C. Lakshmi Rajyam

C. Lakshmi Rajyam Biography

C. Lakshmi Rajyam was a south Indian film actress and producer who worked in black and white movies. She has been associated with cine world since early talkies in the 1930s and along with her husband K. Sridhar Rao established Rajyam Pictures in 1951. They together produced many commercially successful movies in the 1950s and 1960s. They produced 11 movies in total, which include - Daasi (1952), Krishna Leelalu (1959), Harischandra (1960), Narthanasala (1963), Shakuntala (1966) and Govula Gopanna (1968) and Rangeli Raja (1971). She played female lead in 1952 hit Telugu film, Daasi.

C. Lakshmi Rajyam who predominantly worked in Telugu movies, marked her acting debut as a child artist in Sri Krishna Leelalu (1934). After that she appeared in around 35 films, mostly belonging to Telugu language, and she played both lead and supporting roles. She played second lead in Illalu (1940) directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. The role shot her to instant fame and helped her to rise to the list of lead actresses of 1940s and early 1950s. She mostly appeared in social dramas and mythological films, which were trending then.

Lakshmi hailed from Owk, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. She was born in 1922 in British India. Since young she was drawn towards the world of art, particularly dance and music. She learnt music and Harikatha during her childhood days, and began her professional career with a theatre. She joined the drama company of Puvvula Suri Babu, and played lead and supporting roles in many plays, before she joined film industry. In fact she began her career in films as a child artist. In the 1960s she moved to character roles, and by then she turned a busy producer. She died in 1987.

Published: October 28, 2018

Updated: October 28, 2018