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Pandari Bai

Acting Born Sep 18, 1928 Died Jan 29, 2003 Pathal, Bhatkal, Mysore , British India 184 credits

Biography

Pandari Bai was a prominent actress of South Indian language films, working mostly in the Kannada language during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Born on September 18, 1928, in Pathal, Bhatkal, Mysor, she is considered Kannada cinema's first successful heroine. Her career included acting in over one thousand films across Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi languages, with one hundred eighty-two known credits listed on the Movie Database. She achieved the distinction of acting as both a heroine and a mother to industry stalwarts such as Rajkumar, M.G.R., and Sivaji Ganesan. Notably, she served as the leading lady in Rajkumar's debut film, Bedara Kannappa, and in Sivaji Ganesan's debut film, Parasakthi. Pandari Bai passed away on January 29, 2003, at the age of seventy-four.

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Career

Career overview

Pandari Bai was a prominent actress of South Indian language films, working mostly in the Kannada language during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Born on September 18, 1928, in Pathal, Bhatkal, Mysor, she is considered Kannada cinema's first successful heroine. During her extensive career in acting, she appeared in over 1,000 films across Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.

She achieved the distinct professional milestone of acting as both a heroine and a mother to industry stalwarts such as Rajkumar, Mgr, and Sivaji Ganesan. Her notable early credits include starring as the heroine in Rajkumar's debut movie, Bedara Kannappa, as well as in Sivaji Ganesan's debut movie, Parasakthi.

Throughout her career, she maintained a prolific presence in cinema, accumulating known credits on the Movie Database platform. Her life and career concluded with her death on January 29, 2003, at the age of 74.

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Known for

Film

Pooja Phala

1984

The Body

1981

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

as Sathyamoorthy's mother
Film

Idhayakkani

1975
▦ Film

Thaai Piranthaal

as Lalitha's mother

Γαλάτεια

as Guest Appearance
Film

Gauravam

as Chellamma

Frequent co-stars

Arjun Sarja 1 shared title
Mahalakshmi 1 shared title
Srinath 1 shared title
Aarathi 1 shared title
Musuri Krishnamurthy 1 shared title
Shakti Prasad 1 shared title
Sivaji Ganesan 1 shared title
Usha Nandhini 1 shared title
Major Sundarrajan 1 shared title
V. K. Ramasamy 1 shared title

Career timeline

Mojugara Sogasugara
Halunda TavaruJai HindTime BombKunthi PuthraChinna
AkasmikaTholi MudduServer SomannaNavibbaru NamagibbaruBhagavan Sri Saibaba
MannanJeevana Chaithra
Pudhiya RaagamJagadeka VeeraSri Yedukondala SwamyLambadolla Ramadasu
Avasara Police 100Bhale ChathuraRamarajyadalli RakshasaruChakravarthy
GaduggaiSharavegada SaradaraSamsaara Nouke
Vijaya KhadgaSri Venkateshwara MahimeDaadaBrahma Vishnu Maheshwara
Uzhavan MaganBazar BheemaVeerapandiyan
GuriHenne Ninagenu BandhanaHosa Neeru
Andha Oru NimidamSri RaghavendrarKettimelamPuthu Yugam
Pooja PhalaOnde RakthaOnti DhwaniEnakkul OruvanNagara Mahime
Thai VeeduVellai RojaSaatchi
AjithKalavaari SamsaramChalisuva ModagaluVayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari BhartaluThyagi
Oru Iravu Oru ParavaiRam LakshmanYeh Rishta Na TootayAnthaChattaniki Kallu Levu
Driver HanumanthuNaan Potta SavalSupermanYamanukku YamanGuru
Hema HemeeluBurripalem BulloduMudhal IravuLok ParlokSigappukkal Mookkuthi
Kiladi KittuIval Oru SeethaiMallepoovuVasantha LakshmiKiladi Jodi
Aaru PushpangalUyarnthavargalIndru Pol Endrum VaazhgaAdavi RamuduAvan Oru Sarithiram
Muthana MuthallavoUzhaikkum KarangalBaalu JenuAthirshtam AzhaikkirathuRaju Vedale
Pallandu VazhgaIdhayakkaniPattikkaattu RajaThota RamuduDr. Siva
Alluri Seetarama RajuThaai PiranthaalNetru Indru NaalaiGumasthavin MagalAvalum Penn Thaane
Gauravam
Pandanti KapuramRivaajVasantha MaligaiHrudaya SangamaShehzada
SabadhamIru ThuruvamArutperunjothiPrathidhwaniKasidre Kailasa
Nadu IravilNamma KuzhandaigalBhale Jodi
Adimai PennNannha FarishtaAnbalippuNam NaaduShanti Nilayam
KuzhanthaikkagaAnbu VazhiKudiyirundha KoyilGandhinagara
Shri PurandaradasaruPunyavathiPenn Entral Penn
Kaadhal Paduthum PaaduChandhrodhayamMotor Sundaram PillaiSandhya RaagaBelli Moda

Full filmography

  • Mojugara Sogasugara (1995)
  • Halunda Tavaru (1994)
  • Jai Hind (1994) as Maria Devi
  • Time Bomb (1994)
  • Kunthi Puthra (1994)
  • Chinna (1994)
  • Akasmika (1993) as Murthy's mother
  • Tholi Muddu (1993)
  • Server Somanna (1993)
  • Navibbaru Namagibbaru (1993)
  • Bhagavan Sri Saibaba (1993)
  • Golibar (1993)
  • Gejje Naada (1993)
  • Mannan (1992) as Parvathy Amma
  • Jeevana Chaithra (1992) as Seetha
  • Pudhiya Raagam (1991) as Thaiyamma
  • Jagadeka Veera (1991)
  • Sri Yedukondala Swamy (1991)
  • Lambadolla Ramadasu (1991)
  • Avasara Police 100 (1990) as Raju and Seetha's mother (in archival footage)
  • Bhale Chathura (1990)
  • Ramarajyadalli Rakshasaru (1990)
  • Chakravarthy (1990)
  • Gaduggai (1989) as Parvathi
  • Sharavegada Saradara (1989)
  • Samsaara Nouke (1989)
  • Vijaya Khadga (1988)
  • Sri Venkateshwara Mahime (1988)
  • Daada (1988)
  • Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara (1988)
  • Uzhavan Magan (1987)
  • Bazar Bheema (1987)
  • Veerapandiyan (1987)
  • Guri (1986) as Guest Appearance
  • Henne Ninagenu Bandhana (1986)
  • Hosa Neeru (1986)
  • Andha Oru Nimidam (1985) as Radha
  • Sri Raghavendrar (1985)
  • Kettimelam (1985)
  • Puthu Yugam (1985)
  • Pooja Phala (1984)
  • Onde Raktha (1984)
  • Onti Dhwani (1984)
  • Enakkul Oruvan (1984)
  • Nagara Mahime (1984)
  • Thai Veedu (1983)
  • Vellai Roja (1983)
  • Saatchi (1983)
  • Ajith (1982)
  • Kalavaari Samsaram (1982) as Kantamma
  • Chalisuva Modagalu (1982) as Sheela's mother
  • Vayyari Bhamalu Vagalamari Bhartalu (1982) as Shantamma
  • Thyagi (1982)
  • Adhisaya Piravigal (1982)
  • Oru Iravu Oru Paravai (1981)
  • Ram Lakshman (1981) as Meenakshi
  • Yeh Rishta Na Tootay (1981) as Shyam's mother
  • Antha (1981)
  • Chattaniki Kallu Levu (1981)
  • Keralida Simha (1981)
  • Snehithara Saval (1981)
  • Kanneer Pookkal (1981)
  • Driver Hanumanthu (1980)
  • Naan Potta Saval (1980)
  • Superman (1980) as Sarada
  • Yamanukku Yaman (1980) as Sathyamoorthy's mother
  • Guru (1980)
  • Ram Robert Rahim (1980)
  • Hema Hemeelu (1979) as Rajeswari Devi
  • Burripalem Bullodu (1979)
  • Mudhal Iravu (1979)
  • Lok Parlok (1979)
  • Sigappukkal Mookkuthi (1979)
  • Vetagadu (1979)
  • Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi (1979) as Parvathy
  • Kiladi Kittu (1978)
  • Ival Oru Seethai (1978) as Meenakshi
  • Mallepoovu (1978)
  • Vasantha Lakshmi (1978) as Annapoorna
  • Kiladi Jodi (1978) as Jaggu's Mother
  • Sadhurangam (1978)
  • Aaru Pushpangal (1977)
  • Uyarnthavargal (1977)
  • Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977) as Kumar and Mainaga's mother
  • Adavi Ramudu (1977)
  • Avan Oru Sarithiram (1977)
  • Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga (1977)
  • Muthana Muthallavo (1976) as Periya Pillai's wife
  • Uzhaikkum Karangal (1976)
  • Baalu Jenu (1976) as Doctor
  • Athirshtam Azhaikkirathu (1976)
  • Raju Vedale (1976)
  • America Ammayi (1976) as Janaki
  • Lalitha (1976)
  • Uthaman (1976)
  • Pallandu Vazhga (1975)
  • Idhayakkani (1975)
  • Pattikkaattu Raja (1975)
  • Thota Ramudu (1975) as Pandharibai
  • Dr. Siva (1975) as Lakshmi
  • Alluri Seetarama Raju (1974)
  • Thaai Piranthaal (1974) as Lalitha's mother
  • Netru Indru Naalai (1974) as Kanaga, Manavalan Thangappapuram's wife
  • Gumasthavin Magal (1974)
  • Avalum Penn Thaane (1974)
  • Avalum Penn Thaane (1974) Producer
  • Eradu Kanasu (1974) as Guest Appearance
  • Paadha Poojai (1974)
  • Bangarada Panjara (1974) as Janaki, Beera's Biological mother
  • O Seeta Katha (1974)
  • Gauravam (1973) as Chellamma
  • Pandanti Kapuram (1972) as Chinnamma
  • Rivaaj (1972) as Shekhar's mother
  • Vasantha Maligai (1972)
  • Hrudaya Sangama (1972)
  • Shehzada (1972)
  • Raja (1972)
  • Bandagi (1972)
  • ...Aval! (1972)
  • Annamitta Kai (1972)
  • Thavaputhalvan (1972)
  • Sampoorna Ramayanam (1972) as Shabari
  • Janma Rahasya (1972)
  • Sabadham (1971) as Lakshmi
  • Iru Thuruvam (1971) as Annapoorani
  • Arutperunjothi (1971)
  • Prathidhwani (1971) as Meenakshi
  • Kasidre Kailasa (1971) as Shakuntala's Mother
  • Nadu Iravil (1970) as Ponni
  • Namma Kuzhandaigal (1970)
  • Bhale Jodi (1970) as Suresh's mother
  • Adimai Penn (1969)
  • Nannha Farishta (1969) as Gauri's mom
  • Anbalippu (1969)
  • Nam Naadu (1969)
  • Shanti Nilayam (1969)
  • Nam Nadu (1969)
  • Deiva Magan (1969) as Parvathi
  • Doli (1969)
  • Kuzhanthaikkaga (1968)
  • Anbu Vazhi (1968)
  • Kudiyirundha Koyil (1968)
  • Gandhinagara (1968)
  • Shri Purandaradasaru (1967)
  • Punyavathi (1967) as Parvathi
  • Penn Entral Penn (1967)
  • Kaadhal Paduthum Paadu (1966) as Ramu's mother
  • Chandhrodhayam (1966) as Lakshmi
  • Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966)
  • Sandhya Raaga (1966)
  • Belli Moda (1966) as Lalithamma
  • Laadla (1966)
  • Enga Veettu Pillai (1965) as Susheela
  • Nee! (1965) as Mangalam
  • Poojaikku Vantha Malar (1965)
  • Sathya Harishchandra (1965) as Chandramathi
  • Bettada Huli (1965) as Parvathi
  • Prathigne (1964) as Gowramma
  • Dheiva Thaai (1964) as Sivagami
  • Santha Thukaram (1963)
  • Irumbu Thirai (1960) as Parvathi
  • Kuravanji (1960)
  • Paavai Vilakku (1960)
  • Paigham (1959) as Parvati Ratan Lal
  • Abba! Aa Hudugi (1959) as Jyothi
  • Naalu Veli Nilam (1959)
  • Annaiyin Aanai (1958)
  • Bhabhi (1957)
  • Rayara Sose (1957)
  • Rayara Sose (1957) Producer
  • Kuladeivam (1956)
  • Hari Bhakta (1956) as Hari/Lakshmi's Wife
  • Bhaktha Vijaya (1956) as Hema
  • Sodari (1955) as Hemavathi
  • Andha Naal (1954) as Usha
  • Manohara (1954)
  • Bedara Kannappa (1954) as Neela
  • Poongothai (1953) as Susheela
  • Thirumbi Paar (1953)
  • Parasakthi (1952) as Vimala
  • Marmayogi (1951)
  • Bahar (1951) as Malti (uncredited)
  • Bhakta Kumbara (1948)
  • Haridas (1944)