profile

    Padmini

    1932-06-12 (92 years old) in Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India

    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.

    Movies

    poster
    Dollar
    0 %|Dec 31, 1993
    poster
    Vasthuhara
    75 %|Jun 3, 1991
    Drama, Romance
    actor
    Lakshmi Vandhachu
    0 %|Oct 31, 1986
    Drama
    actor
    Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
    0 %|Jul 16, 1986
    Drama
    poster
    Poove Poochudava
    80 %|Jul 19, 1985
    Drama, Family, Comedy
    poster
    Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
    82 %|Oct 26, 1984
    Drama
    poster
    Dard Ka Rishta
    0 %|Jan 1, 1982
    Drama
    actor
    Punniya Boomi
    0 %|May 15, 1978
    Drama
    actor
    Navarathinam
    0 %|Mar 5, 1977
    Drama, Action
    poster
    Uzhaikkum Karangal
    60 %|May 23, 1976
    Drama
    actor
    Appa Tata
    0 %|Mar 28, 1972
    Drama
    poster
    Adi Parasakthi
    0 %|Oct 17, 1971
    Drama, Fantasy
    poster
    Annai Velankanni
    0 %|Aug 15, 1971
    Drama
    poster
    Rickshawkaran
    62 %|May 29, 1971
    Drama
    actor
    Kulama Gunama
    50 %|Mar 25, 1971
    Drama
    actor
    Iru Thuruvam
    0 %|Jan 13, 1971
    Drama
    actor
    Thirumagal
    0 %|Jan 1, 1971
    poster
    Mera Naam Joker
    73 %|Dec 18, 1970
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
    0 %|Dec 11, 1970
    Fantasy
    poster
    Mastana
    0 %|Oct 16, 1970
    Romance, Drama, Comedy, Family
    actor
    Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
    0 %|Aug 15, 1970
    poster
    Vietnam Veedu
    75 %|Apr 10, 1970
    Drama
    actor
    Ethirkalam
    0 %|Feb 20, 1970
    Drama
    actor
    Vilaiyaattu Pillai
    0 %|Feb 19, 1970
    Drama
    actor
    Penn Daivam
    0 %|Jan 22, 1970
    Drama
    poster
    Vivahitha
    0 %|Jan 1, 1970
    poster
    Kumara Sambhavam
    0 %|Dec 26, 1969
    Music, History, Drama
    actor
    Gurudhatchanai
    0 %|Jun 14, 1969
    Drama
    poster
    Nannha Farishta
    0 %|Jan 1, 1969
    Action, Crime, Drama
    poster
    Bhai Bahen
    0 %|Jan 1, 1969
    Drama, Family
    poster
    Thillana Mohanambal
    71 %|Jul 27, 1968
    Drama, Music, Romance
    actor
    Kuzhanthaikkaga
    0 %|Jun 12, 1968
    poster
    Thirumaal Perumai
    0 %|Feb 16, 1968
    Fantasy
    poster
    Iru Malargal
    60 %|Oct 31, 1967
    Drama
    poster
    Aurat
    0 %|Aug 18, 1967
    Drama
    poster
    Thiruvarutchelvar
    68 %|Jul 28, 1967
    Fantasy
    actor
    Iruttinte Athmavu
    35 %|Mar 2, 1967
    Drama
    actor
    Selvam
    0 %|Nov 10, 1966
    Drama
    poster
    Saraswathi Sabatham
    65 %|Sep 3, 1966
    Fantasy
    actor
    Thaaye Unakkaga
    0 %|Aug 26, 1966
    Drama, Romance, War
    poster
    Afsana
    0 %|Jan 1, 1966
    poster
    Mahabharat
    100 %|Jan 1, 1965
    Drama, Adventure, Action, Fantasy
    poster
    Kaajal
    30 %|Jan 1, 1965
    poster
    Nenjam Marappathillai
    75 %|Aug 2, 1963
    Drama, Fantasy
    poster
    Naan Vanangum Deivam
    0 %|Apr 12, 1963
    Horror, Science Fiction
    poster
    Iruvar Ullam
    0 %|Mar 29, 1963
    Drama
    poster
    Dil Hi To Hai
    0 %|Jan 1, 1963
    Comedy, Romance, Drama
    poster
    Vikramaadhithan
    0 %|Oct 27, 1962
    History
    poster
    Paadha Kaanikkai
    60 %|Jul 14, 1962
    Drama
    poster
    Rani Samyuktha
    0 %|Jan 14, 1962
    History, Romance
    poster
    Aashiq
    0 %|Jan 1, 1962
    Romance
    poster
    Then Nilavu
    65 %|Sep 30, 1961
    Romance
    poster
    Punar Janmam
    50 %|Apr 21, 1961
    Drama
    poster
    Umminithanka
    0 %|Apr 14, 1961
    actor
    Arasilangumari
    0 %|Dec 31, 1960
    Drama
    poster
    Vidivelli
    0 %|Dec 31, 1960
    poster
    Bindya
    0 %|Dec 29, 1960
    Drama
    actor
    Mannadhi Mannan
    0 %|Oct 19, 1960
    Drama
    actor
    Raja Desingu
    0 %|Sep 2, 1960
    History
    poster
    Meenda Sorgam
    0 %|Jul 29, 1960
    Drama
    poster
    Deiva Piravi
    75 %|Apr 12, 1960
    Drama
    poster
    Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
    58 %|Jan 1, 1960
    Comedy, Music
    poster
    Singapore
    62 %|Jan 1, 1960
    Thriller, Drama, Crime
    poster
    Maragatham
    0 %|Aug 21, 1959
    Crime, Thriller
    poster
    Veerapandiya Kattabomman
    62 %|May 16, 1959
    History, Drama, War
    actor
    Thangapadumai
    0 %|Jan 10, 1959
    Drama
    actor
    Do Behnen
    50 %|Jan 1, 1959
    Drama, Romance
    actor
    Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
    0 %|Dec 31, 1958
    Drama
    poster
    Annaiyin Aanai
    0 %|Jul 4, 1958
    poster
    Sampoorna Ramayanam
    80 %|Apr 14, 1958
    History, Drama, War
    poster
    Vanjikottai Valiban
    60 %|Apr 11, 1958
    Drama
    actor
    Uthama Puthiran
    75 %|Feb 7, 1958
    Drama, History, Action
    poster
    Raj Tilak
    0 %|Jan 1, 1958
    Adventure
    poster
    Mujrim
    60 %|Jan 1, 1958
    Drama, Thriller
    poster
    The Eternal Lamp
    0 %|Jan 1, 1958
    poster
    Raagini
    0 %|Jan 1, 1958
    Drama, Music
    actor
    Fortunate Bride
    0 %|Dec 27, 1957
    Drama
    poster
    Journey Beyond Three Seas
    57 %|Dec 13, 1957
    Adventure, History
    poster
    Mallika
    0 %|Jun 1, 1957
    Drama
    actor
    Rajarajan
    40 %|Apr 25, 1957
    Drama
    actor
    Pudhaiyal
    0 %|Mar 27, 1957
    Drama
    poster
    Payal
    60 %|Jan 1, 1957
    Romance
    actor
    Iru Sahodarigal
    0 %|Dec 31, 1956
    Drama
    poster
    Amara Deepam
    0 %|Jun 20, 1956
    Drama
    poster
    Madurai Veeran
    50 %|Apr 12, 1956
    Drama, Romance
    actor
    Asai
    0 %|Mar 9, 1956
    Romance
    poster
    Mangayar Thilakam
    0 %|Aug 26, 1955
    poster
    Snehaseema
    0 %|Dec 30, 1954
    poster
    Edhir Paradhathu
    0 %|Dec 9, 1954
    actor
    Thookku Thookki
    0 %|Aug 26, 1954
    actor
    Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
    0 %|Jul 1, 1954
    Comedy
    actor
    Anbu
    0 %|Feb 28, 1953
    Drama
    poster
    Panam
    0 %|Dec 27, 1952
    Drama
    poster
    Mr. Sampat
    0 %|Dec 25, 1952
    Comedy
    actor
    Andhaman Kaidhi
    0 %|Mar 13, 1952
    Drama
    poster
    Amarakavi
    0 %|Feb 9, 1952
    actor
    Ezhai Padum Paadu
    80 %|Nov 6, 1950
    Drama
    poster
    Thigambara Samiar
    0 %|Sep 29, 1950
    Thriller
    poster
    Prasanna
    0 %|Aug 17, 1950
    Romance, Drama
    actor
    Manthiri Kumari
    0 %|Jun 24, 1950
    Drama
    actor
    Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
    0 %|Apr 2, 1950
    Drama
    poster
    Vaazhkai
    0 %|Dec 23, 1949
    poster
    Laila Majnu
    0 %|Sep 30, 1949
    Drama, History
    poster
    The Maiden's Lover
    0 %|Aug 6, 1949
    Romance, Comedy
    actor
    Mohini
    0 %|Oct 30, 1948
    Drama
    poster
    Marthanda Varma
    0 %|May 13, 1933
    History, Drama

    Series