Garikapati Varalakshmi

• Name — G. Varalakshmi • Born — 27 September 1926 • Birthplace — Ongole, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India) • Died — 2006 11 26 • Place of death — Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India • Birth Name — Garikapati Varalakshmi • Occupation — Actress • Children — K. Raghavendra Rao (step-son) • Relatives — K. Bapayya (nephew) Prakash Kovelamudi (step-grandson) Garikapati Varalakshmi (27 September 1926 – 26 November 2006) was an Indian actress, stage artist, singer, and director who worked in Telugu and Tamil films.

Varalakshmi was born in 1926 in Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father was a pehelwan. She started acting on stage in Vijayawada when she was 11 years old. She acted along with stage actors Thungala Chalapathi and Dasari Kotiratnam and became popular for her roles in plays like Sakkubai and Rangoon Rowdy. Her first two movie roles aged 14 were in Barrister Parvatheesam, produced by Raghupathy Prakash, and Bondam Pelli, produced by H. M. Reddy. These two movies were released together as a two-in-one movie. She then moved to Bombay to sing in the chorus for Naushad in 1942. As her career as a singer was not successful, she returned to Madras in 1946. She married the filmmaker and studio-owner K. S. Prakash Rao. Her husband and she acted in and produced a controversial and popular movie, Drohi in which she played the part of an arrogant daughter. Drohi was followed by popular movies like Kula Gotralu, Kanna Talli and Pelli Chesi Choodu in which she acted with all the top heroes of Indian films of the 1940s and 1950s in Telugu and Tamil, playing roles ranging from the loving woman and arrogant sister to the mother-in-law. She also directed a social movie, Moogajeevulu. She got involved in politics and supported M.G.R for a short time and was an active member of Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya Mandali.

She was the mother of two children, one daughter Kovelamudi Kanaka Durga and a son Kovelamudi Siva Prakash who became a famous cameraman. She is also the step-mother of the famous director Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao. Her granddaughter Manasa acted in the film Nandanavanam 120km.

Note: The list is not comprehensive.

• Year — Film — Language — Character • 1940 — Barrister Parvateesam — Telugu • 1940 — Bondam Pelli — Telugu • 1941 — Dakshayagnam — Telugu • 1942 — Bhakta Prahlada — Telugu • 1946 — Vanarani — Telugu • 1948 — Vindhyarani — Telugu • 1948 — Drohi — Telugu — Saroja • 1950 — Maaya Rambha — Tamil — Rambha • 1950 — Maaya Rambha — Telugu — Rambha • 1950 — Modati Rathri — Telugu • 1950 — Lakshmamma — Tamil • 1950 — Sri Lakshmamma Katha — Telugu — Pichamma • 1950 — Swapna Sundari — Tamil — Rani • 1950 — Swapna Sundari — Telugu — Rani • 1951 — Anni — Tamil • 1951 — Deeksha — Telugu • 1951 — Niraparadhi — Tamil — Tara • 1951 — Nirdoshi — Telugu — Tara • 1952 — Manavathi — Tamil • 1952 — Manavathi — Telugu • 1952 — Kalyanam Panni Paar — Tamil • 1952 — Pelli Chesi Choodu — Telugu — Ammadu • 1953 — Naa Chellelu — Telugu • 1953 — Kanna Talli — Telugu — Shanta • 1953 — Petra Thai — Tamil — Santa • 1953 — Prapancham — Telugu • 1953 — Paropakaram — Tamil • 1953 — Paropakaram — Telugu • 1954 — Jyoti — Telugu • 1954 — Kudumbam — Tamil — Seetha • 1954 — Menarikam — Telugu — Seetha • 1954 — Maa Gopi — Telugu • 1954 — Palle Paduchu — Telugu • 1955 — Ante Kavali — Telugu • 1955 — Gulebakavali — Tamil — Queen Bakavali • 1955 — Jaya Gopi — Tamil • 1955 — Pasupu Kunkuma — Telugu • 1956 — Balasanyasamma Katha — Telugu • 1956 — Marumalarchi — Tamil • 1956 — Melukolupu — Telugu • 1956 — Naan Petra Selvam — Tamil — Gowri • 1956 — Paasavalai — Tamil • 1956 — Vazhvile Oru Naal — Tamil — Janaki/Kaladevi • 1957 — Dhampathyam — Telugu • 1957 — Dongallo Dora — Telugu — Kamini • 1957 — Pakka Thirudan — Tamil — Kamini • 1957 — Aravalli — Tamil — Queen Aravalli • 1957 — Karpurakarasi — Tamil — Chandrika • 1957 — Uthama Illalu — Telugu — Chandrika • 1957 — Pathini Deivam — Tamil — Sivagami • 1958 — Raja Nandini — Telugu — Vimala • 1958 — Sampoorna Ramayanam — Tamil — Kaikeyi • 1958 — Dongalunnaru Jagratha — Telugu • 1958 — Thirudargal Jakkirathai — Tamil • 1958 — Mangalya Balam — Telugu — Seeta • 1958 — Manjal Mahimai — Tamil — Seeta • 1959 — Mamiyar Mechina Marumagal — Tamil — Seeta • 1960 — Renukadevi Mahatyam — Telugu • 1960 — Sivagami — Tamil — Sivagami • 1961 — Bikari Ramadu — Telugu • 1961 — Iddaru Mitrulu — Telugu • 1961 — Nagarjuna — Kannada — Uluchi • 1962 — Bhishma — Telugu • 1962 — Kalimi Lemulu — Telugu — Manikyamba • 1962 — Kula Gothralu — Telugu • 1962 — Padandi Munduku — Telugu • 1962 — Nagarjuna — Telugu • 1963 — Anuragam — Telugu • 1965 — Aavadhellaam Pennaale — Tamil • 1965 — Antastulu — Telugu — Roopa Devi • 1965 — Sumangali — Telugu • 1965 — Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum — Tamil — Alamelu • 1965 — Paditha Manaivi — Tamil • 1965 — Veera Abhimanyu — Tamil — Draupadi • 1965 — Veerabhimanyu — Telugu — Draupadi • 1966 — Aata Bommalu — Telugu • 1966 — Aastiparulu — Telugu — Rajyalakshmi • 1966 — Letha Manasulu — Telugu — Kanaka Durgamma • 1967 — Pattathu Rani — Tamil • 1967 — Rahasyam — Telugu — Chandramma • 1968 — Amayakudu — Telugu • 1968 — Harichandra — Tamil • 1968 — Bangaru Sankelu — Telugu • 1968 — Mooga Jeevulu — Telugu • 1968 — Veeranjaneya — Telugu — Mandodari • 1969 — Jagath Kiladeelu — Telugu • 1971 — Mooga Prema — Telugu • 1971 — Pavitra Bandham — Telugu — Durgamma • 1971 — Anuradha — Telugu — Rukmini • 1971 — Veettukoru Pillai — Tamil • 1972 — Vazhaiyadi Vazhai — Tamil • 1973 — Doctor Babu — Telugu — Parvathi • 1973 — Samsaram Sagaram — Telugu • 1973 — Veettukku Vandha Marumagal — Tamil • 1974 — Chakravakam — Telugu • 1974 — Premalu Pellillu — Telugu • 1974 — Tulasi — Telugu • 1974 — Vani Rani — Tamil • 1975 — Babu — Telugu • 1975 — Kathanayakuni Katha — Telugu — Pulatla Tayaramma • 1975 — Rajyanlo Rabandulu — Telugu • 1975 — Vayasochina Pilla — Telugu • 1976 — Athavarillu — Telugu • 1976 — Ee Kalapu Pillalu — Telugu • 1976 — Mahatmudu — Telugu — Parvathamma • 1976 — Manchiki Maro Peru — Telugu • 1976 — Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club — Telugu • 1977 — Unnai Suttrum Ulagam — Tamil • 1978 — Gorantha Deepam — Telugu • 1978 — Nindu Manishi — Telugu • 1980 — Kiladi Krishnudu — Telugu • 1980 — Sirimalle Navvindi — Telugu • 1986 — Sirivennela — Telugu

• Moogajeevulu (1968)

• Year — Film — Language — Song — Co-singers — Music director • 1940 — Barrister Parvateesam — Telugu — Premaye Jagathi Demudu — Kopparapu Subba Rao • Poyira Priyuda London Poyira • 1948 — Drohi — Telugu — Nede Theere Naa Vaancha — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Premaye Kaadha Sadha Vilaasi — M. S. Rama Rao • Chakkaligintalu Leva Leva • Poovu Cheri Palumaaru — Ghantasala • Nee Tetalenide Chitraniki Geetu • Trinamo Panamo Veyyandi — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Padandira Padandira Padandira — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Manovanchalu Eenaati Koolipoye • Cakkaru Kottuku Vachava — Kasturi Siva Rao • Sari Sari Matala Mootha • 1950 — Maaya Rambha — Tamil — Ogirala Ramachandra Rao • 1950 — Maaya Rambha — Telugu — Ragamutho Nanu Kanuma — Ogirala Ramachandra Rao • Veera Rasikulu Kalarasikulu • 1950 — Modhati Rathri — Telugu — Cheliya Ee Sumamu Ye Rangu — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Taguna Pagaboona Penchina • Mamatho Yemo Chandrudela — M. S. Rama Rao & R. Balasaraswathi Devi • Oyi Naa Raja Oyyaree Raja • Sannagaa Tinnagaa Raraa — Kasturi Siva Rao • Oho Bava Oyi Bava — Madhavapeddi Satyam • Eduru Ledika Naakeduru Ledika • Aasalu Baasi Naa Aasalu Baasi • Manasidemo Ooyalalooge — M. S. Rama Rao & Kasturi Siva Rao • 1950 — Swapna Sundari — Tamil — Sagasam Therinthathaiya Un — C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala • Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye • Maranthatheno Manathu • 1950 — Swapna Sundari — Telugu — Nee Sari Neevele — C. R. Subburaman & Ghantasala • Ullam Magizhnthu Ennaiye • Marali Ravo Manasu Ledo • 1950 — Vaali Sugreeva — Telugu — Ahaha Mohana Prema Pooje — S. Rajeswara Rao, Pendyala Nageswara Rao, Master Venu, Galipenchala Narasimha Rao & Ghantasala • Naa Aashaajyothiye Aaripovunaa • Priyatama Naa Hrdaya Mandara • 1951 — Anni — Tamil — Pon Vilaindhathu Jai Enboam — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Enna Aambule Nee Enna Aambule — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Pongalo Pongal Pongi Varudhamma — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Ennamma Ennamma Kanne — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Kanne Paapaa Kaniye Paapaa • Rama Harae Jaya Rama Harae • Anbu Kanindhaal Poodevi • 1951 — Dheeksha — Telugu — Pasidi Pantaku Jai Anara — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Chalnathalli Bhudevi — Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Pithapuram Nageswara Rao • Chinninanna Chittinanna • Sri Ramasitaramakapadarava • Ammagari Illu Dharmalogillu • 1951 — Niraparadhi — Tamil — Sarasa Sangeethamadhe — H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala • Naane Raaniye • 1951 — Nirdoshi — Telugu — Nene Janaga Nerajanaga — H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Ghantasala • Sakha Naa Raju • 1952 — Manavathi — Telugu — Melukolipega Thane Melukolipega — H. R. Padmanabha Sastry & Balantrapu Rajanikanta Rao • Rao Elaravo Etannunavo • O Na Sakhi Pona Sakhi • 1953 — Pelli Chesi Choodu — Telugu — Raadhanuraayedavaku — Ghantasala, Joga Rao & P. Leela — Ghantasala • 1953 — Kanna Talli — Telugu — Sirikin Cheppadu Shangkacahkra — Pendyala Nageshwara Rao • 1953 — Manjari — Telugu — Paripalayam Janani Karunamayi Bhavani — H. R. Padmanabha Sastry • 1953 — Rohini — Tamil — G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt • 1953 — Rohini — Telugu — Bratuke Shidhilamai Poye — G. Ramanathan, K. V. Mahadevan & D. C. Dutt • 1954 — Jyothi — Telugu — Chitti Potti Papallara — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Deshmunu Premichumanna • 1955 — Ante Kaavali — Telugu — O Vedalipoye Premika — Pendyala Nageswara Rao • Nijamena Nijamena Nee • Raoyi Itu Raoyi — M. S. Rama Rao