Padmini
Acting • Born 1932-06-12 – Died 2006-09-24
Biography
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
115 credits
Naan Vanangum Deivam
Movie • 1963
Rukmani
Nannha Farishta
Movie • 1969
Gauri
Bhai Bahen
Movie • 1969
Rani / Tara
Dard Ka Rishta
Movie • 1982
Thigambara Samiar
Movie • 1950
Kanniyin Kaadhali
Movie • 1949
Dancer
Annai Velankanni
Movie • 1971
Thirumagal
Movie • 1971
Kumara Sambhavam
Movie • 1969
Parvathi / Sathi
Penn Daivam
Movie • 1970
Ponnamma
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
Movie • 1970
Journey Beyond Three Seas
Movie • 1957
Court Dancer Lakshmi
Adi Parasakthi
Movie • 1971
Aashiq
Movie • 1962
Preeti
Thillana Mohanambal
Movie • 1968
Mohanambal
Afsana
Movie • 1966
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
Movie • 1986
Dhanam
Punniya Boomi
Movie • 1978
Kulama Gunama
Movie • 1971
Iru Malargal
Movie • 1967
Iru Thuruvam
Movie • 1971
Thangam
Thirumaal Perumai
Movie • 1968
Dancer
Selvam
Movie • 1966
Saraswathi Sabatham
Movie • 1966
Parvathi
Punar Janmam
Movie • 1961
Parvathi
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie • 1967
Uthama Puthiran
Movie • 1958
Amudhavalli
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Movie • 1959
Vellayamma
Deiva Piravi
Movie • 1960
Thangam
Thangapadumai
Movie • 1959
Pudhaiyal
Movie • 1957
Baagyavathi
Movie • 1957
Meena
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
Movie • 1954
Padmini
Amara Deepam
Movie • 1956
Roopa
Anbu
Movie • 1953
Malathi
Lakshmi Vandhachu
Movie • 1986
Rajeshwari
Asai
Movie • 1956
Meenda Sorgam
Movie • 1960
Nirmala
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
Movie • 1958
Appa Tata
Movie • 1972
Vanjikottai Valiban
Movie • 1958
Princess Padma
Ethirkalam
Movie • 1970
Vietnam Veedu
Movie • 1970
Gurudhatchanai
Movie • 1969
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
Movie • 1970
Maragatham
Uzhaikkum Karangal
Movie • 1976
Navarathinam
Movie • 1977
Vayiduriyam
Rickshawkaran
Movie • 1971
Parvathi
Vikramaadhithan
Movie • 1962
Princess Rathnamalai
Rani Samyuktha
Movie • 1962
Rani Samyuktha
Mohini
Movie • 1948
Arasilangumari
Movie • 1960
Mannadhi Mannan
Movie • 1960
Manthiri Kumari
Movie • 1950
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Movie • 1950
Rajarajan
Movie • 1957
Andhaman Kaidhi
Movie • 1952
Raja Desingu
Movie • 1960
Madurai Veeran
Movie • 1956
Velliaiyamma
Raj Tilak
Movie • 1958
Bindya
Movie • 1960
Bindya
Iruttinte Athmavu
Movie • 1967
Nani
Laila Majnu
Movie • 1949
Dancer
Mahabharat
Movie • 1965
Draupadi
Thaaye Unakkaga
Movie • 1966
Devi
Kuzhanthaikkaga
Movie • 1968
Gowri
Marthanda Varma
Movie • 1933
Parukutty
Mangayar Thilakam
Movie • 1955
Sulochana
Vasthuhara
Movie • 1991
Bhavani
Mujrim
Movie • 1958
Mera Naam Joker
Movie • 1970
Meenu
Snehaseema
Movie • 1954
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Movie • 1960
Kammo
Thookku Thookki
Movie • 1954
Rajakumari
Maragatham
Movie • 1959
Maragatham/Alamu
Dollar
Movie • 1993
Ammachi
Sampoorna Ramayanam
Movie • 1958
Seetha
Singapore
Movie • 1960
Lata
Mastana
Movie • 1970
Gauri
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
Movie • 1970
Vidivelli
Movie • 1960
Rosie
Nenjam Marappathillai
Movie • 1963
Then Nilavu
Movie • 1961
Prasanna
Movie • 1950
Madanika
Edhir Paradhathu
Movie • 1954
Sumathi
Paadha Kaanikkai
Movie • 1962
Amarakavi
Movie • 1952
Special appearance
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
Movie • 1984
Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Umminithanka
Movie • 1961
Poove Poochudava
Movie • 1985
Poongavanathamma
Ezhai Padum Paadu
Movie • 1950
Lakshmi
Panam
Movie • 1952
Jeeva
The Eternal Lamp
Movie • 1958
Roopa
Kaajal
Movie • 1965
Bhanu
Annaiyin Aanai
Movie • 1958
Dil Hi To Hai
Movie • 1963
Bahar
Iru Sahodarigal
Movie • 1956
Iruvar Ullam
Movie • 1963
Do Behnen
Movie • 1959
Mallika
Movie • 1957
Aurat
Movie • 1967
Payal
Movie • 1957
Raagini
Movie • 1958
Vivahitha
Movie • 1970
Vaazhkai
Movie • 1949
Dancer
Mr. Sampat
Movie • 1952
Malini
Thenum Paalum
Movie • 1971
Janaki
Vasantha Sena
Movie • 1967
Anaga Sena
Chathurangam
Movie • 1959
Velaikari
Movie • 1949
Sorgavasal
Movie • 1954
Queen Kumara Devi
Or Iravu
Movie • 1951
Devaki
Movie • 1951
Self - Dancer
Koteeswaran
Movie • 1955
Neela
Laila Majnu
Movie • 1950
Self - Dancer