Padmini
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- June 12, 1932
- Died
- September 24, 2006 (aged 74)
- Birthplace
- Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Dollar
Movie · as Ammachi
Vasthuhara
Movie · as Bhavani
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
Movie · as Dhanam
Lakshmi Vandhachu
Movie · as Rajeshwari
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Movie
Poove Poochooda Vaa
Movie · as Poongavanathamma
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
Movie · as Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Dard Ka Rishta
Movie
Punniya Boomi
Movie
Navarathinam
Movie · as Vayiduriyam
Uzhaikkum Karangal
Movie
Appa Tata
Movie
Annai Velankanni
Movie
Thirumagal
Movie
Adi Parasakthi
Movie
Kulama Gunama
Movie · as Seetha
Iru Thuruvam
Movie · as Thangam
Rickshawkaran
Movie · as Parvathi
Thenum Paalum
Movie · as Janaki
Penn Daivam
Movie · as Ponnamma
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
Movie
Ethirkalam
Movie
Vietnam Veedu
Movie
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
Movie · as Maragatham
Mera Naam Joker
Movie · as Meenu
Mastana
Movie · as Gauri
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
Movie
Vivahitha
Movie
Aansoo Aur Muskan
Movie · as Mary
Nannha Farishta
Movie · as Gauri
Bhai Bahen
Movie · as Rani / Tara
Kumara Sambhavam
Movie · as Parvathi / Sathi
Gurudhakshaneiy
Movie
Thillana Mohanambal
Movie · as Mohanambal
Thirumal Perumai
Movie · as Dancer
Kuzhanthaikkaga
Movie · as Gowri
Iru Malargal
Movie
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie
Iruttinte Athmavu
Movie · as Nani
Aurat
Movie
Vasantha Sena
Movie · as Anaga Sena
Pesum Deivam
Movie · as Lakshmi
Paaladai
Movie · as Janaki
Afsana
Movie
Selvam
Movie
Saraswathi Sabatham
Movie · as Parvathi
Thaaye Unakkaga
Movie · as Devi
Mahabharat
Movie · as Draupadi
Kaajal
Movie · as Bhanu
Veeranganai
Movie
Naan Vanangum Deivam
Movie · as Rukmani
Dil Hi To Hai
Movie · as Bahar
Aashiq
Movie · as Preeti
Vikramaadhithan
Movie · as Princess Rathnamalai
Rani Samyuktha
Movie · as Rani Samyuktha
Senthamarai
Movie · as Senthamarai
Punar Janmam
Movie · as Parvathi
Umminithanka
Movie
Deiva Piravi
Movie · as Thangam
Meenda Sorgam
Movie · as Nirmala
Arasilangumari
Movie
Mannadhi Mannan
Movie
Raja Desingu
Movie
Bindya
Movie · as Bindya
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
Movie · as Kammo
Singapore
Movie · as Lata
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Movie · as Vellayamma
Thangapadumai
Movie
Maragatham
Movie · as Maragatham/Alamu
Chathurangam
Movie
Uthama Puthiran
Movie · as Amudhavalli
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
Movie
Vanjikottai Valiban
Movie · as Princess Padma
Raj Tilak
Movie
Mujrim
Movie
Sampoorna Ramayanam
Movie · as Seetha
Amar Deep
Movie · as Roopa
Raagini
Movie
Pardesi
Movie · as Court Dancer Lakshmi
Pudhaiyal
Movie
Baagyavathi
Movie · as Meena
Rajarajan
Movie
Mallika
Movie
Payal
Movie
Amara Deepam
Movie · as Roopa
Asai
Movie
Madurai Veeran
Movie · as Velliaiyamma
King and Queen
Movie · as Rani
Mangayar Thilakam
Movie · as Sulochana
Koteeswaran
Movie · as Neela
Kaveri
Movie · as Kauveri
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
Movie · as Padmini
Snehaseema
Movie
Thookku Thookki
Movie · as Rajakumari
Edhir Paradhathu
Movie · as Sumathi
Sorgavasal
Movie · as Queen Kumara Devi
Illara Jothi
Movie · as Chitrakekha
Anbu
Movie · as Malathi
Ashadeepam
Movie · as Jayanthi
Andhaman Kaidhi
Movie
Amarakavi
Movie · as Special appearance
Panam
Movie · as Jeeva
Mr. Sampat
Movie · as Malini
Or Iravu
Movie
Devaki
Movie · as Self - Dancer
Thigambara Samiar
Movie
Manthiri Kumari
Movie
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
Movie
Prasanna
Movie · as Madanika
Ezhai Padum Paadu
Movie · as Lakshmi
Laila Majnu
Movie · as Self - Dancer
Kanniyin Kathali
Movie · as Dancer
Laila Majnu
Movie · as Dancer
Vaazhkai
Movie · as Dancer
Velaikari
Movie
Natyarani
Movie · as Self - Dancer
Mohini
Movie
Kalpana
Movie
Marthanda Varma
Movie · as Parukutty