen Pirandhen and Parakkum Paavai.

 Apart from that, she was paired with many Tamil heroes like A. V. M. Rajan, S. S. Rajendran, Gemini Ganesan , Jaishankar, Ravichandran and Sivakumar.Her last film as lead heroine was Avan Oru Sarithiram in 1977 in Tamil.

She was appropriately known as the Queen of the Seventies in South Indian film industry. Her performances in the movies Pavitra Bandham, Manchivaadu were well appreciated and recognised.[8] She played the role of Uttara in the film Veerabhimanyu. The following year she acted in the Annapurna pictures film Aatma Gowravam with veteran director K. Viswanath.

She acted with Krishnam Raju in some glamorous roles in 
Neeti Nijayitee (1972), 
Parivartana (1975), 
Nenante Nene and 
Dharma Daata. 

Not only in social roles, she acted some mythological roles in pictures likeShri Krishnavataram (1967). 

After retirement as heroine, she acted in some good films including Ananda Bhairavi and Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra in 1984.

After her retirement as a heroine, she acted in some good films including Ananda Bhairavi, Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra, Johnny, Sigappu Rojakkal, Mouna Ragam and more as a supporting role.



There were rumours floating around a few years ago about her living in penury. A popular Tamil magazine, Kumudam, published a report that Kanchana was relying on the prasadam served at a Temple. However, in a press release, Kanchana refuted all this with deep anguish. 

She cited her existing legal tangles as a reason for reluctance for not suing the magazine.

Personal life[edit]

The actress later won back her properties in T.Nagar, Chennai of around 6 grounds, with the Court ruling against her parents. It was learnt that one day her father took signature of Kanchana on a white paper and without her knowledge converted total assets on his name. After a long legal battle she won and regained her wealth.

Kanchana along with her Sister Girija Pandey donated their property in Chennai worth then around Rs. 150 million to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on 25 October 2010.[9][10]

Tamil[edit]

Year	Movie	Co-star	Role	Note
1964	Kaadhalikka Neramillai	Ravichandran, Muthuraman, Rajasri	Kanchana	Debut film
1965	Veera Abhimanyu	A.V.M Rajan, Gemini Ganesan	Uttara
1966	Motor Sundaram Pillai	Sivaji Ganesan, Ravicandran, Sivakumar, Sowcar Janaki, Jayalalitha
1966	Thedi Vantha Thirumagal	S.S Rajendran, Ravichandran, Vijayakumari
1966	Parakkum Paavai	M.G.R, Saroja Devi	Shantha
1966	Kodimalar	Muthuraman, A.V.M Rajan, Vijayakumari
1966	Marakka Mudiyumaa	S.S Rajendran, Devika
1967	Adhey Kangal	Ravichandran, S.A Ashokan, Nagesh	Susheela
1967	Bama Vijayam	Muthuraman, Nagesh, Major Sundrrajan, Rajasri, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi
1967	Thangai	Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, K.R. Vijaya	Lalitha
1968	Naalum Therindhvan	Ravichandran, Nagesh, V.K. Ramasamy
1969	Chella Penn	Ravichandran, A.V.M Rajan, Pushpalatha
1969	Ponnu Mappillai	Jaishankar, Nagesh, V.K Ramasamy
1969	Shanti Nilayam	Gemini Ganesan, Nagesh, Pandari Bai	Malathi
1969	Thulabaram	A.V.M Rajan, Muthuraman, Saradha	Vatsala
1970	Noorandu Kaalam Vazgha	Muthuraman, A.V.M Rajan, L. Vijayalakshmi
1970	Sivandha Mann	Sivaji Ganesan, Muthuraman, M.N Nambiar	Chitralekha
1970	Vilaiyaattu Pillai	Sivaji Ganesan, Sivakumar, Padmini
1970	Kadhal Jothi	Jaishankar, Nagesh, Thengai Srinivasan
1971	Avalukendru Oru Manam	Gemini Ganesan, Muthuraman, Bharathi
1971	Uttharavindri Ulle Vaa	Ravichandran, Nagesh
1971	Pattondru Ketten	A.V.M Rajan, Ravichandran, Rajasri
1972	Naan Yen Pirandhen	M.G.R, K.R Vijaya	Radha
1973	Nyayam Ketkirom	Muthuraman, Nagesh, Lakshmi
1975	Engalakkum Kaadhal Varum	Ravichandran, Nagesh
1977	Avan Oru Sarithiram	Sivaji Ganesan, Manjula Vijayakumar
1978	Sigappu Rojakkal	Kamal Hassan, Sri Devi
1979	Jaya Nee Jayichutte	Major Sundarrajan, Jayachitra, Prameela
1980	Johnny	Rajinikanth, Sridevi	Johnny's mother
1981	Lorry Driver Rajakannu	Sivaji Ganesan, Jaiganesh, Sri Priya
1983	Gramathu Kiligal	Rajeev, Subathra
1985	Kattukkulle Thiruvizha	Vijayendra, Viji
1986	Mouna Raagam	Mohan, Karthik, Revathi	Lawyer
1987	Naanum Neeyum	Charu Hassan, Sonika Gill
1987	Kizhakku Africavil Sheela	Suresh, Shakeela
1994	Neethiyaa Nyayamaa	Cho

Telugu[edit]

Year	Movie	Co-star	Role	Note
1965	Aatma Gowravam	ANR, Rajasri	Savitri/Sarala
1965	Manchi Kutumbam	ANR, Krishna, Chandramohan, Sowcar Janaki, Vijayanirmala, Vijayasree
1965	Preminchi Choodu	ANR, Jaggaiah, Rajasri
1965	Veerabhimanyu	NTR, Sobhan Babu	Uttara
1966	Navarathri	ANR, Jaggaiah, Savitri
1966	Dr. Anand	NTR, Anjali Devi
1967	Ave Kallu	Krishna, Gummadi, Ranjanala	Susheela
1967	Prana Mithrulu	ANR, Jaggaiah, Savitri
1967	Kanchukota	ANR, Anjali Devi
1967	Private Master	Ram Mohan, Krishna, Sukanya	Sundari
1967	Shri Krishnavataram	NTR, Devika
1968	Bandhipotu Dongalu	ANR, Jaggaiah, Jamuna	Malli
1968	Nenante Nene	Krishna, Krishnamraju, Sriranjini
1968	'Deva Kanya	Kantha Rao, Rajasri
1968	Veeranjaneya	Kantha Rao, Anjali Devi
1968	Kalisochina Adrushtam	NTR, Sathyanarayana
1969	Manushulu Marali	Sobhan Babu, Saradha
1969	Saptaswaralu	Kantha Rao, Rajasri, Vijayalalitha, Vijayanirmala
1969	Natakala Rayudu	Nagabhushanam, Hemalatha	Geetha Devi
1970	Dharma Daata	ANR, Nagabhushanam	Padma
1971	Kalyana Mandapam	Sobhan Babu, Jaggaiah
1971	Pavitra Bandham	ANR, Vanisri
1971	Amayakuralu	ANR, Saradha
1973	Bhakta Tukaram	ANR
1973	Devudu Chesina Manushulu	NTR, Jaggaiah, Jayalalitha
1973	Manchi Vadu	ANR, Vanisri
1975	Maya Maschindra	NTR, Vanisri	Mohini
1975	Annadammula Anubandham	NTR, Murali Mohan, Latha	Geetha
1976	Mahakavi Kshetrayya	ANR, Anjali Devi, Manjula
1976	Secretary	ANR, Chandramohan, Vanisri, Jayasudha
1977	Daana Veera Soora Karna	NTR, Balakrishna, Saradha
1977	Indradhanusu	Krishna, Saradha
1979	Driver Ramudu	NTR, Jayasudha	Kalavathi
1981	Gadasari Attaha Sosagara Kodalu	Krishna, Bhanumathi
1984	Shrimad Virat Veerabrahmendra Swami Charitra	NTR, Balakrishna, Rathi
1985	Shri Datta Darshanam	Sarvadaman D. Banerjee, Jyotirmayi

Malayalam[edit]

Year	Movie	Co-star	Role	Note
1966	Priyathama	Prem Nazir, Sheela
1968	Thirichadi	Prem Nazir, Sheela
1968	Kodungallooramma	Prem Nazir, K.R Vijaya
1970	Othenante Makan	Prem Nazir, Ragini, Sheela
1972	Prathikaaram	Jayabharathi, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair
1972	Manthrakodi	Prem Nazir, Vijayasree
1973	Azhakulla Saleena	Prem Nazir, Jayabharathi	Lucyamma
1974	Thumbolaarcha	Prem Nazir, Sheela, Srividya
1974	Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree	Sheela, Mohan Sharma
1977	Ammaayi Amma	Sukumari, Jayabharathi
1979	Nithya Vasantham	Kundara Johny, Vidhubala
1979	Rakthamillatha Manushyan	M.G Soman, Jayabharathi
1982	Ina	Raghu, Devi	Aunty
1984	Sreekrishna Parunthu	Mohanlal, Aruna
1985	Njaan Piranna Naattil	Mohanlal, Aruna	Nandini

Kannada[edit]

Year	Movie	Co-star	Role	Note
1977	Babruvahana	Rajkumar, Saroja Devi, Jayamala	Uloopi
1978	Nanobba Kalla	Rajkumar, Lakshmi
1978	Shankar Guru	Rajkumar, Jayamala, Padmapriya
1982	Pedda Gedda	Dwarakish, Aarathi
1982	Prachanda Kulla	Vishnuvardhan, Dwarakish, Raadhika
1984	Ananda Bhairavi	Girish Karnad, Malavikka
1984	Biligiriya Banadalli	Vishnuvardhan, M.P Shankar
1984	Samayada Gombe	Rajkumar, Roopadevi, Menaka
1991	Devatha Manushya	Rajkumar, Geetha

Hindi[edit]

Year	Movie	Co-star	Role	Note
1967	Farz	Jeetendra, Babita
1968	Teen Bahuraniyan	Prithviraj Kapoor, Ramesh Deo		Remake of Bhama Vijayam
1970	Samaj Ko Badal Dalo	Ajay Sahni, Saradha, Aruna Irani		Remake of Thulabaaram
1974	Prem Nagar		Dancer	Remake of Vasantha Maligai
1975	Alakh Niranjan		Mohini	dubbed from Maya Maschindra
1977	Veer Arjun		Uloopi	dubbed from Babruvahana
1987	Waqt Ka Shahenshah			dubbed

Awards[edit]

Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award[edit]

• She was presented with the MGR award in 2005.

Other awards[edit]

• ANR Swarna Kankanam award in 2007.^[6]