Her first big break came in the Honnappa Bhagavathar's Kannada film, Mahakavi Kalidasa, in 1955-56, for which she won a National Award.
More regional movies followed, like B R Banthulu's Thanga Malai Ragasiyam, where her eyes enacted a magical drama, in a dance sequence.
The upshot was that she came under the notice of the MGR himself, on K Subramaniam's sets -- an event, which, sent her into a tizzy.
'I was upset that I hadn't paid my respects to such a great star,' she would often say, in later years.
Not that this caused a noticeable dent in her career.
In the picture: With MGR in Enga Veettu Pillai.
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