Pandari Bai (18 September 1928 – 29 January 2003) was an Indian actress who worked in South Indian cinema, mostly in Kannada cinema during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. She is considered Kannada cinema's first successful heroine.[1] She has acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Rajkumar, M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan. She was the heroine in Rajkumar's debut movie Bedara Kannappa and also Sivaji's debut movie Parasakthi.[2] [3] [4] She has acted in over 1,000 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.[5] Bai was honoured by Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu government.[6] The following is a complete list of her films:
| Year | Title of the film | Role | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Vani | Kannada | ||
| 1944 | Haridas | Tamil | ||
| 1947 | Bhakta Gora Kumbhara | Tamil | ||
| 1948 | Vedhala Ulagam | Kali Devi | Tamil | |
| 1949 | Bahar | Malti | Hindi | |
| 1950 | Raja Vikrama | Padmini | Tamil Kannada | |
| 1951 | Marmayogi | Vasantha | Tamil | |
| 1952 | Parasakthi | Vimala | Tamil | |
| 1953 | Gumastha | Susheela | Tamil | |
| Gunasagari | Gunasagari | Kannada | ||
| Pardesi | Susheela | Tamil | ||
| Paradesi | Telugu | |||
| Poongothai | Tamil | |||
| Thirumbi Paar | Poomalai | Tamil | ||
| Kangal | Tamil | |||
| 1954 | Andha Naal | Usha | Tamil | |
| Bedara Kannappa | Neela | Kannada | ||
| Manohara | Padmavathi | Tamil | ||
| Manohara | Padmavathi | Telugu | ||
| Manohara | Padmavathi | Hindi | ||
| Nallakalam | Tamil | |||
| 1955 | Sodari | Hemavati | Kannada | |
| Bhakta Mallikarjuna | Kannada | |||
| Sant Sakhu | Kannada | |||
| Chella Pillai | Anjalai | Tamil | ||
| Vadina | Chitti | Telugu | ||
| Shiv Bhakta | Hindi | |||
| 1956 | Bhakta Vijaya | Hema | Kannada | |
| Hari Bhakta | Lakshmi | Kannada | ||
| Kula Deivam | Shanta | Tamil | ||
| Renuka Mahatme | Kannada | |||
| 1957 | Bhabhi | Shanta | Hindi | |
| Rayara Sose | Geetha | Kannada | ||
| Sati Nalaayini | Nalayini | Kannada | ||
| 1958 | Anbu Engey | Amudha | Tamil | |
| Maalaiyitta Mangai | Sarasu | Tamil | ||
| Annaiyin Aanai | Gowri | Tamil | ||
| Panchayat | Maya | Hindi | ||
| 1959 | Alli Petra Pullai | Tamil | ||
| Aval Yaar | Mahalakshmi | Tamil | ||
| Chand | Kamla | Hindi | ||
| Abba Aa Hudugi | Jyoti | Kannada | ||
| Engal Kula Daivi | ||||
| Grihalakshmi | ||||
| Naalu Veli Neelam | ||||
| Nattukoru Nallavan | ||||
| Paigham | Parvati Ratan Lal | Hindi | ||
| Paththarai Maathu Thangam | ||||
| Uthami Petra Rathinam | Tamil | |||
| 1960 | Anbukkor Anni | |||
| Bhakta Shabari | ||||
| Irumbu Thirai | Tamil | |||
| Ivan Avanethan | ||||
| Kuravanji | ||||
| Paavai Vilakku | ||||
| Raja Bhakti | Princess Devasena | Tamil | ||
| Thanthaikupin Thamayan | ||||
| 1963 | Jenu Goodu | Shantha | Kannada | |
| 1964 | Thaayin Madiyil | Parvathi | Tamil | |
| Dheiva Thaai | Tamil | |||
| Annapoorna | Annapoorna | Kannada | ||
| 1965 | Satya Harishchandra | Chandramathi, wife of Raja Harishchandra | Kannada | |
| Enga Veettu Pillai | Susila | Tamil | ||
| C.I.D. | Parvathi | Telugu | ||
| Nee | Tamil | |||
| Poojaikku Vandha Malar | Suresh's mother | Tamil | ||
| 1966 | Chandhrodhayam | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| Motor Sundaram Pillai | Tamil | |||
| 1967 | Selva Magal | Parvathi | Tamil | |
| Kaavalkaaran | Tamil | |||
| 1968 | Jeevanaamsam | Meenakshi | Tamil | |
| En Thambi | Meenakshi | Tamil | ||
| Kudiyirundha Koyil | Tamil | |||
| Pudhiya Bhoomi | Tamil | |||
| 1969 | Anbalippu | Tamil | ||
| Bhale Abbayilu[7] | Lakshmi | Telugu | ||
| Adimaippenn | Abirami Mangamma | Tamil | ||
| Nam Naadu | Bakiyum, Muthaiya's wife | Tamil | ||
| Deiva Magan | Parvathi | Tamil | ||
| 1970 | Nadu Iravil | Ponni | Tamil | |
| 1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Annapoorani | Tamil | |
| Oru Thaai Makkal | Parvathi | Tamil | ||
| Sabatham | Lakshmi | Tamil | ||
| 1972 | Raja | Parvathi | Tamil | |
| Thavaputhalavan | Rajalakshmi | Tamil | ||
| Annamitta Kai | Tamil | |||
| Vasantha Maligai | Latha Mother | Tamil | ||
| 1973 | Gowravam | Chellamma | Tamil | |
| 1974 | Thirumangalyam | Tamil | ||
| Thaaipiranthal | Tamil | |||
| Bangaarada Panjara | Kannada | |||
| 1975 | Moguda Pellama | Telugu | ||
| Dr. Siva | Tamil | |||
| Idhayakkani | Tamil | |||
| Pallandu Vazhga | Tamil | |||
| 1976 | Uthaman | Tamil | ||
| Uzhaikkum Karangal | Tamil | |||
| Muthyala Pallaki | Poorna | Telugu | ||
| 1977 | Avan Oru Sarithiram | Lakshmi | Tamil | |
| Eenati Bandham Yenatido[8] | Shantha | Telugu | ||
| Adavi Ramudu | Telugu | |||
| Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga | Tamil | |||
| Janma Janmala bandham | Telugu | |||
| 1978 | Kalanthakulu[9] | Annapurna | Telugu | |
| Dongala Veta[10] | Lakshmi | Telugu | ||
| Sahasavanthudu[11] | Lakshmi, Raghu's mother | Telugu | ||
| 1979 | Naan Vazhavaippen | Ravi Mother | Tamil | |
| 1980 | Kiladi Krishnudu | Sãnthamma | Telugu | |
| Mahalakshmi[12] | Shankaram's mother | Telugu | ||
| 1982 | Chalisuva Modagalu | Kannada | ||
| Radha My Darling | Telugu | |||
| 1983 | Mayagadu[13] | Janaki | Telugu | |
| 1984 | Vetri | Tamil | ||
| Apoorva Sangama | Kannada | |||
| 1985 | Pudhu Yugam | Tamil | ||
| Ooriki Soggadu | Susheela | Telugu | ||
| 1986 | Anuraga Aralithu | Mother of Rajkumar | Kannada | |
| 1987 | Shruthi Seridaaga | Mother of Rajkumar | Kannada | |
| 1988 | Ukku Sankellu | Telugu | ||
| 1990 | Prajala Manishi[14] | Jhansi's mother | Telugu | |
| 1991 | Sri Yedukondala Swamy | Telugu | ||
| 1992 | Mannan | Mother of Rajinikanth | Tamil | |
| 1992 | Jeevana Chaitra | Mother of Rajkumar | Kannada | |
| 1993 | Aakasmika | Mother of Rajkumar | Kannada | |
| 1994 | Jai Hind | Annai Maria Devi | Tamil | |
| 2000 | Hats Off India | Kannada |