Girija

Girija Biography

Girija was a popular south Indian actress who was active during the period 1950s to 1960s. She played both lead roles and character roles. She was most noticed for her comic roles and she shared an amazing chemistry with her co-star, noted comedian - Relangi Venkataramaiah. They together worked in numerous hit movies. She played the female lead - Pathala Bhairavi in 1951 hit film Patala Bhairavi which helped her to gain recognition. In the career spanning to more than two decades, she moved to character roles towards the end of her acting career.

Though she shined as one of the glowing stars of the golden era of south Indian cinema, her end days were not easy. Noted film actress Saleema who has appeared in a couple of Hariharan movies in Malayalam – Nakhakshathangal and Aaranyakam is her daughter. Though she was not interested in sending her daughter to the world of celluloid, she dreamt of a magic career that a Hariharan movie can offer to her daughter. Like her mother, Saleema too faded from silver screen very soon. Girija passed away in the mid-1990s.

She was born on 3 March 1938 in Kankipadu, Andhra Pradesh. She made her film debut with Kasturi Sivarao's Paramanandayya Shishyula Katha in the year 1950 at the age of 14. The following year, Patala Bhairavi was released, where she played the female lead. The movie helped her to get recognition and very soon she became a busy actress. Dharmadevata, Velugu Needalu, En Veedu, Naa Illu, Bhale Ramudu, Bhale Ammayilu, Illarikam, Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu and Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu are some of her noted works in the 1950s. With the late 1950s she established the successful pairing with Relangi Venkataramaiah. She married film producer C. Sanyasi Raju who established the banner Vijaya Giri Dhwaja Productions and the couple had one daughter Saleema who became an actress later.

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Updated: December 30, 2015