About

Known credits:
106
Birthday:
1932-06-12
Place of birth:
Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
Website:
N/A

Padmini

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting
1993 Dollar Actor Ammachi N/A
N/A
1991 The Dispossessed Actor Bhavani 58
Average
1986 Lakshmi Vandhachu Actor N/A
N/A
1986 Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu Actor N/A
N/A
1985 Poove Poochudava Actor Poongavanathamma 59
Average
1984 Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu Actor Kunjoonjamma Thomas 59
Average
1982 Dard Ka Rishta Actor N/A
N/A
1978 Punniya Boomi Actor N/A
N/A
1977 Navarathinam Actor Vayiduriyam N/A
N/A
1976 Uzhaikkum Karangal Actor 59
Average
1972 Appa Tata Actor N/A
N/A
1971 Adi Parasakthi Actor N/A
N/A
1971 Annai Velankanni Actor N/A
N/A
1971 Rickshawkaran Actor Parvathi 59
Average
1971 Kulama Gunama Actor 59
Average
1971 Iru Thuruvam Actor Thangam N/A
N/A
1971 Thirumagal Actor N/A
N/A
1970 Mera Naam Joker Actor Meenu 60
Fair
1970 Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha Actor N/A
N/A
1970 Mastana Actor Gauri N/A
N/A
1970 Raman Ethanai Ramanadi Actor N/A
N/A
1970 Vietnam Veedu Actor 59
Average
1970 Ethirkalam Actor N/A
N/A
1970 Vilaiyaattu Pillai Actor Maragatham N/A
N/A
1970 Penn Daivam Actor Ponnamma N/A
N/A
1970 Vivahitha Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Kumara Sambhavam Actor Parvathi / Sathi N/A
N/A
1969 Gurudhatchanai Actor N/A
N/A
1969 Nannha Farishta Actor Gauri N/A
N/A
1969 Bhai Bahen Actor Rani / Tara N/A
N/A
1968 Thillana Mohanambal Actor Mohanambal 59
Average
1968 Kuzhanthaikkaga Actor Gowri N/A
N/A
1968 Thirumaal Perumai Actor Dancer N/A
N/A
1967 Iru Malargal Actor 58
Average
1967 Aurat Actor N/A
N/A
1967 Thiruvarutchelvar Actor 59
Average
1967 Iruttinte Athmavu Actor Nani 58
Average
1966 Selvam Actor N/A
N/A
1966 Saraswathi Sabatham Actor Parvathi 59
Average
1966 Thaaye Unakkaga Actor Devi N/A
N/A
1966 Afsana Actor N/A
N/A
1965 Kaajal Actor 58
Average
1965 Mahabharat Actor Draupadi 59
Average
1963 Nenjam Marappathillai Actor 59
Average
1963 Naan Vanangum Deivam Actor Rukmani N/A
N/A
1963 Iruvar Ullam Actor N/A
N/A
1963 Dil Hi To Hai Actor Bahar N/A
N/A
1962 Vikramaadhithan Actor N/A
N/A
1962 Paadha Kaanikkai Actor 59
Average
1962 Rani Samyuktha Actor Rani Samyuktha N/A
N/A
1962 Aashiq Actor Preeti N/A
N/A
1961 Then Nilavu Actor 59
Average
1961 Punar Janmam Actor Parvathi 59
Average
1961 Umminithanka Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Arasilangumari Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Vidivelli Actor Rosie N/A
N/A
1960 Bindya Actor Bindya N/A
N/A
1960 Mannadhi Mannan Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Raja Desingu Actor N/A
N/A
1960 Meenda Sorgam Actor Nirmala N/A
N/A
1960 Deiva Piravi Actor Thangam 59
Average
1960 Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai Actor Kammo 59
Average
1960 Singapore Actor Lata 59
Average
1959 Maragatham Actor Maragatham/Alamu N/A
N/A
1959 Veerapandiya Kattabomman Actor Vellayamma 59
Average
1959 Thangapadumai Actor N/A
N/A
1959 Do Behnen Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Annaiyin Aanai Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam Actor Seetha 59
Average
1958 Vanjikottai Valiban Actor Princess Padma 59
Average
1958 Uthama Puthiran Actor Amudhavalli 59
Average
1958 The Eternal Lamp Actor Roopa N/A
N/A
1958 Raagini Actor N/A
N/A
1958 Mujrim Actor 59
Average
1958 Raj Tilak Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Fortunate Bride Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Journey Beyond Three Seas Actor Court Dancer Lakshmi 59
Average
1957 Mallika Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Rajarajan Actor 59
Average
1957 Pudhaiyal Actor N/A
N/A
1957 Payal Actor 58
Average
1956 Iru Sahodarigal Actor N/A
N/A
1956 Amara Deepam Actor Roopa N/A
N/A
1956 Madurai Veeran Actor Velliaiyamma 59
Average
1956 Asai Actor N/A
N/A
1955 Mangayar Thilakam Actor Sulochana N/A
N/A
1954 Snehaseema Actor N/A
N/A
1954 Edhir Paradhathu Actor Sumathi N/A
N/A
1954 Thookku Thookki Actor Rajakumari N/A
N/A
1954 Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari Actor Padmini N/A
N/A
1953 Anbu Actor Malathi N/A
N/A
1952 Panam Actor Jeeva N/A
N/A
1952 Mr. Sampat Actor Malini N/A
N/A
1952 Andhaman Kaidhi Actor N/A
N/A
1952 Amarakavi Actor Special appearance N/A
N/A
1950 Ezhai Padum Paadu Actor 59
Average
1950 Thigambara Samiar Actor N/A
N/A
1950 Prasanna Actor Madanika N/A
N/A
1950 Manthiri Kumari Actor N/A
N/A
1950 Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi Actor N/A
N/A
1949 Vaazhkai Actor Dancer N/A
N/A
1949 Laila Majnu Actor Dancer N/A
N/A
1949 The Maiden's Lover Actor Dancer N/A
N/A
1948 Mohini Actor N/A
N/A
1933 Marthanda Varma Actor Parukutty N/A
N/A