HYDERABAD: ‘My Mother, T Krishna Kumari’ is the story of superstar Krishna Kumari who at the pinnacle of her career, chose to give up the fame, glamour and the arc lights and settle for a completely new way of life in a farm on the outskirts of Bengaluru.
Through a rare collection of photographs, posters, anecdotes and first person accounts, the author brings out the persona of Krishna Kumari far beyond what is known to the public. For instance, who would know that the Rangapravesham (first dance recital) of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha was at Krishna Kumari’s house-warming dinner! Or that yesteryear’s star Nutan sang playback for Krishna Kumari.
The veteran actress returned to stardom to perform character roles at a time when Sridevi and Jayaprada were beginning to get noticed. In the book, Sridevi remises, “I was a child when I worked with her (Krishna Kumari), and she was a big star. And I remember feeling that a princess had entered the room when she came onto the sets”.
At the peak of her career, from the 1950s to the 1970s, Krishna Kumari worked with several icons like NT Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Despite acting in 150 Telugu films, she didn’t restrict her talent to one language or genre. Yet, there is so much more to Krishna Kumari, apart from being an actor. She is an excellent cook, a gracious host, a nature lover, a faithful friend and a loving mother. Having had the privilege to experience all these avatars, the author manages to weave them in the most beautiful yet powerful manner.
‘My Mother, T Krishna Kumari’ has been published by Maiya Publishing.