Parvathamma Rajkumar

Biography:  Parvathamma Rajkumar is an Indian film producer and distributor. Her husband Rajkumar was a star of Kannada cinema. She produced successful films featuring Rajkumar and their sons Shivrajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar. Actresses who found fame in her productions include Malashri, Prema, Rakshita, Sudha Rani and Ramya. Amongst the awards she has received are the Phalke Academy award, Kannada Rajyotsava, and a lifetime achievement award from the Government of Karnataka. By 2012 she had produced 80 films. She has spoken in defence of Kannadigas, regarding Karnataka's position in interstate water disputes and against piracy of the Kannada film industry's works. She was born at Nanjangud of Mysore district in Karnataka on 6 December 1939 to Appaji Gowda and Lakshmamma, the second child among four sons and four daughters. Singanallur Puttaswamaiah, her future father-in-law, placed a silver coin in her cradle and allegedly vowed to make Parvathamma his daughter-in-law. Parvathamma was married to Rajkumar at the age of 13 on 25 June 1953. In 2000, her husband was kidnapped by the bandit Veerappan, and held for ransom for over 100 days. Rajkumar died on 12 April 2006 of heart failure. Career She established a family firm for film production called Vajreshwari Combines or Poornima enterprises. The first movie she produced was Trimurthi with her husband in a lead role; Trimurthi was a great success. Her brothers S.A. Chinne Gowda, S.A. Govindaraj, and S.A. Srinivas are also film producers. She has produced over 80 films and launched her three sons as film stars. Her most successful films with her husband in a lead role include Trimurthy, Haalu Jenu, Kaviratna Kalidasa and Jeevana Chaitra. She produced Anand, Om, Janumada Jodi, and several other movies with her older son Shiv Rajkumar in lead role. Her son Raghavendra Rajkumar played the lead in Chiranjeevi Sudhakar, Nanjundi Kalyana, Swasthik and Tuvvi Tuvvi Tuvvi. Her youngest son Puneeth starred in Appu, Abhi and Hudugaru. Children She has three sons and two daughters. Her eldest child is son Shiv Rajkumar , who went on to success as a Kannada film actor. He married Geetha, daughter of Sarekoppa Bangarappa, on 12 July 1961. She then gave birth to daughters Poornima and Lakshmi. Poornima married film actor Ram Kumar and Lakshmi was married to a producer and distributor S A Govindaraj. Parvathamma's youngest children are sons Raghavendra Rajkumar and Lohit. Raghavendra who acted in some movies before joining the family business. He married Mangala. Lohit (nicknamed Appu) changed his name to Puneeth Rajkumar and married Ashwini. Death Parvathamma passed away at the age of 77.