Girija (actress)

Telugu film actress

Girija

Born|

Dasari Girija

3 March 1938

Kankipadu, Madras Presidency, British India

Died| 5 September 1995

Madras, Tamil Nadu, India

Occupation(s)| Actress, comedian and film producer
Years active| 1950 1977
Spouse| C. S. Raju
Children| Saleema

Dasari Girija (3 March 1938 – 5 September 1995) was an Indian actress who has worked in Telugu films. She was active in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in comic roles.[1] She appeared in many films with Relangi, the two of them becoming a famous comedic duo.

## Film career

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She was born on 3 March 1938 in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh. Her mother was a stage and film actress Dasari Ramatilakam.[2]

Her first movie was Kasturi Sivarao's Paramanandayya Sishyulu (1950). She acted in many films with Relangi and other leading actors of that period. Her portrayal of titular Pathala Bhairavi in 1951 hit film Patala Bhairavi[3] displayed her talents and resulted in her getting many film offers lasting about two decades. Her role as Usha in Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959) opposite Relangi is memorable.[4] The ever lasting comedy song Kaseeki Poyanu Ramahari has been pictured on them.[5] The comedy-duo also acted in the award-winning Ramudu Bheemudu (1964) of Suresh Productions. The funny Sarada Sarada Cigarettu song about the habit of Smoking is superhit during that time.[6] She also acted in Tamil films during the fifties.

She along with Relangi acted in small but key roles in the epic film Lava Kusa (1963) by Shankar Reddy and refused to take any extra remuneration for the extratime in shooting the song Ollanori mama née pillanee....[7] In addition to the comedy roles, she played as character actress in the key role of Hemalatha opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao acting as second heroine in Bharya Bhartalu (1961)[8] and as Varalaxmi in Velugu Needalu (1961).[9] She has played key roles in some mythological and Janapada films, like Dharma Devatha (1952).[10]

She started a film company with her husband C. S. Raju as a producer, named Vijaya Giri Dhwaja Productions (named after Girija) and produced few movies including Bhale Mastaru (1969) and Pavitra Hrudayalu (1971), in both films main protagonist is played by N. T. Rama Rao. They met with a heavy financial loss.

## Personal life

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She married C. Sanyasi Raju, popularly known as C. S. Raju; their daughter Saleema is also an actress who acts mainly in Malayalam movies.[11] According to her daughter Saleema, Girija died on 5 September 1995.[12] Though she has been suffering from Diabetes, in the last moments she experienced some breathing problem and died suddenly in her Chennai residence.

## Filmography

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2021)

|

Year | Film | Role | Language

|
|
|

1950 | Paramanandayya Sishyulu | Hema | Telugu
1951 | Navvite Navaratnalu |  | Telugu
Patala Bhairavi | Pathala Bhairavi | Telugu/Tamil
1952 | Dharma Devatha | Vasanthi | Telugu
Velugu Needalu | Varalakshmi | Telugu
1953  | Ashadeepam | Sarala  | Malayalam
En Veedu |  | Tamil
Naa Illu |  | Telugu
1954 | Manohara | Princess Vijaya | Tamil/Telugu/Hindi
1955 | Kalyanam Seydhukko |  | Tamil
1956 | Bhale Ramudu | Taara | Telugu
1957  | Sankalpam | Suguna  | Telugu
Bhale Ammayilu |  | Telugu
Dongallo Dora |  | Telugu
M.L. A. |  | Telugu
Suvarna Sundari | Princess Parthima Devi | Telugu
Veera Kankanam |  | Telugu
Vaddante Pelli | Lalitha  | Telugu
Iru Sagodharigal | Lalitha | Tamil
1958 | Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu | Usha | Telugu
1958  | Dongalunnaru Jagratha |  | Telugu
1958 | Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu | Rani | Telugu
1958  | Anna Thammudu | Padma  | Telugu
1959 | Illarikam | Kanakadurga | Telugu
1959 | Rechukka Pagatichukka |  | Telugu
1960  | Nammina Bantu | Sarala  | Telugu
1960 | Bhatti Vikramarka | Arakasu, wife of Tirakasu | Telugu
1960 | Pelli Kanuka | Kantham | Telugu
1960 | Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chintamani[13] | Kamalakshi | Telugu
1960 | Samajam |  | Telugu
1960 | Runanubandham |  | Telugu
1961 | Bharya Bharthalu | Hema | Telugu
1961 | Jagadeka Veeruni Katha | Ekasa | Telugu
1961 | Kalasivunte Kaladu Sukham | Haranath's fiancée | Telugu
1961 | Vagdanam | Radha | Telugu
1961 | Velugu Needalu | Varalakshmi | Telugu/Tamil
1962 | Aradhana | Gopi's Fiancée | Telugu
Kula Gothralu | Leela | Telugu
Tiger Ramudu |  | Telugu
Raktha Sambandham |  | Telugu
Siri Sampadalu | Rama | Telugu
Aasa Jeevulu |  | Telugu
Aatma Bandhuvu | Geetha | Telugu
1963 | Irugu Porugu |  | Telugu
Lakshadhikari | Leela | Telugu
Savati Koduku |  | Telugu
Lava Kusa | Chakali Vaani Bharya | Telugu/Tamil
Paruvu Prathishta |  | Telugu
1964 | Aathma Balam | Chitti | Telugu
Amara Silpi Jakkanna | Fisherwoman Gangu | Telugu
Ramudu Bheemudu | Kamala | Telugu
Vaarasatwam | Seeta | Telugu
1965 | Preminchi Choodu |  | Telugu
Sri Simhachala Kshetra Mahima | Queen of Women Kingdom | Telugu
Prameelarjuneeyam | Maha Maya | Telugu
Satya Harishchandra | Kalahakanthi | Telugu
Mangamma Sapatham |  | Telugu
Visala Hrudayalu | Shantha  | Telugu
Sati Sakkubai | Daughter of Suryakantham | Telugu
1966 | Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha | Makarika | Telugu
Aastiparulu |  | Telugu
Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha | Makarika  | Telugu
1967 | Navarathri | Mental patient | Telugu
Rahasyam | Sarvani Devi | Telugu
Vasantha Sena |  | Telugu
1974 | Aadadani Adrustam |  | Telugu
Devadasu |  | Telugu/Tamil
1975 | Balipeetam | Servant | Telugu
1976  | Andharu Bagundali[14] | Govindayya's wife  | Telugu
Secretary | Vanita Vihar Member | Telugu
1977 | Pantulamma | House Head | Telugu
Savasagallu[citation needed] |  | Telugu
1979  | Maa Voollo Mahasivudu[15] |  | Telugu
1980  | Chandipriya | Singamma  | Telugu
1980  | Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam[16] | Ranganatham's arrogant wife  | Telugu
1981  | Prema Natakam[17] | Kumar's mother  | Telugu
Kondaveeti Simham |  | Telugu
1982  | Nivuru Gappina Nippu |  | Telugu
1983  | Kanthayya Kanakayya[18] | Gajalakshmi  | Telugu
1984  | Anubandham |  | Telugu

## References

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1. ^ "నటి గిరిజ – Telugucinema Charitra".
2. ^ "మా అమ్మపై ఇన్ని పుకార్లా". 12 July 2019.
3. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (13 April 2013). "Pathalabhairavi (1951)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
4. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (20 August 2015). "Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
5. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu || Kasi Poyanu Ramahari Full Video Song || NTR, Savitri, Jamuna, SVR". 18 September 2014 - via YouTube.
6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "SARADA SARADA CIGARETTU SONG IN RAMUDU - BHEMUDU". 16 September 2008 - via YouTube.
7. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (13 January 2017). "Lava Kusa (1963)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
8. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (28 April 2016). "Bharya Bharthalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
9. ^ Narasimham, M.L. (13 May 2015). "Velugu Needalu (1961)". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
10. ^ Guy, Randor (27 September 2014). "Dharma Devatha 1952". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
11. ^ "Returning after a long hiatus: Saleema". 14 March 2017.
12. ^ "మా అమ్మపై ఇన్ని పుకార్లా". 12 July 2019.
13. ^ "Sahasra Siracheda Apoorva Chintamani (1960)". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
14. ^ "Andharu Bagundali (1976)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
15. ^ "Maavoollo Mahasivudu (1979)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
16. ^ "Konte Mogudu Penki Pellam (1980)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
17. ^ "Prema Natakam Movie Cast".
18. ^ KANTHAYYA KANAKAYYA | TELUGU FULL MOVIE | CHANDRA MOHAN | KAVITHA | TELUGU CINE CAFE, 24 July 2021, retrieved 27 October 2023

## External links

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* Girija at IMDb