
Padmini
Department: Acting
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.
Known For

Naan Vanangum Deivam
1963

Nannha Farishta
1969

Bhai Bahen
1969

Dard Ka Rishta
1982

Thigambara Samiar
1950

Kanniyin Kaadhali
1949

Annai Velankanni
1971

Thirumagal
1971

Kumara Sambhavam
1969

Penn Daivam
1970

Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970

Journey Beyond Three Seas
1957

Adi Parasakthi
1971

Aashiq
1962

Thillana Mohanambal
1968

Afsana
1966

Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
1986

Punniya Boomi
1978

Iru Thuruvam
1971

Iru Malargal
1967

Thirumaal Perumai
1968

Selvam
1966

Kulama Gunama
1971

Thiruvarutchelvar
1967

Saraswathi Sabatham
1966

Punar Janmam
1961

Pudhaiyal
1957

Deiva Piravi
1960

Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1959

Thangapadumai
1959

Uthama Puthiran
1958

Amara Deepam
1956

Anbu
1953

Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
1954

Baagyavathi
1957

Lakshmi Vandhachu
1986

Asai
1956

Meenda Sorgam
1960

Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
1958

Ethirkalam
1970

Appa Tata
1972

Vanjikottai Valiban
1958

Gurudhatchanai
1969

Vietnam Veedu
1970

Vilaiyaattu Pillai
1970

Uzhaikkum Karangal
1976

Rickshawkaran
1971

Navarathinam
1977

Vikramaadhithan
1962

Rani Samyuktha
1962

Mannadhi Mannan
1960

Raja Desingu
1960

Rajarajan
1957

Madurai Veeran
1956

Arasilangumari
1960

Andhaman Kaidhi
1952

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950

Mohini
1948

Manthiri Kumari
1950

Raj Tilak
1958

Bindya
1960

Iruttinte Athmavu
1967

Laila Majnu
1949

Mahabharat
1965

Thaaye Unakkaga
1966

Kuzhanthaikkaga
1968

Marthanda Varma
1933

Mangayar Thilakam
1955

Vasthuhara
1991

Mujrim
1958

Mera Naam Joker
1970

Snehaseema
1954

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960

Thookku Thookki
1954

Maragatham
1959

Dollar
1993

Sampoorna Ramayanam
1958

Singapore
1960

Mastana
1970

Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970

Vidivelli
1960

Then Nilavu
1961

Nenjam Marappathillai
1963

Prasanna
1950

Edhir Paradhathu
1954

Paadha Kaanikkai
1962

Amarakavi
1952

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984

Umminithanka
1961

Poove Poochudava
1985

Ezhai Padum Paadu
1950

Panam
1952

The Eternal Lamp
1958

Kaajal
1965

Dil Hi To Hai
1963

Annaiyin Aanai
1958

Do Behnen
1959

Iru Sahodarigal
1956

Iruvar Ullam
1963

Mallika
1957

Aurat
1967

Payal
1957

Raagini
1958

Vivahitha
1970

Vaazhkai
1949

Mr. Sampat
1952

Thenum Paalum
1971

Vasantha Sena
1967

Chathurangam
1959

Velaikari
1949

Sorgavasal
1954

Or Iravu
1951

Devaki
1951

Koteeswaran
1955

Laila Majnu
1950