Mynavathi - Actress (Kannada & Tamil)

 

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Thursday 19, February 2026, 20:20.

1. Profile:

Born 26 July 1935, Bhatkal, Uttar Kannada

Died 10 November 2012 (aged 77)

Bangalore, India

Nationality Indian

Occupation Actress

Years active 1955–2012

Spouse(s) Dr. S. Radhakrishna

Children: 

1.Gurudutta

2.Shyamsunder

3.Gayathri

Relatives Ranga Rao (father)

Kaveri Bai (Mother)

Pandari Bai (sister)

2. Introduction:

Mynavathi (26 July 1935 – 10 November 2012) was an Indian film and television actress. She made her first screen appearance as an actor in the 1955 Kannada film Santa Sakhu and acted in over 100 Kannada films. She was the younger sister of another popular Kannada actress Pandari Bai. She became popular after her role in the 1959 Kannada film Abba Aa Hudugi, which co-starred Rajkumar and her sister Pandari Bai and was directed by H.L.N. Simha. In the film, she played the role of an autocratic girl who hates men. It was based on William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.

3. Career:

After her debut in 1955, Mynavathi appeared in Bhakta Vijaya, Hari Bhakta and Rayara Sose, all the films that had Rajkumar playing the lead role. She has acted alongside other greats of Kannada cinema like Kalyan Kumar and Udaykumar, with Sivaji Ganesan in Tamil films. Her other popular films include Kacha Devayani, Naane Bhagyavathi, Anuraadha, Annapurna, Sarvajnamurthy, Amma, Muthaide Bhagya and Obbarigintha Obbaru. Launching "Yantra Media" in the 1980s with her sons, Mynavathi entered the television industry. She has acted in the television serials Amma, Manetana, Mahayagna and Sumangali.

4. Death: 

Actor Mynavathi passes away: SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BANGALORE:  NOVEMBER 11, 2012, 00:00 IST: THE HINDU

Mynavathi died on 10 November 2012 at the BGS Global Hospital, Bangalore from cardiac arrest.

South Indian film actor Mynavathi (78) died of cardiac arrest here on Saturday morning at a private hospital.

She leaves behind her son, Gurudutt, a small screen personality.

Film and television personalities thronged her house in large numbers and paid their last respects to the actor.

Mynavathi was the sister of south Indian film actor the late Phandari Bai. Her father, Ranga Rao, was a musician.

Mynavathi made her debut in Santa Sakku as a child artiste. Her first big role was in Bhakta Vijaya (1956) with Rajkumar in the lead. She later went on to act in over 100 Kannada films.

She acted alongside Dr. Rajkumar, Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar in many films. Some of popular films include Abba aa Hudugi, Sodari, Kacha-Devayani, Rayara Sose, Naane Bhagyavathi, Anuraadha, Annapurna, Sarvajnamurthy, Amma, Muththiade Bhagya, Obbarigintha Obbaru, Hari Bhakta and Tejaswini . She acted with Shivaji Ganesan in Tamil films.

In later years, Mynavathi did many character roles with great aplomb. She ventured into television industry in the late 80s by launching Yantra Media with her sons Shyamsundar and Gurudutt. She featured in two popular tele-serials, Amma and Manetana .

Mynavathi had gone into depression after she lost her son, Shyamsundar, five years ago. Her last public appearance was during the Sri Raghavendra Chitravani award presentation ceremony in May 2011 when she received an award from actor Jayamala.

5. Filmography:

I. Kannada:

Year Name Co-actors

1956 Bhakta Vijaya Rajkumar, Pandari Bai

1956 Hari Bhakta Rajkumar, Pandari Bai

1956 Muttaide Bhagya Kalyan Kumar

1956 Kacha Devayani K. S. Ashwath, B. Saroja Devi

1957 Bettada Kalla Kalyan Kumar

1957 Rayara Sose Rajkumar, Kalyan Kumar

1959 Abba Aa Hudugi Rajkumar, Rajashankar

1959 Manege Banda Mahalakshmi Kalyan Kumar

1964 Annapoorna Rajkumar, Pandari Bai

1964 Navajeevana Pandhari Bai

1965 Sarvajna Murthy Rajkumar

1965 Mahasathi Anusuya Pandhari Bai, Rajkumar

1967 Anuradha Pandhari Bai

1968 Nane Bhagyavathi Kalyan Kumar, Bharathi

1970 Muru Muttugalu Rajesh

1970 Aliya Geleya Narasimha Raju

1970 Sri Krishnadevaraya Rajkumar, B. R. Panthulu, Bharathi

1992 Prema Sangama Ambarish, Malashri

1992 Mana Mecchida Sose Malashri

II. Tamil:

Year Name Co-Stars Director

1954 Ponvayal Anjali Devi, T. R. Ramachandran A. T. Krishnaswami

1955 En Magal Ranjan, S. Varalakshmi K. V. R. Acharya

1956 Kula Dheivam Kula Dheivam V. R. Rajagopal, Pandari Bai Krishnan-Panju

1956 Nalla Veedu Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, M. N. Rajam Jyothish Sinha

1957 Pudhu Vayal Prem Nazir Krishnan-Panju

1957 Aaravalli S. G. Eshwar S. V. Krishna Rao

1958 Maalaiyitta Mangai T. R. Mahalingam, Pandari Bai G. R. Nathan

1958 Bommai Kalyanam Sivaji Ganesan, Jamuna R. M. Krishnaswamy

1958 Anbu Engey T. R. Ramachandran, Pandari Bai D. Yoganand

1958 Naan Valartha Thangai Prem Nazir, Pandari Bai Ch. Narayana Murthy

1959 Kann Thirandhadhu Ramanathan K. V. Srinivasan

1959 Engal Kuladevi K. Balaji, Pandari Bai Adurthi Subba Rao

1959 Vannakili Prem Nazir T. R. Raghunath

1959 Naalu Veli Nilam S. V. Sahasranamam, Pandari Bai, Devika, R. Muthuraman Mukta V. Srinivasan

1960 Kuravanji Sivaji Ganesan, K. Savithri, Pandari Bai A. Kasilingam

1960 Anbukor Anni Prem Nazir, Pandari Bai 

1965 Vazhikatti Prem Nazir 

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