Tribute to Pandari Bai

The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) paid homage to one of the foremost doyenne of Indian cinema — late Kannada actress — Pandari Bai, who ruled the roost of South Indian cinema in the 50s and 60s, on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The actress, who has had the distinction of having acted as both as heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Dr Rajkumar (as his heroine in his debut film Bedara Kannappa) and Sivaji Ganesan (in his debut movie Parasakthi), and passed away a decade ago,
has acted in over 1,000 films in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil.

Born in Bhatkal, into an orthodox Konkani Saraswat Brahmin household, Pandari Bai, according to Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce former president and actress Jayamala, “was a very patient woman who led an  austere life.”

A photo exhibition, comprising a curated collection of over 100 photographs, that traces her initial years as a theatre actress to her entry into the South Indian film industry, was held.

A short documentary on the self-taught actress and trained Harikatha performer, directed by P Sheshadri, was screened on the occasion.