Padmini
Birth : 1932-06-12, Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
Death : 2006-09-24
History
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.
Ammachi
The movie depicts the life of Malayali families settled in the US. It discusses the clash of the cultures.
Bhavani
Vasthuhara (Malayalam: വാസ്തുഹാര English: The Dispossessed) is a Malayalam social film by the late G. Aravindan which looks into the lives of partition refugees from East Bengal to West Bengal.
A father does not hold a very good opinion about his son, Kannan, who works at his factory. Things take a turn for the worse when Pakkiri creates misunderstanding between the father and son duo.
Poongavanathamma
An elderly woman who is rich lives alone in a town. However, her life changes for the better when her granddaughter comes to live with her.
Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Kunjoonjamma Thomas is a widow living in the village all by herself. People always make fun of her because she is grumpy and depressed due to the deaths of her husband and her only child. Children irritate her by ringing her door bell and running away. One day, her granddaughter Girly, who she had never met, visits her. Initially, Kunjoonjamma does not like Girly, but they soon become close to each other.
Time is running out for Khushbu, Ravi Sharma(Sunil Dutt)'s daughter. Her leukemia can be cured only if someone's bone marrow matches her daughter so, he goes abroad and gets in touch with her former wife (Smita Patil).
Vayiduriyam
In order to stay away from his mother and her influential demeanor, Thangam, a young and affluent feudal lord, sets off on a quest to avenge his father's death.
Rangan is a servant at the house of Nagalingam, a rich and ruthless man. While he strives to fight against his employer's misdeeds, the latter's sister falls in love with him.
A man saved from death by God and told how God help others.
Mary, a nurse in a hospital, narrates the tale of how Mother Mary helped Kamakshi and her son Sundaram in Velankanni village and turned an atheist landlord to a believer by appearing before him.
A rickshaw puller, who also enjoys racing with other rickshaw pullers, finds a child whose father has been killed. All his attempts to seek justice for the man are thwarted by a corrupt lawyer.
Thangam
Raju and Ramu, two good friends, study in a law college. Raju, who decides to marry his lover Radha post his final exam, ends up dying in a fatal accident.
Meenu
Raju faces many hurdles and disappointments in matters of the heart throughout his life. But as a clown in a circus, he tries to make his audience laugh at the cost of his own sorrows. Along the way, Raju loves and loses, but must always keep a smile on his face because, in the words of his circus manager, "The show must go on."
Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha is a 1970 Indian Malayalam film, directed by M. Krishnan Nair
Gauri
A poor and lonely woman strikes up a friendship with a rich but neglected child, but her parents refuse to let their child see her - until she falls gravely ill.
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi is a 1970 Tamil language drama film directed by P. Madhavan
Prestige Padmanabha Iyer retires from his company executive position and has a lonely and unhappy life with his family in the ancestral home Vietnam House, named for the constant fighting and arguing.
Ponnamma
Penn Deivam is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language drama film, directed by M. A. Thirumugam and produced by Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar. The film stars Jaishankar, Padmini, Lakshmi, R. Muthuraman and Major Sundarrajan. The film had musical score by V. Kumar.
Meena marries her brother-in-law after her sister dies, even though she is in love with Rajendran. Years later, she meets Rajendran and is forced to confront her past.
Parvathi / Sathi
Kumara Sambhavam is based on the epic poem of the poet Kalidasa of the same name.
Gauri
Govind, Nazir and Joseph decide to give up the world of crime when a little girl enters their life.
Rani / Tara
Raja Saheb (Ashok Kumar) is a rich man, strict father to sons Virendra (Sunil Dutt) and Mahendra. One day, Mahendra has a big fight with his father and dies of shock afterwards. Virendra leaves home and falls in bad company with Pran. Later, Virendra falls in love with a poor girl (Nutan), eventually deciding to marry her. At home, a lonely Raja Saheb falls ill. When Virendra tells his father about his love, his father reveals his own past: He was in love with a poor girl, who died leaving a daughter (Padmini) behind, who dances on the roads to earn a living. Virendra decides to bring his sister home.
Mohanambal
A classical bharathanatyam dancer and a nathaswaram player fall in love against the wishes of her family.This movie is about how they try to work things out and that hardships that they have to endure. Dance and music are used as an integral part of the story rather than a pastime.
Dancer
Thirumal Perumai tells three spell-bounding stories about how far you can get with Lord Vishnus
A woman responsible for her mother and 7 siblings faces challenges after marrying a widower with 6 children.
When a dancer makes a king realise the insignificance of the worldly pleasures, he decides to devote his life to the Almighty and starts reciting tales and songs of His greatness.
Nani
Velayudhan, a mentally retarded person, lives along with his family. He shares everything with Lakshmi, his cousin. He struggles as Lakshmi leaves him and marries and old widower.
Parvathi
Sage Narada instigates Goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvathi against each other. The trio set out to answer what is paramount in a man's life, knowledge, wealth or strength.
Gopal escapes from prison and finds shelter hos Shekhar, a man who hates all women.
The Munim (Clerk) in Ranimaa's family lives with his son, Kaushal and daughter, Madhavi. After he passes away, Ranimaa brings up both children as her own, along with her only son, Rajesh. Years later, Rajesh has grown up and is of marriageable age. He meets with beautiful Bhanu Saxena and both fall in love with each other. Shortly thereafter, in a boating accident, Kaushal passes away, leaving behind a devastated Madhavi, Rajesh, who blames himself for his death, and Ranimaa. A few months later, Rajesh gets married to Bhanu and she moves in with them. Bhanu dislikes Madhavi and would like her out of the way, she goes to the extent of accusing her of having an affair with her husband.
Draupadi
A version of the epic Indian poem "The Mahabharata", telling the story of the war between the families of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, descending from the same ancestor.
A college sophomore, on a visit to his friend's village, explores a dilapidated and haunted villa, falls unconscious and learns completely about his past life of love and sorrow.
Rukmani
A Tamil version of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.
The story revolves around Selvam, an easygoing youngster who befriends many girls without the intention of marrying any of them.
Bahar
Children are exchanged by greedy aunt and uncle in childhood and they live undeserved lives.
Paadha Kaanikkai (English: Offering to the feet) is a 1962 Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Shankar. The film features Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, M. R. Radha and Kamal Haasan in lead roles. The film, produced by G. N. Velumani, had musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and was released on 28 September 1962.
Preeti
When Pratap learns that his fiancee is in love with his younger brother, Gopal, he steps aside and arranges for them to get married. However, he soon learns Gopal is in love with someone else.
Parvathi
Punar Janmam (Rebirth) is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by R. S. Mani. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Ragini and P. Kannamba in lead roles. The film, produced by N. S. Diraviyam under Vijaya Films banner, had musical score by T. Chalapathi Rao and was released on 21 April 1961.
Umminithanka is a 1961 Indian Malayalam film, directed by G Viswanath and produced by PK Sathyapal. The film had musical score by V. Dakshinamoorthy
Rosie
Chandru (Sivaji Ganesan) has a sister (Rajam) who is married to a handsome Ravi (Balaji). But her in-laws insist on a diamond necklace, without which she cannot join her husband. So, Chandru steals a diamond necklace with a locket and then his sister joins her husband. He and his mother (Shanthakumari) move to Madras where he finds a job in a company owned by a wealthy man (Ranga Rao). He falls in love with his daughter (Saroja Devi). One day, the necklace falls down and the locket opens, revealing a photograph of a young man. The husband and the others at home want to know who the person is. She says she has never seen him. But suspecting the worst, she is sent back to her parental home.
Nirmala
Nirmala (Padmini) is a poor but talented young dancer who falls in love with a rich man's son Sekar (Gemini Ganesan), but he is forced to marry a rich man's daughter Prathiba (Tambaram Lalitha). Nirmala promises to her lover that she will never dance in public. Due to various circumstances, Sekar's house is up for auction, and in order to save him, she performs in public. With the money thus earned, she saves his house, but Sekar is unaware of this. When he learns the truth, he begins searching of her, and in the meantime, Prathiba, who is now reformed, commits suicide. Sekar meets Nirmala, who is on the verge of committing suicide, and they are reunited.
Thangam
Madhavan marries Thangam. He takes care of Thangam’s mother and brother along with his younger brother. Meanwhile, Madhavan gives shelter to his father’s mistress and her daughter. The evil ladies allege Thangam for loose morals. The rest of the story is how they come into good terms.
Lata
When his employee disappears in Singapore, Shyam travels from India to investigate the absence and becomes entangled in a deadly plot.
Kammo
Raju informs the police about a group of bandits, even though he is in love with the chief's daughter. The police set out to kill the clan and it is upto him to save the bandits and his love.
Maragatham/Alamu
One day, a landlord belonging to a rich family gets murdered and the crime is imposed on Anandar, his innocent brother, and his lovely wife Karpagavalli.
Vellayamma
After the East India Company forces Kattabomman, the king of Panchalankurichi, to pay taxes and be their subordinate, the latter decides to fight against them.
Sivaji Ganesan plays the younger physician to the king (R. Balasubramaniam) and his wife (Padmini) was modelled on Kannagi as the personification of female virtues. The physician is commanded to the palace to treat the king where the princess (M. N. Rajam) falls for him and virtually enslaves him, preventing him from going back to his wife.
A truant twin is compelled to take over the life of her married deceased sister.
Ganesh's father is falsely accused of a crime and murdered in prison. Years later, his mother asks him to exact revenge against the culprit.
Seetha
The story of the complete Ramayana, from the birth of Lord Rama to his Pattabhisheka after completing his exile.
Princess Padma
Vanjikkottai Valiban is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language romance film written by Gemini Studios story department consisting of K. J. Mahadevan, C. Srinivasan and Kothamangalam Subbu while the film was directed and produced by S. S. Vasan. It stars Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthimala in lead with Padmini, P.S. Veerappa, T. K. Shanmugam, Pasupuleti Kannamba, Vijayakumari, K. A. Thangavelu and M. S. Sundari Bai as the ensemble cast of the film.
Amudhavalli
A conspiring uncle separates the twin sons of his sister, the queen. One becomes his uncle's pawn while the other grows to be a brave and honest man, who inadvertently learns of his true parentage.
Binda, an old musician in a village near Bombay, has brought up his son Rajan, in the hope that one day Rajan will become a great musician.
Roopa
Film starring Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala and Padmini
Court Dancer Lakshmi
This first co-production of the Soviet and Indian cinematographers is dedicated to the Tver merchant Afanasy Nikitin who in 1466-1472 blazed the trade way from Europe to India. The film is based on Nikitin’s travel notes. Starring in the film are popular Russian actor Oleg Strizhenov and India’s 1950s movie star Nargis.
A remake of the director's own Tamil film Mallika (1957).
Roopa
Amara Deepam is a Tamil film is directed by T. Prakash Rao released in 1956. A educated unemployed person Ashok (Sivaji Ganesan) falls in love with athe daughter Aruna (Savitri) of an wealthy Industrialist.Aruna is taken hostage by her husband to be Sukumar (M.N. Nambiar), and while Ashok trails them to save Aruna, Ashok loses his memory in an accident. Ashok Meets Roopa (Padmini) and they begin to like each other. Sometime later Aruna comes back and as Ashok fails to recognize Aruna things look complicated.The rest of the film deals with how Ashok struggles with his memory and how both Aruna and Roopa try to win him over. The Udhavi Thayaripalar(Co-Producer)-- L.S.Mani
Velliaiyamma
Bommi, a princess, falls in love with Veeran, the adopted son of a cobbler, who reciprocates her feelings. However, when her uncle persuades the king to get Bommi married to him, Veeran abducts her.
Sulochana
The story starts with the special birthday celebration of a girl. Vasudevan (Sivaji Ganesan) narrates the story which goes back 14 years behind. Karunakaran (S. V. Subbaiah) and Vasudevan (Master Baji) are brothers whose parents had died. They are very much loving and close to each other but Vasudevan longs for mother's love.
An orphan raised by the local priest becomes a teacher and falls in love with the rich school headmaster's daughter. Despite opposition from her father, he quits his job and marries her.
Sumathi
Ethirpaaraathathu narrates the story of star-crossed lovers Sundar (Sivaji Ganesan) and Sumathi (Padmini) in whose house Sundar, a college student, lodges. Both dream of a happy, married life, but that is not to be. Sundar is involved in an air crash and is believed to be dead. However, he survives the crash and loses his eyesight. Unwilling to face his father (Nagaiah), he tries to lead a life on his own. Destiny takes over their lives and the widowed father marries Sumathi and on the wedding night, the husband realises that his son and bride are sweethearts. Broken-hearted, he leaves home and wanders around visiting temples and holy places.
Padmini
Jeeva
Panam (English: Money) is a 1952 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by N. S. Krishnan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram in lead roles. The film had musical score by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Malini
The charming Mr. Sampat weaves his way into theatrical company with his moneymaking schemes, only to cause the everyone involved to go bankrupt, including Malini, the young actress who has fallen in love with him.
Special appearance
Amarakavi (English: Immortal Poet) is a 1952 Indian Tamil language film produced and directed by F. Nagoor. The film featured M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and T. R. Rajakumari in the lead roles.
A small time criminal turns over a new leaf with the help of a bishop and starts leading a new life with a changed identity. When Inspector Javert finds out about this, he tries to expose him.
When Sattanathan, a corrupt lawyer, forces Vadivambal to marry his brother, a Chokkalingam Pillai arrives to rescue her and expose Sattanathan's activities.
Madanika
Thampi and Menon decide to strengthen their relations. Thampi decides to marry Madanika and Menon decides to marry Prasanna. Ayyappan is shocked by the marriage plan attempts suicide. Prasanna sympathises with the desperate lover and marries Ayyappan against the wishes of her brother.
The king of Mullai nadu appoints Veera Mohan as the General of the army. Raja guru, the head priest and Parthiban, his son are enraged by this decision. This turns Parthiban into a bandit.
Dancer
Meenakshi, an unwed mother, leaves her baby in Nathan’s car after her lover, Moorthy, abandons her. Though Nathan takes care of the child, his girlfriend, Mohana, becomes suspicious of him.
Dancer
Khayas falls in love with Laila but her father refuses the alliance, which leaves Khayas heartbroken. Things take a turn when Laila then moves to Mecca.
Parukutty
This film features Martanda Varma (Jaidev) the legendary founder and king of the Travancore State (now Kerala) from 1706-58. It tells the story of love between Anantha Padmanabham (Menon) and Parukutty (Padmini), the political conspiracy of Padmanabha Thampi (Naik) and the heads of the eight Nair Houses against Martanda Varma. It opens with newsreel coverage of the aarattu procession of the Travancore maharaja Chitta Thirunal, including elephants, cavalry and the Nair Brigade before embarking on the story of the king's ancestors. Scenes from the young Martanda Varma's youth are intercut with well-known episodes from the novel.
