Rajasulochana

Rajasulochana Biography

Rajasulochana was a South Indian classical dancer and film actress who has worked in all south Indian languages and a few Hindi movies. Her full name is Pilliarchetty Bhakthavatsalam Naidu Rajeevalochana and she was born on 15 August 1935 at Bezawada (Vijayawada) of Madras Presidency. She was married to film director and actor, C. S. Rao. The couple had twin daughters and a son of whom one daughter is a noted classical dancer. She has been associated with dance school 'Pushpanjali Nrithya Kala Kendram' till her last days, a dance institution started by her in 1961. As she was a talented dancer, her films used to include at least one dance number pictured on her.

Her father Bhakthavatsalam Naidu was an employee of Indian Railways. She debuted in Kannada film 'Gunasagari' in 1953. This role was offered by H. L. N. Simha. After that she went to act in more than 250 movies belonging to different languages. She also got opportunity to work with all leading actors of the industry. She grew up in Triplicane after her father got transferred here. It was during this time when she started learning classical dance forms. Lalithamma, K. N. Dhandayuthapani Pillai, Acharyulu and Vempati Chinna Satyam, Krishnakumar, Vishnu Vysarkar, and Kalamandalam Madhavan were her masters in Indian classical dance. Rajasulochana had her ‘arangetram' in Chennai.

'Pennarasi’ (Tamil) was one of her earliest noted appearances. She became popular with the dance numbers pictured on her. 'Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum' (1958), directed by AK Velan made her a star overnight and was one of the ruling queens aside Devika for a short time. She was felicitated by the prestigious Chittoor V. Nagaiah Trust for her contribution to Telugu Cinema a few days before her death. Her noted Tamil movies are Nallavan Vaazhvaan, Mangalyam, Gulebakavali, Kavalai Illaadha Manithan, Vanangamudi, Rangoon Radha, Pennarasi, and Ellam Inba Mayam.  Her Telugu hits include - Raja Makutam, Santhinivasam, Pellinati Pramanalu, Mahakavi Kalidasu, Jayabheri, Iddaru Mitrulu, Tiger Ramudu, Valmiki and Thatha Manavudu. “Bedara Kannappa” and “Valmiki” are her hit Kannada movies and she played supporting cast in Raj Kappor – Nargis starrer, “Chori Chori”.

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Updated: January 30, 2014