Padmini Ramachandran
| Padmini Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
 Padmini Ramachandran.jpg Padmini (1950) | |
| Born | Padmini 12 June 1932[1] Trivandrum, Travancore, British India |
| 💀Died | 24 September 2006 (aged 74) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India24 September 2006 (aged 74) |
| Other names | Natiya Peroli, Pappima, Thiruvancore Sagotharigal |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | 1947–1994, 2002 |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Ramachandran (m.1961) |
| 👶 Children | Premanandh (b.1963) |
| 👴 👵 Parent(s) | Father : Thankappan Nair Mother : Saraswathi |
| 👪 Relatives | Shobana (niece) Ambika Sukumaran Vineeth (nephew) Sukumari (cousin) |
| Family | Lalitha (sister) Ragini (sister) Chandra Kumar (brother) Naveen (grandson) |
| Signature | |
 | |
Padmini (12 June 1932 – 24 September 2006)[1][2][3] was an Indian Actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer, who acted in over 250 Indian films.[1] She acted in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam Telugu and Russian language films. She was a popular actress of her time. Padmini, with her elder sister Lalitha and her younger sister Ragini, were called the "Travancore sisters".[4]
Early life[edit]
Padmini was born and raised in Trivandrum (present-day Thiruvananthapuram), in what was then the princely state of Travancore (now the Indian state of Kerala). She was the second daughter of Sree Thankappan Pillai and Saraswathi Amma.[1] Her sisters Lalitha and Ragini, were also well known film actresses. Together, the three were known as the Travancore sisters.[4] Padmini and her sisters learnt Bharathanatyam from Thiruvidaimarudur Mahalingam Pillai. The trio were the disciples of Indian dancer Guru Gopinath. They learnt Kathakali and Kerala Natanam styles of dancing from him. N.S. Krishnan noticed her talents while she was presenting Parijatha Pushpapaharanam in Trivandrum. After that performance, he said that in the future she would become an actress. She was thus cast as heroine in his own production Manamagal.
The Travancore Sisters grew up in a joint family tharavadu (Malaya Cottage) in Poojappura, Trivandrum. The matriarchial head of the family was Karthiyayini Amma, whose husband was P.K. Pillai (Palakunnathu Krishna Pillai of Cherthala) alias "Penang Padmanabha Pillai". P.K. Pillai had six sons, of whom Satyapalan Nair (Baby) was a leading producer of many early Malayalam films. They performed at the 1955 Filmfare Awards. Padmini was a leading actress and one of the highest-paid actresses of the 50s, 60s and 70s. She is also known as one of the charming beauty queens of the 50s and 60s. She was given the title "Natya Peroli" in Tamil Nadu because of her excellent Bharatnatyam performances in Tamil films. Her Tamil movie Thillana Mohanambal, is a cult classic of Tamil cinema and continues to be remembered even today. Her beautiful performance in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai was outstanding and made her a national star.
Career[edit]
At the age of 14, Padmini was cast as the dancer in the Hindi film Kalpana (1948), launching her career.[5] She acted in films for nearly 30 years.[6]
Padmini starred with several of the most well-known actors in Indian film, including Sivaji Ganesan, M. G. Ramachandran, N. T. Rama Rao, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Rajkumar, Gemini Ganesan and S. S. Rajendran. She appeared with Sivaji Ganesan in 59 films.
She acted mostly in Tamil films. Ezhai Padum Padu, released in 1950, was her first film in Tamil.V A Gopalakrishnan taught Padmini sisters Tamil, He was associated with Pakshi Raja studios.[1] Her association with Sivaji Ganesan started with Panam in 1952.[5] Some of her noted Tamil films include Thanga Padhumai, Anbu, Kaattu Roja, Thillana Mohanambal, Vietnam Veedu, Edhir Paradhathu, Mangayar Thilakam and Poove Poochudava. Some of her popular Malayalam films include Prasanna, Snehaseema, Vivaahitha, Adhyaapika, Kumara Sambhavam, Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu, Vasthuhara and Dolar.[4]
In two of her popular Bollywood films — Mera Naam Joker and Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai — she was paired with Raj Kapoor. She did another film with Raj Kapoor – Aashiq (1962). Her other Bollywood films include Amar Deep (1958),Payal (1957), Afsana (1966), Vaasna (1968), Chanda Aur Bijli (1969) and Babubhai Mistry's Mahabharat (1965).[1]
Her most famous was Thillana Mohanambal, a Tamil film, where she plays a dancer competing against a musician to see whose skills are better.[4] She also acted in an Indian-Soviet film Journey Beyond Three Seas (Hindi version: Pardesi) based on the travelogues of Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin (called A Journey Beyond the Three Seas, which is now considered a Russian literary monument), in which she plays Lakshmi, a royal dancer.
Personal life[edit]
In 1961, Padmini married Ramachandran, a U.S.-based physician.[4][1] She immediately retired from films, joined her husband in the United States, and focused on family life.[4] Padmini was strongly devoted to her husband in a very traditional way and would perform all traditional poojas and worship with her husband as the focus. The couple were blessed with one son, Prem Ramachandran, who lives in Hillsdale, New Jersey and works for Warner Brothers.[7][5] Sixteen years after her wedding, in 1977, Padmini opened a classical dance school in New Jersey, named the Padmini School of Fine Arts.[5] Today, her school is considered as one of the largest Indian classical dance institutions in America.[citation needed]
Actress Sukumari was the maternal first cousin of Padmini and her sisters (the Travancore sisters). Shobana, the famous dancer, is the niece of Padmini. Malayalam actress Ambika Sukumaran is her relative. Actors Vineeth and Krishna are among her relatives.
Padmini died of a heart attack at the Chennai Apollo Hospital on 24 September 2006. She was hospitalized on the previous day when she suffered the fatal heart attack during a meeting with the then Tamil Nadu CM M. Karunanidhi. She was survived by a son, who is settled in the United States.
Padmini and Vyjayanthimala, both trained classical dancers, vied with each other throughout their careers. They were at the height of their careers and there was professional rivalry between them. The real-life envy crept into the dance drama, which added its own effects to the impact of the sequence. Padmini was well known for her professional rivalry with actress Vyjayanthimala, the successful dancer-actress.[8] They performed a dance number in the Tamil film Vanjikottai Valiban; the well known song was "Kannum Kannum Kalanthu", which was sung by P. Leela and Jikki. In the song, they were pitted against each other. Due to their professional rivalry, the song has a cult following since the film was released; the popularity of the song surpasses the popularity of the film.[8]
Awards[edit]
- Won
- Certificate of merit for Veerapandiya Kattabomman in the Afro-Asian film festival in 1960[9]
- Best actress award from Film Fans Association in 1954, 1959, 1961 and 1966.[10]
- 1958 – Kalaimamani award from the Government of Madras State
- 1957 – The "Best Classical Dancer Award" from Moscow Youth Festival
- 1966 – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for Kaajal
- 1990 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South
- 1970 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for Thillaanaa Mohanambal
- 2000– Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award – Kalaivanar Award
- Nominations
- 1960 – Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Filmography[edit]
Tamil[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Marthanda Varma | Parukutty | |
| 1947 | Kannika | Mohini | |
| 1948 | Vedhala Ulagam | Dancer | |
| 1948 | Mohini | ||
| 1948 | Bhojan | A dancer | |
| 1948 | Bhaktha Jana | Krishna | |
| 1948 | Adhithan Kanavu | Mohini | |
| 1948 | Mahabali | ||
| 1948 | Gnana Soundari | ||
| 1948 | Gokuladasi | Krishna | |
| 1948 | Geetha Gandhi | ||
| 1949 | Peralena Iranama | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Vazhkai | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Naattiya Rani | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Maayaavathi | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Mangayarkarasi | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Kanniyin Kathali | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Kanniyin Kaadhali | Dancer | |
| 1949 | Pavalakkodi | ||
| 1949 | Velaikaari | ||
| 1949 | Vinothini | ||
| 1949 | Deva Manohari | ||
| 1950 | Manthiri Kumari | Dancer 2 | |
| 1950 | Digambara Samiyar | ||
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | dancer | |
| 1950 | Parijatham | ||
| 1950 | Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi | ||
| 1950 | Ponmudi | ||
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | ||
| 1950 | Krishna Vijayam | Gopika / Dancer | |
| 1950 | Ezhai Padum Padu | Lakshmi | |
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Dancer | |
| 1951 | Singari | ||
| 1951 | Or Iravu | A dancer | |
| 1951 | Manamagal | Kumari | |
| 1951 | Devaki | ||
| 1952 | Velaikaran | ||
| 1952 | Panam | Jeeva | |
| 1952 | Kanchana | ||
| 1952 | Dharma Devathai | Narthaki | |
| 1952 | Andhaman Kaidhi | dancer | |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | ||
| 1953 | Anbu | Malathi | |
| 1953 | Ponni | Kanmani | |
| 1953 | Marumagal | Shantha | |
| 1953 | Asai Magan | Jayanthi | |
| 1953 | Ulagam | Bharathanatyam Dancer | |
| 1954 | Thookku Thookki | Princess Madhavi | |
| 1954 | Sorgavasal | Queen Kumara Devi | |
| 1954 | Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari | Padmini | |
| 1954 | Illara Jothi | Chithra Lekha | |
| 1954 | Edhir Paradhathu | Sumathi | |
| 1954 | Vaira Malai | ||
| 1955 | Kaveri | Kavery | |
| 1955 | Kathanayaki | ||
| 1955 | Mangaiyar Thilakam | Sulochana | |
| 1955 | Gotteswaran | Neela | |
| 1955 | Ellam Inba Mayam | Guest artist | |
| 1955 | Rajakumari | ||
| 1956 | Raja Rani | Rani | |
| 1956 | Madurai Veeran | Velaiammai | |
| 1956 | Aasai | Sundari | |
| 1956 | Amara Deepam | Roopa | |
| 1956 | Kannin Manigal | ||
| 1956 | Verum Pechu Alla | ||
| 1957 | Puthaiyal | Parimalam | |
| 1957 | Baagyavathi | Meenakshi | |
| 1957 | Raja Rajan | Princess Rama | |
| 1957 | Mallika | Kamala | |
| 1958 | Uthama Puthiran | Amudhavalli | |
| 1958 | Sampoorna Ramayanam | Seethadevi | |
| 1958 | Mangalya Bhagyam | ||
| 1958 | Vanjikottai Valiban | Princess Padma | |
| 1959 | Veerapandiya Kattabomman | Vellaiyammal | |
| 1959 | Thangapathumai | Selvi | |
| 1959 | Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi | Muthamma | |
| 1959 | Maragatham | Maragatham / Alamu | |
| 1959 | Daivame Thunai | ||
| 1960 | Raja Desingu | Ayisha | |
| 1960 | Raja Bakthi | Princess Sarojini | |
| 1960 | Petra Manam | ||
| 1960 | Meenda Sorgam | Nirmala | |
| 1960 | Mannadhi Mannan | Chithra | |
| 1960 | Deivapiravi | Thangam | |
| 1960 | Rickshaw Rangan | ||
| 1960 | Baghdad Thirudan | Dancer | |
| 1961 | Sri Valli | Valli | |
| 1961 | Punar Jenmam | Parvathi | |
| 1961 | Arasilangkumari | Anbukarasi | |
| 1962 | Senthamarai | Senthamarai | |
| 1962 | Raani Samyuktha | Samyuktha | |
| 1962 | Meri Bahen | ||
| 1962 | Vikramaadhithan | Princess Ratnamalai | |
| 1963 | Naan Vanangum Daivam | Rukmani | |
| 1963 | Veera Dalapathi Veluthambi | ||
| 1963 | Kattu Roja | Ponni | |
| 1964 | Veeranganai | ||
| 1965 | Nartaki Chitra | ||
| 1966 | Thaaye Unakkaga | Devi | |
| 1966 | Saraswathi Sabatham | Devi Maha Parvathi 'Shakti' | |
| 1966 | Chitthi | Meenakshi | |
| 1967 | Thiruvarutselvar | Dancer | |
| 1967 | Pesum Daivam | Laxmi | |
| 1967 | Paladai | Janaki | |
| 1967 | Iru Malargal | Uma | |
| 1967 | Engaluckum Kalam Varum | ||
| 1967 | 1967 Nil N S Krishnan | ||
| 1967 | Kan Kanda Deivam | ||
| 1968 | Thillana Mohanambal | Mohanambal | |
| 1968 | Thirumal Perumai | Deva Devi | |
| 1968 | Kuzhanthaikkaga | Gowri | Remade in Hindi as Nanhin Farishta |
| 1969 | Gurudhatchanai | Devaki | |
| 1970 | Ethirkalam | ||
| 1970 | Vilaiyattu Pillai | Maragatham | |
| 1970 | Vietnam Veedu | Savitri | |
| 1970 | Raman Ethanai Ramanadi | Guest appearance | |
| 1970 | Penn Deivam | Ponnamma | |
| 1970 | Kumara Sambhavam | Parvathi / Sathi | |
| 1971 | Rickshawkaran | Parvathi | |
| 1971 | Annai Velankanni | Swarnam | |
| 1971 | Thirumagal | Kalyani | |
| 1971 | Therottam | ||
| 1971 | Thenum Paalum | Janaki | |
| 1971 | Kulama Gunama | Seetha | |
| 1971 | Iru Thuruvam | Thangam | |
| 1971 | Aathi Parasakthi | Lord Parasakthi | |
| 1972 | Rani Yaar Kuzhanthai | ||
| 1972 | Appa Tata | ||
| 1973 | Dheiva Kuzhandhaigal | ||
| 1974 | Thayi | ||
| 1974 | Devi Shri Kaumariamman | ||
| 1974 | Appa Amma | ||
| 1975 | Baaghi Lutera | ||
| 1975 | Oru Kudumbathin Kadhai | ||
| 1976 | Uzhaikum Karangal | ||
| 1977 | Dheepam | Raja | dubbed in Hindi as "Jai Jagat Janani" Sivaji Ganesan's mother role |
| 1977 | Navarathnam | ||
| 1979 | Ore Vaanam Ore Bhoomi | ||
| 1985 | Poove Poochudava | Pungavanathama | |
| 1986 | Thaikku Oru Thalattu | Dhanam | |
| 1986 | Lakshmi Vanthachu | Rajeswari | |
| 1986 | Aayiram Kannudayaal | Abhirami | |
| 1986 | Cinema Cinema | Herself |
Hindi[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Kalpana | Dancer | |
| 1951 | Jeevan Tara | ||
| 1952 | Mr. Sampat | Malini Devi | |
| 1955 | Shiv Bhakta | Rani | |
| 1957 | Pardesi | Lakshmi | An Indian-Soviet film. Released in Russian as Journey Beyond Three Seas |
| 1957 | Qaidi | ||
| 1957 | Payal | Kamla | |
| 1958 | Sitamgar | ||
| 1958 | Ragini | Sitara Devi | |
| 1958 | Mujrim | Dancer dressed as man | in song "Heeriye, Soniye" |
| 1958 | Amar Deep | Roopa | |
| 1959 | Raj Tilak | Princess Bathma | |
| 1959 | Amar Shaheed | ||
| 1960 | Singapore | Lata | |
| 1960 | Kalpana | Kalpana | |
| 1960 | Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai | Kammo | |
| 1960 | Bindiya | Bindya 'Bindu' | |
| 1960 | Aai Phirse Bahar | ||
| 1960 | Maya Machhindra | ||
| 1961 | Apsara | ||
| 1962 | Aashiq | Priti | |
| 1965 | Shahir | ||
| 1965 | Mahabharat | Draupadi / Sairantri | |
| 1965 | Kaajal | Bhanu Saxena | |
| 1965 | Saptarshi | ||
| 1966 | Afsana | Renu | |
| 1967 | Aurat | Parvati | |
| 1968 | Vaasna | Lakshmi K. Chander | |
| 1969 | Madhavi | Rajkumari Mangala V Singh | |
| 1969 | Nannha Farishta | Gauri | |
| 1969 | Chanda Aur Bijli | Bijli | |
| 1969 | Bhai Bahen | Rani / Tara | |
| 1970 | Mastana | Gauri | |
| 1970 | Mera Naam Joker | Meena / Meena Banu Bochali / Master Meenu | |
| 1970 | Aansoo Aur Muskan | Mary | |
| 1982 | Dard Ka Rishta | Anuradha's mother |
Malayalam[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Prasanna | Madanika, bahen of Radhakrishna and Radha Menon | |
| 1950 | Chandrika | Dancer | |
| 1951 | Rakthabandham | Lalitha | |
| 1952 | Kanchana | Bhanumathi | |
| 1952 | Amma | Dancer | |
| 1953 | Aashadeepam | Jayanthi | |
| 1954 | Snehaseema | Omana | |
| 1957 | Sakunthala | ||
| 1959 | Minnalpadayali | ||
| 1959 | Chathurangam | ||
| 1961 | Ummini Thanka | Thanka | |
| 1962 | Sabarimala Sree Ayyappan | Mohini / Mahavishnu | |
| 1964 | Devalayam | ||
| 1964 | Kanakachilanga | ||
| 1968 | Aparadhini | ||
| 1968 | Adhyapika | Saramma | |
| 1969 | Kumara Sambhavam | Sathi / Parvathi | |
| 1969 | Sandhya | ||
| 1970 | Vivahitha | Meena | |
| 1970 | Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha | ||
| 1971 | Rathrivandi | ||
| 1979 | Ezham Kadalinakkare | Doctor | |
| 1984 | Sabarimala Darshanam | ||
| 1984 | Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu | Kunjoonjamma Thomas | |
| 1989 | Gurudevan | Parvathy | |
| 1991 | Vasthuhara | Bhavani | |
| 1994 | Paamaram | ||
| 1994 | Dollar | Ammachi |
Telugu[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Laila Majnu | ||
| 1950 | Jeevitham | Dancer | |
| 1950 | Beedala Patlu | Lakshmi | |
| 1950 | Tirugubatu | ||
| 1951 | Chandravanka | ||
| 1951 | Navvithe Navarathnaalu | ||
| 1952 | Kanchana | ||
| 1952 | Dharma Devatha | Narthaki | |
| 1953 | Ammalakkalu | Usha | |
| 1953 | Oka Talli Pillalu | ||
| 1954 | Amara Sandhesam | Raja Narthaki | |
| 1955 | Vijaya Gauri | ||
| 1967 | Mohini Bhasmasura | Mohini | |
| 1967 | Vasantha Sena | Anaga Sena |
Sinhala[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Kapati Arakshakaya | Choreography only | |
| 1957 | Surasena |
Russian[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Khozhdenie Za Tri Morya | Lakshmi |
French[edit]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Things Seen in Madras 1969 - L' Inde Fantôme - Phantom India |
Film actress/Herself | Documentary |
TV series[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980's | Unknown serial by Manobala | Actress | |
| 2002 | American Dreams | Parvathyamma | Asianet Channel, (final appearance) |
Dramas[edit]
- Ramayana
- Kalpana
- Valli
- Kannaki
- Dashavatharam
- Sri Krishna Leela
Endorsements[edit]
- Lux
- Filmfare Magazines
- Star & Style
- Remy Talcum Powder
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Front Page : Queen of Tamil cinema no more". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 26 September 2006. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2011. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Padmini Ramachandran – Indian Actress and Dancer – Obituary
- ↑ "Actress Padmini dead". Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Friday Review Chennai : Beauty, charm, charisma". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Entertainment / Interview : The tillana glitter is intact". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2004-09-24. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "Beauty, charm, charisma". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 29 September 2006.
- ↑ Padmini to relocate
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Randor Guy (2011-03-26). "Vanjikottai Vaaliban 1958". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
- ↑ "Miscellaneous / This Day That Age: dated March 17, 2010: Afro-Asian film festival". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ Sulochana Pattabhiraman (2001-02-04). "A role model". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2011-04-13. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help)
External links[edit]
- Blanked or modified
- 1932 births
- 2006 deaths
- Actresses in Tamil cinema
- Actresses from Thiruvananthapuram
- Filmfare Awards winners
- Actresses in Malayalam cinema
- Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners
- 20th-century Indian actresses
- Women of the Kingdom of Travancore
- People of the Kingdom of Travancore
- Actresses in Telugu cinema
- Indian film actresses
- Actresses in Malayalam television
- Indian television actresses
- Actresses in Hindi cinema
- 21st-century Indian actresses
