Image of Padmini

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.


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Born:
Jun 12, 1932 In Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
Movie/TV Credits:
98
First Appeared:
In the movie Marthanda Varma 1933-05-13
Latest Project:
Movie Dollar 1993-12-31
Known For
Poster of Mera Naam Joker
Poster of Iruttinte Athmavu
Poster of Amarakavi
Poster of Marthanda Varma
Filmography
Movie Dollar Ammachi 1993-12-31
Movie The Dispossessed Bhavani 1991-01-01
Movie Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu 1986-07-16
Movie Lakshmi Vandhachu 1986-10-31
Movie Poove Poochudava Poongavanathamma 1985-07-19
Movie Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu Kunjoonjamma Thomas 1984-10-26
Movie Dard Ka Rishta 1982-01-01
Movie Punniya Boomi 1978-05-15
Movie Navarathinam Vayiduriyam 1977-03-05
Movie Uzhaikkum Karangal 1976-05-23
Movie Appa Tata 1972-03-28
Movie Iru Thuruvam Thangam 1971-01-13
Movie Kulama Gunama 1971-03-25
Movie Annai Velankanni 1971-08-15
Movie Rickshawkaran Parvathi 1971-05-29
Movie Adi Parasakthi 1971-10-17
Movie Ethirkalam 1970-02-20
Movie Penn Daivam Ponnamma 1970-01-22
Movie Vilaiyaattu Pillai Maragatham 1970-02-19
Movie Vietnam Veedu 1970-04-10
Movie Raman Ethanai Ramanadi 1970-08-15
Movie Mera Naam Joker Meenu 1970-12-18
Movie Mastana Gauri 1970-10-16
Movie Bhai Bahen Rani / Tara 1969-01-01
Movie Nannha Farishta Gauri 1969-01-01
Movie Kumara Sambhavam Parvathi / Sathi 1969-12-26
Movie Gurudhatchanai 1969-06-14
Movie Thirumaal Perumai Dancer 1968-02-16
Movie Thillana Mohanambal Mohanambal 1968-07-27
Movie Iruttinte Athmavu Nani 1967-03-02
Movie Thiruvarutchelvar 1967-07-28
Movie Iru Malargal 1967-10-31
Movie Aurat 1967-08-18
Movie Thaaye Unakkaga Devi 1966-08-26
Movie Afsana 1966-01-01
Movie Saraswathi Sabatham Parvathi 1966-09-03
Movie Selvam 1966-11-10
Movie Kaajal 1965-01-01
Movie Mahabharat Draupadi 1965-01-01
Movie Iruvar Ullam 1963-03-29
Movie Dil Hi To Hai Bahar 1963-01-01
Movie Naan Vanangum Deivam Rukmani 1963-04-12
Movie Nenjam Marappathillai 1963-08-02
Movie Rani Samyuktha Rani Samyuktha 1962-01-14
Movie Paadha Kaanikkai 1962-07-14
Movie Vikramaadhithan 1962-10-27
Movie Punar Janmam Parvathi 1961-04-21
Movie Umminithanka 1961-04-14
Movie Then Nilavu 1961-09-30
Movie Baghdadh Thirudan 1960-05-06
Movie Deiva Piravi Thangam 1960-04-12
Movie Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai Kammo 1960-01-01
Movie Meenda Sorgam Nirmala 1960-07-29
Movie Singapore Lata 1960-01-01
Movie Raja Desingu 1960-09-02
Movie Arasilangumari 1960-12-31
Movie Vidivelli Rosie 1960-12-31
Movie Bindya Bindya 1960-12-29
Movie Mannadhi Mannan 1960-10-19
Movie Thangapadumai 1959-01-10
Movie Veerapandiya Kattabomman Vellayamma 1959-05-16
Movie Maragatham Maragatham/Alamu 1959-08-21
Movie Raagini 1958-01-01
Movie Raj Tilak 1958-01-01
Movie The Eternal Lamp Roopa 1958-01-01
Movie Uthama Puthiran Amudhavalli 1958-02-07
Movie Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi 1958-12-31
Movie Sampoorna Ramayanam Seetha 1958-04-14
Movie Annaiyin Aanai 1958-07-04
Movie Vanjikottai Valiban Princess Padma 1958-04-11
Movie Pudhaiyal 1957-03-27
Movie Payal 1957-01-01
Movie Rajarajan 1957-04-25
Movie Mallika 1957-06-01
Movie Journey Beyond Three Seas Court Dancer Lakshmi 1957-12-13
Movie Fortunate Bride 1957-12-27
Movie Asai 1956-03-09
Movie Madurai Veeran Velliaiyamma 1956-04-12
Movie Iru Sahodarigal 1956-12-31
Movie Amara Deepam Roopa 1956-06-20
Movie Mangayar Thilakam Sulochana 1955-08-26
Movie Snehaseema 1954-12-30
Movie Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari Padmini 1954-07-01
Movie Edhir Paradhathu Sumathi 1954-12-09
Movie Anbu Malathi 1953-02-28
Movie Amarakavi Special appearance 1952-02-09
Movie Andhaman Kaidhi 1952-03-13
Movie Panam Jeeva 1952-12-27
Movie Mr. Sampat Malini 1952-12-25
Movie Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi 1950-04-02
Movie Prasanna Madanika 1950-08-17
Movie Manthiri Kumari 1950-06-24
Movie Thigambara Samiar 1950-09-29
Movie Ezhai Padum Paadu 1950-11-06
Movie The Maiden's Lover Dancer 1949-08-06
Movie Vaazhkai Dancer 1949-12-23
Movie Mohini 1948-10-30
Movie Marthanda Varma Parukutty 1933-05-13