Vijaya Nirmala, the renowned veteran actress and director of the Telugu Film Industry, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2019, at the age of 73. Nirmala, who was born in 1945 in Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, began her acting career as a child artist in 1960, and later made her debut as a lead actress in Akka Thammudu in 1969. She went on to act in more than 200 films in lead roles over her illustrious career in the industry and received many prestigious awards, including the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for her contribution to Telugu cinema. Nirmala was considered a pioneer in the field of Telugu cinema, becoming one of the few female directors in the early 2000s. She directed 44 films throughout her career. She is survived by her husband Krishna Ghattamaneni, who is also an actor and director, and her son Naresh, also an actor. Those who knew and loved her will remember her for her creativity, passion for the art of cinema, and dedication to her craft. Her mark on the industry will not be forgotten.