Padmini
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jun 12, 1932
- Died
- Sep 24, 2006 (aged 74)
- Place of birth
- Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
- Credits
- 118
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
Mera Naam Joker
1970Movie
Meenu
Thillana Mohanambal
1968Movie
Mohanambal
Pardesi
1957Movie
Court Dancer Lakshmi
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984Movie
Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960Movie
Kammo
Kalpana
1948Movie
Filmography
Dollar
1993Movie
Ammachi
Vasthuhara
1991Movie
Bhavani
Aayiram Kannudayaal
1986Movie
Lakshmi Vandhachu
1986Movie
Rajeshwari
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
1986Movie
Dhanam
Poove Poochooda Vaa
1985Movie
Poongavanathamma
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984Movie
Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Dard Ka Rishta
1982Movie
Punniya Boomi
1978Movie
Navarathinam
1977Movie
Vayiduriyam
Uzhaikkum Karangal
1976Movie
Appa Tata
1972Movie
Adi Parasakthi
1971Movie
Annai Velankanni
1971Movie
Rickshawkaran
1971Movie
Parvathi
Kulama Gunama
1971Movie
Seetha
Iru Thuruvam
1971Movie
Thangam
Thirumagal
1971Movie
Thenum Paalum
1971Movie
Janaki
Aansoo Aur Muskan
1970Movie
Mary
Mera Naam Joker
1970Movie
Meenu
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970Movie
Mastana
1970Movie
Gauri
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970Movie
Vietnam Veedu
1970Movie
Ethirkalam
1970Movie
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
1970Movie
Maragatham
Penn Daivam
1970Movie
Ponnamma
Vivahitha
1970Movie
Kumara Sambhavam
1969Movie
Parvathi / Sathi
Gurudhakshaneiy
1969Movie
Nannha Farishta
1969Movie
Gauri
Bhai Bahen
1969Movie
Rani / Tara
Thillana Mohanambal
1968Movie
Mohanambal
Kuzhanthaikkaga
1968Movie
Gowri
Thirumal Perumai
1968Movie
Dancer
Iru Malargal
1967Movie
Aurat
1967Movie
Vasantha Sena
1967Movie
Anaga Sena
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967Movie
Paaladai
1967Movie
Janaki
Pesum Deivam
1967Movie
Lakshmi
Iruttinte Athmavu
1967Movie
Nani
Selvam
1966Movie
Saraswathi Sabatham
1966Movie
Parvathi
Thaaye Unakkaga
1966Movie
Devi
Afsana
1966Movie
Kaajal
1965Movie
Bhanu
Mahabharat
1965Movie
Draupadi
Naan Vanangum Deivam
1963Movie
Rukmani
Dil Hi To Hai
1963Movie
Bahar
Vikramaadhithan
1962Movie
Princess Rathnamalai
Senthamarai
1962Movie
Senthamarai
Rani Samyuktha
1962Movie
Rani Samyuktha
Aashiq
1962Movie
Preeti
Punar Janmam
1961Movie
Parvathi
Umminithanka
1961Movie
Arasilangumari
1960Movie
Bindya
1960Movie
Bindya
Mannadhi Mannan
1960Movie
Raja Desingu
1960Movie
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960Movie
Kammo
Meenda Sorgam
1960Movie
Nirmala
Deiva Piravi
1960Movie
Thangam
Singapore
1960Movie
Lata
Chathurangam
1959Movie
Maragatham
1959Movie
Maragatham/Alamu
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1959Movie
Vellayamma
Thangapadumai
1959Movie
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
1958Movie
Sampoorna Ramayanam
1958Movie
Seetha
Vanjikottai Valiban
1958Movie
Princess Padma
Uthama Puthiran
1958Movie
Amudhavalli
Raj Tilak
1958Movie
Mujrim
1958Movie
Amar Deep
1958Movie
Roopa
Raagini
1958Movie
Baagyavathi
1957Movie
Meena
Pardesi
1957Movie
Court Dancer Lakshmi
Mallika
1957Movie
Rajarajan
1957Movie
Pudhaiyal
1957Movie
Payal
1957Movie
Amara Deepam
1956Movie
Roopa
Madurai Veeran
1956Movie
Velliaiyamma
Asai
1956Movie
King and Queen
1956Movie
Rani
Koteeswaran
1955Movie
Neela
Mangayar Thilakam
1955Movie
Sulochana
Kaveri
1955Movie
Kauveri
Snehaseema
1954Movie
Edhir Paradhathu
1954Movie
Sumathi
Thookku Thookki
1954Movie
Rajakumari
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
1954Movie
Padmini
Sorgavasal
1954Movie
Queen Kumara Devi
Illara Jothi
1954Movie
Chitrakekha
Ashadeepam
1953Movie
Jayanthi
Anbu
1953Movie
Malathi
Panam
1952Movie
Jeeva
Mr. Sampat
1952Movie
Malini
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952Movie
Amarakavi
1952Movie
Special appearance
Devaki
1951Movie
Self - Dancer
Or Iravu
1951Movie
Ezhai Padum Paadu
1950Movie
Lakshmi
Thigambara Samiar
1950Movie
Prasanna
1950Movie
Madanika
Manthiri Kumari
1950Movie
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950Movie
Laila Majnu
1950Movie
Self - Dancer
Vaazhkai
1949Movie
Dancer
Laila Majnu
1949Movie
Dancer
Natyarani
1949Movie
Self - Dancer
Kanniyin Kathali
1949Movie
Dancer
Velaikari
1949Movie
Mohini
1948Movie
Kalpana
1948Movie
Marthanda Varma
1933Movie
Parukutty