Nirmalamma (18 July 1920 – 19 February 2009) was an Indian actress in the Telugu cinema. She appeared in more than 1000 films and was well known for her grandmother roles in several films. She won two Nandi Awards.

Early life

She was born in Machilipatnam, Madras Presidency, British India.

Film career

Her debut film was Garuda Garvabhangam in 1943. Nirmalamma has worked along with almost all famous artists in Telugu Cinema like NTR, ANR, Krishna, S. V. Ranga Rao, Rajendra Prasad, P. B. Srinivas, Chiranjeevi, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Venkatesh, Nagarjuna and many more. She is one of the artists who appears in almost all of the movies of S. V. Krishna Reddy and E. V. V. Satyanarayana. In a career spanning over five decades, she worked in over 700 films and bagged Nandi award for best supporting actress for her role in ‘Mayuri’. Her roles in films like ‘Sankarabharanam’, ‘Yamagola’, ‘Padaharella Vayasu’, ‘Swathi Muthyam’, ‘Maavi Chiguru’ and ‘Subha Sankalpam’ remain unforgettable. She has had memorable roles in the films Chinnodu Peddodu, Padaharella Vayasu, Kanakamahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe, Gang Leader, Mayalodu, Egirey Paavurama, Rendilla Poojari, Devatha (Shoban babu's movie), Chinnarayudu, Dalapathi, Alibaba Aradajanu Dongalu, Sitharatnam Gaari Abbayi, Mamagaaru, Aa Okkati Adakku, Karthavyam, Chalaki Mogudu and Chadastapu Pellam. She has established Nirmala Arts and produced Chalaki Mogudu Chadasthapu Pellam, starring Rajendra Prasad, directed by Relangi Narasimha Rao. Her last movie was Premaku Swagatham, directed by famous director S. V. Krishna Reddy. Her last public appearance was at the Vajrothsava celebrations of Telugu cinema where many celebrities remembered her for the fact that she has played as mother/grandmother for many generations of Telugu Cinema.

Personal life

She had no children of her own, but adopted a daughter, Kavitha.

Awards

Nandi Awards

Selected filmography

This is partial list of her films.

Telugu films

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Tamil films

Hindi films