Padmini
Known for: Acting
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
Film
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967
Film
Poove Poochooda Vaa
Poongavanathamma
1985
Film
Kalpana
1948
Senthamarai
Senthamarai
1962
Film
Mera Naam Joker
Meenu
1970
Film
Vaazhkai
Dancer
1949
Film
Thigambara Samiar
1950
Film
Or Iravu
1951
Raja Desingu
1960
Aayiram Kannudayaal
1986
Mohini
1948
Film
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
Kunjoonjamma Thomas
1984
Film
Iru Thuruvam
Thangam
1971
Ezhai Padum Paadu
Lakshmi
1950
Film
Madurai Veeran
Velliaiyamma
1956
Iruttinte Athmavu
Nani
1967
Film
Panam
Jeeva
1952
Film
Amarakavi
Special appearance
1952
Film
Pardesi
Court Dancer Lakshmi
1957
Film
Dard Ka Rishta
1982
Film
Manthiri Kumari
1950
Film
Bhai Bahen
Rani / Tara
1969
Film
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
Dhanam
1986
Devaki
Self - Dancer
1951
Film
Kaajal
Bhanu
1965
Film
Deiva Piravi
Thangam
1960
Film
Mahabharat
Draupadi
1965
Baagyavathi
Meena
1957
Natyarani
Self - Dancer
1949
Uthama Puthiran
Amudhavalli
1958
Film
Rickshawkaran
Parvathi
1971
Film
Velaikari
1949
Film
Vietnam Veedu
1970
Film
Vasthuhara
Bhavani
1991
Film
Dil Hi To Hai
Bahar
1963
Film
Edhir Paradhathu
Sumathi
1954
Film
Maragatham
Maragatham/Alamu
1959
Film
Mujrim
1958
Film
Kuzhanthaikkaga
Gowri
1968
Film
Dollar
Ammachi
1993
Film
Meenda Sorgam
Nirmala
1960
Thangapadumai
1959
Chathurangam
1959
Film
Sampoorna Ramayanam
Seetha
1958
Film
Vivahitha
1970
Vasantha Sena
Anaga Sena
1967
Film
Nannha Farishta
Gauri
1969
Film
Vikramaadhithan
Princess Rathnamalai
1962
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
Padmini
1954
Film
Annai Velankanni
1971
Navarathinam
Vayiduriyam
1977
Film
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Vellayamma
1959
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
Film
Sorgavasal
Queen Kumara Devi
1954
Film
Thillana Mohanambal
Mohanambal
1968
Film
Koteeswaran
Neela
1955
Film
Snehaseema
1954
Film
Saraswathi Sabatham
Parvathi
1966
Film
Lakshmi Vandhachu
Rajeshwari
1986
Film
Rani Samyuktha
Rani Samyuktha
1962
Film
Iru Malargal
1967
Arasilangumari
1960
Film
Kulama Gunama
Seetha
1971
Rajarajan
1957
Film
Kumara Sambhavam
Parvathi / Sathi
1969
Film
Penn Daivam
Ponnamma
1970
Thaaye Unakkaga
Devi
1966
Film
Mastana
Gauri
1970
Film
Aurat
1967
Film
Bindya
Bindya
1960
Film
Raagini
1958
Thirumagal
1971
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970
Film
Amara Deepam
Roopa
1956
Film
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Kammo
1960
Film
Uzhaikkum Karangal
1976
Film
Marthanda Varma
Parukutty
1933
Film
Punar Janmam
Parvathi
1961
Film
Singapore
Lata
1960
Film
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970
Selvam
1966
Film
Raj Tilak
1958
Film
Afsana
1966
Gurudhatchanai
1969
Film
Umminithanka
1961
Film
Laila Majnu
Dancer
1949
Film
Adi Parasakthi
1971
Film
Mr. Sampat
Malini
1952
Film
Thenum Paalum
Janaki
1971
Laila Majnu
Self - Dancer
1950
Film
Aashiq
Preeti
1962
Film
Mangayar Thilakam
Sulochana
1955
Pudhaiyal
1957
Film
Vanjikottai Valiban
Princess Padma
1958
Film
Payal
1957
Film
King and Queen
Rani
1956
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
Maragatham
1970
Film
Naan Vanangum Deivam
Rukmani
1963
Punniya Boomi
1978
Film
Thirumaal Perumai
Dancer
1968
Film
The Eternal Lamp
Roopa
1958
Appa Tata
1972
Film
Mallika
1957
Anbu
Malathi
1953
Asai
1956
Mannadhi Mannan
1960
Film
Kaveri
Kauveri
1955
Ethirkalam
1970
Film
Kanniyin Kathali
Dancer
1949
Film
Prasanna
Madanika
1950
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
1958
Film
Thookku Thookki
Rajakumari
1954
Film
The Light of the House
Chitrakekha
1954
Pesum Deivam
Lakshmi
1967