Jamuna (born 30 August 1936) is an Indian actress, director and politician who appeared mainly in Telugu films.[2] She made her acting debut at the age of 16 in Dr. Garikapati Rajarao's Puttillu (1953),[1] and received her breakthrough with L. V. Prasad's Missamma (1955). Her filmography also includes Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films.[3] She won a Filmfare Award and an award at Filmfare Awards South. She was a Member of Parliament in the 9th Lok Sabha (1989–1991) representing the Rajahmundry constituency.
Jamuna | |
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Born | (1936-08-30) 30 August 1936 (age 86)[1] Hampi, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Karnataka, India) |
Other names | N. Jamuna |
Occupation | Actress, politician |
Years active | 1954–1983 |
Spouse | Juluri Ramana Rao
(m. 1965; died 2014) |
Children | 2, including Vamsee Juluri |
Jamuna was born in Hampi of present-day Karnataka to Nippani Srinivasa Rao and Kowsalya Devi. Jamuna was named Jana Bai. Her father is a Madhva Brahmin, while her mother is a Vaisya and they had an inter-caste love marriage.[4] Her father was involved in the business of turmeric and tobacco and their family moved to Duggirala, in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh when Jamuna was seven years old.[4] She grew up in Duggirala.[1] When Savitri was performing drama in Duggirala, she stayed in Jamuna's house. Later, Savitri invited Jamuna to act in films. She entered as heroine in movies at the age of 15.[citation needed] Jamuna's mother tongue is Kannada.[4][5]
Jamuna was a stage artist in school. Her mother taught her vocal music and harmonium. Dr. Garikipati Raja Rao (see Indian People's Theatre Association IPTA) watched her stage show Maa Bhoomi and gave her offer to act in his film Puttillu in 1952.[1]
She acted in 198 films in Telugu and other south Indian languages. She also acted in Hindi films, winning the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Milan (1967), repeating her role from the original Telugu film Mooga Manasulu (1964).
She also established Telugu artist association and doing social service through it for the last 25 years.
Jamuna joined the Congress party in 1980s and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry constituency in 1989.[6] She lost the 1991 election and quit politics but briefly campaigned for the BJP in the late 1990s during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure.[7]
Jamuna married Professor Juluri Ramana Rao, a zoology professor in SV University, in 1965; he died on 10 November 2014 aged 86 due to cardiac arrest. They have a son, Vamsee Juluri and daughter, Sravanthi. They live in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | |
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1955–1975 |
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1976–2000 |
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2001–present |
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NTR National Award | |
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Nandi Awards | |
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