Potpourri of titbits about cinema - Anjali Devi

When asked about some unforgettable experiences in her career, she narrated some very interesting incidents in an affable and exciting tone. “I set my foot on the floors of Neptune Studio for the shooting schedule of the film ‘Mohini’ in the year 1946 on the day of Bogi on 13th January. I was transformed into an angel with white robes on. My role was to lure the king who was dancing with his wife and take him to the ‘Devalog’. When the director told me that I would appear to the eyes of the king as his wife and that the king would hug and kiss me, I was shocked beyond words. At that time, I was already a mother and I refused to be kissed. The director spoke to my husband and my husband described the shot to me, how it would be taken etc. He said that it would be enough if I kept my head in a slanting position and that the camera would do the trick. But today, kissing shots are actually done and taken; it is really a condemnable ‘advancement’.

‘Aadhithyan kanavu’, directed by T. R. Sundaram was a major break in my career. The film ran for more than hundred days. I started getting major roles after this hit movie. Only after this movie I got the role of Sita in the film ‘Lava Kucha’, directed by Pulliah who was by then convinced of my capacity for nuance acting. The film became a prefix to my name in Andhra. During the shooting of the film ‘Chakravarthy thirumagal’, MGR surprised me by revealing the decision of the film industry to elect me as the president of the South Indian Artistes Association. I refused stating that I couldn’t read Tamil and that I had no experience in these responsibilities, but MGR didn’t accept my excuses and eventually succeeded in making me agree to the offer. I held the term for one year. Recently a felicitation was held by the association for me for being the first woman president and for M. N. Rajam for being the first woman member of the association. All the present day artistes including Rajnikant choked me with their love and affection.

I acted as the sister-in-law of MGR in the film ‘Urimaikural’ and I was the mother of Rajni in ‘Annai orr aalayam’. I get offers for the roles of mother and grandmother, but I don’t accept them because of my health problems. Those days when I acted with great artistes like Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, N. T. Rama Rao, Nageswara Rao, Savithri, Jamuna, Padmini, Bhanumathi, Vyjanthimala etc. are really ‘golden days’ in my career. They’ll remain evergreen in my memory.

I am a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. I produced a serial on Sathya Sai Baba and telecast it for my own satisfaction. I keep in touch with S. N. Lakshmi, Sachu, P. Susheela, Rajasulochana and K. R. Vijaya and talk to them over the phone. “

Anjali Devi’s 80th birthday was celebrated grandly on 27th February, 2010 by her sons Chinna Rao and Niranjan Kumar and her daughters-in-law Vijayalakshmi Rao and Bharathi Devi and her grandchildren at Chennai. Film personalities, political leaders and business people all attended the function. And, I feel very happy to say that I was also part of that function coordinating things.

The Telugu writer Ravikondal Rao is writing the biography of Anjali Devi and I’ve been blessed to be given the responsibility to write the Tamil version. It is my wish and appeal that both the State and the Central governments recognize her unparalleled contribution to cinema and honor her with prestigious awards. Let us all pray to God to bless this great woman with a long and healthy life.