Padmini
115 movies
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jun 12, 1932
- Died
- Sep 24, 2006 (age 74)
- Place of birth
- Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
- Also known as
- Падмини · பத்மினி · पदमिनी · Pappima
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.
Read the full biography
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.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
Padmini: movies and TV shows
Acting (115)
- 1993 Dollar
as Ammachi
- 1991 Vasthuhara
as Bhavani
- 1986
- 1986 Lakshmi Vandhachu
as Rajeshwari
- 1986 Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
as Dhanam
- 1985 Poove Poochooda Vaa
as Poongavanathamma
- 1984 Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
as Kunjoonjamma Thomas
- 1982
- 1978
- 1977 Navarathinam
as Vayiduriyam
- 1976
- 1972
- 1971
- 1971
- 1971 Rickshawkaran
as Parvathi
- 1971 Kulama Gunama
as Seetha
- 1971 Iru Thuruvam
as Thangam
- 1971
- 1971 Thenum Paalum
as Janaki
- 1970 Aansoo Aur Muskan
as Mary
- 1970 Mera Naam Joker
as Meenu
- 1970
- 1970 Mastana
as Gauri
- 1970
- 1970
- 1970
- 1970 Vilaiyaattu Pillai
as Maragatham
- 1970 Penn Daivam
as Ponnamma
- 1970
- 1969 Kumara Sambhavam
as Parvathi / Sathi
- 1969
- 1969 Nannha Farishta
as Gauri
- 1969 Bhai Bahen
as Rani / Tara
- 1968 Thillana Mohanambal
as Mohanambal
- 1968 Kuzhanthaikkaga
as Gowri
- 1968 Thirumal Perumai
as Dancer
- 1967
- 1967
- 1967 Vasantha Sena
as Anaga Sena
- 1967
- 1967 Paaladai
as Janaki
- 1967 Pesum Deivam
as Lakshmi
- 1967 Iruttinte Athmavu
as Nani
- 1966
- 1966 Saraswathi Sabatham
as Parvathi
- 1966 Thaaye Unakkaga
as Devi
- 1966
- 1965 Kaajal
as Bhanu
- 1965 Mahabharat
as Draupadi
- 1963 Naan Vanangum Deivam
as Rukmani
- 1963 Dil Hi To Hai
as Bahar
- 1962 Vikramaadhithan
as Princess Rathnamalai
- 1962 Senthamarai
as Senthamarai
- 1962 Rani Samyuktha
as Rani Samyuktha
- 1962 Aashiq
as Preeti
- 1961 Punar Janmam
as Parvathi
- 1961
- 1960
- 1960 Bindya
as Bindya
- 1960
- 1960
- 1960 Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
as Kammo
- 1960 Meenda Sorgam
as Nirmala
- 1960 Deiva Piravi
as Thangam
- 1960 Singapore
as Lata
- 1959
- 1959 Maragatham
as Maragatham/Alamu
- 1959 Veerapandiya Kattabomman
as Vellayamma
- 1959
- 1958
- 1958 Sampoorna Ramayanam
as Seetha
- 1958 Vanjikottai Valiban
as Princess Padma
- 1958 Uthama Puthiran
as Amudhavalli
- 1958
- 1958
- 1958 Amar Deep
as Roopa
- 1958
- 1957 Baagyavathi
as Meena
- 1957 Pardesi
as Court Dancer Lakshmi
- 1957
- 1957
- 1957
- 1957
- 1956 Amara Deepam
as Roopa
- 1956 Madurai Veeran
as Velliaiyamma
- 1956
- 1956 King and Queen
as Rani
- 1955 Koteeswaran
as Neela
- 1955 Mangayar Thilakam
as Sulochana
- 1955 Kaveri
as Kauveri
- 1954
- 1954 Edhir Paradhathu
as Sumathi
- 1954 Thookku Thookki
as Rajakumari
- 1954 Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
as Padmini
- 1954 Sorgavasal
as Queen Kumara Devi
- 1954 Illara Jothi
as Chitrakekha
- 1953 Ashadeepam
as Jayanthi
- 1953 Anbu
as Malathi
- 1952 Panam
as Jeeva
- 1952 Mr. Sampat
as Malini
- 1952
- 1952 Amarakavi
as Special appearance
- 1951
- 1950 Ezhai Padum Paadu
as Lakshmi
- 1950
- 1950 Prasanna
as Madanika
- 1950
- 1950
- 1949 Vaazhkai
as Dancer
- 1949 Laila Majnu
as Dancer
- 1949 Kanniyin Kathali
as Dancer
- 1949
- 1948
- 1948
- 1933 Marthanda Varma
as Parukutty
Talk shows and appearances (3)
- 1951
- 1950
- 1949