Padmini

Acting · 0.6 popularity

Age

Movies

116

Born: June 12, 1932 – September 24, 2006
From: 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.

Works

116 films

Andhaman Kaidhi

195210.0

Mohini

1948

Rajarajan

19574.0

Manthiri Kumari

195010.0

Ezhai Padum Paadu

19507.5

Amarakavi

1952

Or Iravu

19517.0

Thigambara Samiar

1950

Thangapadumai

195910.0

Raja Desingu

196010.0

Uthama Puthiran

19587.3

Arasilangumari

1960

Poove Poochooda Vaa

19858.3

Rickshawkaran

19716.2

Maragatham

19597.0

Deiva Piravi

19608.3

Madurai Veeran

19567.0

Panam

1952

Edhir Paradhathu

1954

Velaikari

19498.0

Natyarani

1949

Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu

198610.0

Vidivelli

1960

Vivahitha

19709.0

Devaki

1951

Vietnam Veedu

19707.7

Koteeswaran

19559.0

Snehaseema

1954

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu

19848.0

Kalpana

19486.6

Penn Daivam

19709.0

Iruttinte Athmavu

19675.7

Umminithanka

196110.0

Vikramaadhithan

19627.0

Vaazhkai

19499.0

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi

1950

Kuzhanthaikkaga

1968

Dollar

19938.0

Rani Samyuktha

1962

Laila Majnu

1950

Thiruvarutchelvar

19677.5

Mera Naam Joker

19707.3

Vasantha Sena

19677.0

Dard Ka Rishta

19828.0

Vasthuhara

19917.7

Marthanda Varma

19339.0

Sorgavasal

19547.0

Iru Thuruvam

1971

Pardesi

19576.1

Laila Majnu

19497.0

Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari

19549.0

Mastana

197010.0

Mujrim

19587.5

Baagyavathi

19578.0

Kaajal

19655.3

Saraswathi Sabatham

19667.0

Thillana Mohanambal

19687.3

Singapore

19606.6

Uzhaikkum Karangal

19767.0

Annai Velankanni

1971

Dil Hi To Hai

196310.0

Chathurangam

19597.0

Veerapandiya Kattabomman

19596.4

Thenum Paalum

1971

Mahabharat

19658.0

Kanniyin Kathali

19497.0

Thirumagal

19718.0

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai

19606.1

Iru Malargal

19676.5

Paadha Kaanikkai

19626.0

Nannha Farishta

196910.0

Navarathinam

19778.0

Mangayar Thilakam

19557.0

Prasanna

19508.0

Payal

19577.0

Sampoorna Ramayanam

19588.0

Bhai Bahen

19697.0

Vanjikottai Valiban

19586.0

Then Nilavu

19616.5

Aurat

19679.0

Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha

19708.0

Pudhaiyal

1957

Adi Parasakthi

19717.0

Nenjam Marappathillai

19637.5

Vilaiyaattu Pillai

19709.0

Raman Ethanai Ramanadi

1970

Thirumaal Perumai

19689.0

Annaiyin Aanai

19588.0

Kumara Sambhavam

19698.0

Amara Deepam

19569.0

Punar Janmam

19615.0

Raagini

195810.0

Kulama Gunama

19716.5

Mr. Sampat

19529.0

Meenda Sorgam

1960

Lakshmi Vandhachu

1986

Afsana

19667.0

Thaaye Unakkaga

19668.0

Aashiq

19629.0

Asai

1956

Anbu

1953

Selvam

19668.0

The Eternal Lamp

19587.0

Thookku Thookki

1954

Appa Tata

1972

Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi

19587.0

Do Behnen

19596.0

Mannadhi Mannan

1960

Mallika

1957

Raj Tilak

19589.0

Ethirkalam

1970

Iru Sahodarigal

19568.0

Gurudhatchanai

19698.0

Bindya

196010.0

Naan Vanangum Deivam

1963

Punniya Boomi

1978