She was born as third child to Saraswatamma and Bommaraju Venkata Subbaiah, in Doddavaram village of Prakasam district, near Ongole, Andhra Pradesh. She grew up watching her father perform in various stage shows. Her father, Venkatasubbiah, was a staunch lover of classical music and trained her in music from an early age. br Awards[edit] br Civilian honors br Padma Bhushan in 2003 br Padma Shri in 1966 br Rashtrapati Award in acting br Antastulu br Palanati Yuddham br National Film Awards br Government National Award for Best writer for the book "Nalo Nenu" an autobiography in 1994. br Nandi Awards br Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 1985 br Nandi Award for Best Director in 1986 br NTR National Award, from the Government of Andhra Pradesh, in 2000 br State Awards br Kalaimamani (connoisseur of arts), Government of Tamil Nadu, in 1983 br Other honors br Kalaprapoorna, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, in 1975 br Honorary Doctorate, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupathi, in 1984 br Raja-Lakshmi Award for the year 1998 from Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai br Annadurai honoured her with a title "Nadippukku Ilakkanam" for her remarkable performance in "Rangoon Radha" br She was one of the dignitaries been honored by Andhra Pradesh government at the time of state formation in 1956.