Padmini
Padmini (12 June 1932 – 24 September 2006) was an Indian actress and trained Bharathanatyam dancer, who acted in over 250 Indian films. She acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi language films. Padmini, with her elder sister Lalitha and her younger sister Ragini, were called the "Travancore sisters". Padmini was born and raised in 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, both coming from noble Nair families. Her sisters Lalitha and Ragini, were also well known film actresses. Together, the three were known as the Travancore sisters. 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 Thiruvananthapuram. 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.
Filmography · 81
Manthiri Kumari
1950
Or Iravu
1951
Amarakavi
1952 · Special appearance
Maragatham
1959 · Maragatham/Alamu
Deiva Piravi
1960 · Thangam
Thigambara Samiar
1950
Panam
1952 · Jeeva
Edhir Paradhathu
1954 · Sumathi
Rickshawkaran
1971 · Parvathi
Vivahitha
1970
Madurai Veeran
1956 · Velliaiyamma
Vidivelli
1960 · Rosie
Vietnam Veedu
1970
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967
Snehaseema
1954
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
1986 · Dhanam
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984 · Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Vaazhkai
1949 · Dancer
Umminithanka
1961
Kalpana
1948
Dollar
1993 · Ammachi
Mera Naam Joker
1970 · Meenu
Velaikari
1949
Iru Thuruvam
1971 · Thangam
Kuzhanthaikkaga
1968 · Gowri
Poove Poochooda Vaa
1985 · Poongavanathamma
Sorgavasal
1954 · Queen Kumara Devi
Pardesi
1957 · Court Dancer Lakshmi
Mujrim
1958
Saraswathi Sabatham
1966 · Parvathi
Sampoorna Ramayanam
1958 · Seetha
Kaajal
1965 · Bhanu
Dard Ka Rishta
1982
Rani Samyuktha
1962 · Rani Samyuktha
Thillana Mohanambal
1968 · Mohanambal
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960 · Kammo
Laila Majnu
1949 · Dancer
Bindya
1960 · Bindya
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1959 · Vellayamma
Kumara Sambhavam
1969 · Parvathi / Sathi
Annai Velankanni
1971
Nannha Farishta
1969 · Gauri
Raagini
1958
Nenjam Marappathillai
1963
Mastana
1970 · Gauri
Raj Tilak
1958
Iru Malargal
1967
Vikramaadhithan
1962 · Princess Rathnamalai
Penn Daivam
1970 · Ponnamma
Amara Deepam
1956 · Roopa
Vasthuhara
1991 · Bhavani
Bhai Bahen
1969 · Rani / Tara
Lakshmi Vandhachu
1986 · Rajeshwari
Paadha Kaanikkai
1962
Naan Vanangum Deivam
1963 · Rukmani
Adi Parasakthi
1971
Aashiq
1962 · Preeti
Meenda Sorgam
1960 · Nirmala
Thenum Paalum
1971 · Janaki
Thirumaal Perumai
1968 · Dancer
Uzhaikkum Karangal
1976
Vanjikottai Valiban
1958 · Princess Padma
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970
Afsana
1966
Then Nilavu
1961
Marthanda Varma
1933 · Parukutty
Kanniyin Kathali
1949 · Dancer
Payal
1957
Mahabharat
1965 · Draupadi
Punar Janmam
1961 · Parvathi
Singapore
1960 · Lata
Mangayar Thilakam
1955 · Sulochana
Dil Hi To Hai
1963 · Bahar
Annaiyin Aanai
1958
Thookku Thookki
1954 · Rajakumari
Prasanna
1950 · Madanika
The Eternal Lamp
1958 · Roopa
Mr. Sampat
1952 · Malini
Kulama Gunama
1971
Aurat
1967
Mallika
1957