Pushpalatha
{{Short description|Indian actress (1937 or 1938 – 2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Pushpalatha
| birth_date = 1937 or 1938
| birth_place = Mettupalayam, Madras Province, British India
| death_date = {{death date and given age|df=y|2025|02|04|87}}
| death_place = Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1955–1987
| notable_works = {{Ubl
| Sarada (1962)
| Paar Magaley Paar (1963)
| Naanum Oru Penn (1963)
| Karpooram (1967)
}}
| spouse = {{Marriage|A. V. M. Rajan|1964}}
| children = 2, including Mahalakshmi
}}
Pushpalatha (1937 or 1938 – 4 February 2025) was an Indian actress, who worked predominantly in Tamil-, Telugu-, Kannada- and Malayalam-language films. She acted in heroine and character roles in more than 100 films. Her debut film was Sengottai Singam, released in 1958. When Pushpalatha co-starred with A. V. M. Rajan in Naanum Oru Penn, the two fell in love and got married.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/pushpa-latha-94875|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505054301/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/pushpa-latha-94875|url-status=live|archive-date=5 May 2021|title=Pushpa Latha movies, filmography, biography and songs - Cinestaan.com|website=Cinestaan|access-date=19 February 2020}} In 1964, she was a model for Lux soap.{{Cite news|date=13 November 1964|title=చిత్రజ్యోతి |work=Andhra Prabha|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/FNK/347,2286,2550,3111|access-date=17 September 2020}}
Early career
Pushpalatha's native home is Mettupalayam, Coimbatore.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEWbVvSzgpw&t=2s|title=Sis.pusbalatha AVM Rajan part 1 & 2|via=YouTube}} Her father sold brass and silver. She was born in a strict Chettinadu Catholic family. She was the fifth child out of 8 children. She completed Bharatnatyam at the age of 9. In 1955, she had a cameo role in the movie Nalla Thangai, produced and directed by actor S. A. Natarajan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}
Film career
She made her debut in the movie Konga Nattu Thangam (1962). Following that, she has acted as lead actress and supporting actress in more than one hundred films, such as Sarada, Paar Magaley Paar, Naanum Oru Penn, Yarukku Sontham, Thaaye Unakkaga, Karpooram, Jeevanaamsam, Dharisanam, Kalyanaraman, Sakalakalla Vallavan, Simla Special, Puthu Vellam and Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye. She has acted in several Telugu and Malayalam films. Pushpalatha produced two films. Both of them failed at the box office.{{Cite web|url=https://antrukandamugam.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/pushpalatha/|title=Pushpalatha|date=27 October 2013|website=Antru Kanda Mugam|language=en|access-date=19 February 2020}}
Personal life and death
AVM Rajan and Pushpalatha were one of the popular star couples in Tamil cinema. Pushpalatha was a Christian, while AVM Rajan was a fervent Hindu devoted to Lord Muruga. Pushpalatha produced two films. Both of the films failed. Pushpalatha financially suffered for that reason. The couple had two daughters, one of whom is Mahalakshmi who has acted in some films. Their family has converted to Christianity, doing fulltime ministry today.{{Cite web|url=http://www.moneylife.in/article/opportunity-knocks-for-moonlighters/57627.html|title=Opportunity Knocks for Moonlighters|website=Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS|access-date=19 February 2020}}
Pushpalatha died on 4 February 2025, at the age of 87.[https://www.moneycontrol.com/europe/?url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/veteran-actress-pushpalatha-passes-away-at-87-due-to-health-issues-article-12931343.html Veteran actress Pushpalatha passes away at 87 due to health issues]
Partial filmography
= 1950s =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of Pushpalatha's 1950s film credits |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes |
|---|
| 1955
|Savitri |Debut in Telugu |
| 1955
|Aada Bidda | |Telugu |
| 1958
| | |
= 1960s =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of Pushpalatha's 1960s film credits |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes |
|---|
| 1961
|Thangam |Debut Film |
| 1961
| | |
| 1962
|Uma | |
| 1962
| | |
| 1962
|Mallika | |
| 1962
|Parvathi | |
| 1962
| | |
| 1963
|Kaantha | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
|Kalyani (Nithyanandham's wife) | |
| 1963
|Pushpa | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
| | |
| 1963
| |Hindi |
| 1964
|Latha | |
| 1964
|Gomathi | |
| 1964
| | |
| 1964
| | |
| 1964
| | |
| 1964
| | |
| 1964
|Alli | | |
| 1966
|Ramu |Seetha | |
| 1965
|Emily | |
| 1966
|Radha | |
| 1967
| | |
| 1967
|Geetha | |
| 1968
| | |
| 1968
| | |
| 1969
|Chellapen | | |
| 1969
|Magizhampoo | | |
| 1969
|Paal Kudam | | |
| 1969
| |
| 1969
|Subadhinam | | |
= 1970s =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of Pushpalatha's 1970s film credits |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes |
|---|
| 1970
| | |
| 1971
| |Telugu film |
| 1970
|Sumathi | |
| 1972
|Anand's guardian | |
| 1973
|Sathyasiriyan wife | |
| 1973
| | |
| 1974
|Pankajam | |
| 1974
| | |
| 1974
| |Kannada film |
| 1974
|Muthamma | |
| 1974
|Avalukku Nigar Avale |Kalyani | |
| 1974
| |Hindi film (remake of Prema Nagar) |
| 1974
|Uma (Sivalingam Daughter) | |
| 1975
|Puthu Vellam | | |
| 1975
| | |
| 1976
|Seetha | |
| 1976
|Muthana Muthallavo | | |
| 1977
| | |
| 1978
| | |
| 1978
|Lakshmi | |
| 1978
|Radha's mother | |
| 1978
|Athaivida Ragasiyam | | |
| 1979
|Nadagame Ulagam | | |
| 1979
| | |
| 1979
|Kandar Alangaram | | |
| 1979
| | |
| 1979
| | |
| 1979
|Chitra's mother | |
| 1979
|Rajalakshmi | |
| 1979
|Maa Voollo Mahasivudu{{Cite web |title=Maavoollo Mahasivudu (1979) |url=https://indiancine.ma/TZL |access-date=23 November 2023 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Bhagyam |Telugu |
| 1979
|Gãyathri |Telugu |
| 1979
|Nadagame Ulagam | | |
| 1979
|Latha's mother | |
= 1980s =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of Pushpalatha's 1980s film credits | ||
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Notes ! | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1980
|Anna Paravai | | | | ||
| 1980
| |Telugu | | ||
| 1980
|Naan Kudithukonde Iruppen | | | | ||
| 1980
|Gharana Donga{{Cite web |title=Gharana Donga (1980) |url=https://indiancine.ma/USK |access-date=3 February 2024 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Parvathi, Krishna's mother |Telugu | | ||
| 1980
| |Telugu | | ||
| 1980
| | | | ||
| 1980
|Savithiri Mother | | | ||
| 1980
| | | | ||
| 1980
| | | | ||
| 1980
| | | | ||
| 1981
|Hennina Sedu | |Kannada | | ||
| 1981
|Premabhishekam |Lakshmi |Telugu |Original of Vazhvey Mayam | ||
| 1981
|Pennin Vazhkai |Prabhu's Mother | | | ||
| 1981
| |Telugu | | ||
| 1982
|Gopu's Mother | | | ||
| 1982
|Krishnarjunulu | | rowspan="3" |Telugu | | ||
| 1982
|Iddaru Kodukulu |Lakshmi | | ||
| 1982
|Pratigna{{cite web |title=Prathignya (1982) |url=https://indiancine.ma/WYB/info |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Parvathy | | ||
| 1982
|Parvathi | | | ||
| 1982
|Pralaya Rudrudu{{Cite web |title=Pralaya Rudrudu (1982) |url=https://indiancine.ma/WYA |access-date=27 January 2024 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Inspector Vijay and Murali's mother | rowspan="3" |Telugu | | ||
| 1983
|Moogavani Paga{{Cite web |title=Moogavani Paga (1983) |url=https://indiancine.ma/XUS |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Indiancine.ma}} |Seetha | | ||
| 1983
|Prema Pichollu | | | ||
| 1983
|Rushyendramani | | | ||
| |1983
|Parvathyi | | | ||
| 1984
| | | | ||
| 1984
|Olave Baduku | |Kannada | | ||
| 1984
|Kausalya | | | ||
| 1984
| | | | ||
| 1984
| | | | ||
| 1985 | Deivapiravi | |
| |
| 1985
|Ammavum Neeye Appavum Neeye | | | | ||
| 1986
|Nanny | | | ||
| 1986
| |Telugu | | ||
| 1986
| | | | ||
| 1986
|Ukku Manishi{{Citation |title=UKKU MANISHI {{!}} TELUGU FULL MOVIE {{!}} KRISHNAM RAJU {{!}} RADHIKA {{!}} SHARATH BABU {{!}} V9 VIDEOS | date=18 August 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU_6f-b6eIA |access-date=22 April 2023 |language=en}} | |Telugu | | ||
| 1987
|Lady running guest house | | ||
| 1987
|Daada | |Telugu | | ||
| 1988
|Jagadamba | | | ||
| 1999
| | | |
References
{{Reflist}}