Geetanjali – South Indian actress who played the lead role of princess in Bollywood classic, ‘Parasmani’

Geetanjali (1947 – 2019) was a successful Indian actress of yesterdays who predominantly worked in Telugu cinema in the 1960s. She was very busy in the era of 1960s in Telugu cinema, and has also worked in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films. As a Bollywood actress, she is best known for playing the lead role of princess in Bollywood classic, ‘Parasmani’, which marked the debut of Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo as music composers with its popular songs. Paying Guest and Do Kaliyaan are other memorable works. She has appeared as a dancer in numerous films, and mostly played comic and supporting roles on screen.

Parasmani is one of her major works of her career

Geetanjali hailed from Kakinada, East Godaveri district of Andhra Pradesh. Her real name was Mani. In fact she was rechristened as Geetanjali by filmmakers of Hindi movie Parasmani (1964), so as to avoid confusions with the film title. Seetarama Kalyanam (1961) was her debut film in Telugu, where she played the major role of Seeta. Before that she has done a brief role in Dev Anand starrer hit Bollywood film, Paying Guest in 1957, for which she played Nutan’s sister’s role. Seetarama Kalyanam was her first major release. In 1963 she played the lead role of Rajkumari in the musical hit, ‘Parasmani’. However she moved to south Indian film industry and established as a successful actress, mostly doing character and dancer roles. In fact she returned to Bollywood playing the negative role of a dance teacher who tries to woo Biswajeet in 1968 blockbuster – Do Kaliyan and did a few less-known roles later.

She played comic and supporting roles during the down phase of her career

She was fully busy in Telugu cinema in the 1960s, and also did a few Malayalam and Tamil movies. 1966 movie, Kaattumallika was her Malayalam debut where she played female lead. Later she played female lead in Malayalam movie – Swapnangal opposite Madhu in a blind role and Madhuvidhu opposite Vincent. She did more than 500 films in different languages. Doctor Chakravarti, Sambarala Rambabu and Letha Manasulu are among her memorable roles in Telugu language.

She was married to popular Telugu actor Ramakrishna, a widower. They have worked together in many movies before tying the knot. She took a break from acting in the mid-1970s after marriage when her profession started fading and returned to silver screen after 2000s. This time she portrayed numerous grandmother roles and remained active throughout. That Is Mahalakshmi co-starring Tamannah was her last release.

Geetanjali – Some interesting and less-known facts

Geetanjali in the very popular ‘Kahi Pyar Ho Na Jaaye’ song from Parasmani – First among the songs of Laxmikant Pyarelal – Lata Mangeshkar iconic combo

1. Her real name Mani was changed to Geetanjali to avoid confusions with the Bollywood film title, Parasmani, where she played female lead.

2. Super hit songs of Parasmani – Kahi Pyar Ho Na Jaaye (Mere Dil Mein Halki Si), Salamat Raho Salamat Raho, Chori Chori Jo Tumse Mili and Woh Jab Yaad Aaye were filmed on her and Mahipal.

3. Though she had a glorious career in the early phase in film industry, she achieved limited success later and moved to dancer and comic roles later before fading away.

4. Her debut Malayalam movie Kaattumallika opposite Tamil action hero Anandan also marked the debut of veteran lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi. So Thampi has always been grateful for lip-syncing to his first song for any movie. Popular actress Vanishree played a supporting role in this film.

5. Famous actress Sridevi played her daughter’s role (child artist) in Malayalam movie – Swapnangal. She was the female lead of the movie.

6. She formerly served as a member of the Nandi Film Award committee.

7. Ramakrishna’s first wife passed away at a young age, and after working with Geetanjali for a few movies they fell in love and got married after the release of Ranabheri. When Ramakrishna passed away due to cancer in 2001, Geetanjali went into depression for a short time.