Rajasulochana, a versatile actress of Telugu cinema

Rajasulochana, a multi- facet actress of yesteryears is no more. Pilliarchetty Bhaktavatsalam Naidu Rajasulochana is popularly known as classical dancer than an actress. Her father Bhaktavatsalam Naidu had worked in Indian Railways in Vijayawada and later shifted to Madras. She acted in all most all the Southern Indian languages.

She got first opportunity in Kannada film “Gunasundari” in 1953 through HLN Simha, famous Kannada stage actor. The film was produced by Gubbi Veeranna. She sharpened her dance talents with close association of Vempati China Satyam, Krishna Kumar, Vishnu Vysarkar, Kalamandalam Madhavan, Lalithamma and K N Dandayudhapani Pillai. With an aim to spread the classical dance among the younger generations she established a dance school "Pushpanjali, Nritya Kala Nikethan" in Chennai.

She married to actor and director C S Rao and had twin daughters Devi and Shri. She acted with all leading actors in those times in South like MGR, NTR, ANR, Rajkumar, SS Rajendran, AP Nagarajan and M N Nambiar. Her film with NTR "Raja Makutam" directed by B N Reddy is a top hit film. She also had several hit films with Akkineni Nageswara Rao. She is one of the heroines in ANR’s dual role film "Iddaru Mitrulu". Later, she confined herself to some negative roles in Telugu films. Some of her best films include "Babruvahana", "Sri Kalahasti Mahatyam" and "Todi Kodallu".

Rajasulochana was suffering from breathing problems over the last few days and died in the sleep on Tuesday morning. It is a tribute to the great actress, who contributed her services to the classival dance and the film industry for six decades.

-Sakshipost