Acting · Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India · Born June 12, 1932
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.
MovieDollar
1993
as Ammachi
MovieVasthuhara
1991
as Bhavani
MovieLakshmi Vandhachu
1986
as Rajeshwari
MovieThaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
1986
as Dhanam
MoviePoove Poochudava
1985
as Poongavanathamma
MovieNokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984
as Kunjoonjamma Thomas
MovieDard Ka Rishta
1982
Punniya Boomi
1978
Navarathinam
1977
as Vayiduriyam
MovieUzhaikkum Karangal
1976
Appa Tata
1972
MovieAdi Parasakthi
1971
MovieAnnai Velankanni
1971
MovieRickshawkaran
1971
as Parvathi
MovieKulama Gunama
1971
MovieIru Thuruvam
1971
as Thangam
Thirumagal
1971
MovieThenum Paalum
1971
as Janaki
MovieMera Naam Joker
1970
as Meenu
MovieSabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970
MovieMastana
1970
as Gauri
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970
MovieVietnam Veedu
1970
Ethirkalam
1970
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
1970
as Maragatham
MoviePenn Daivam
1970
as Ponnamma
MovieVivahitha
1970
MovieKumara Sambhavam
1969
as Parvathi / Sathi
Gurudhatchanai
1969
MovieNannha Farishta
1969
as Gauri
MovieBhai Bahen
1969
as Rani / Tara
MovieThillana Mohanambal
1968
as Mohanambal
MovieKuzhanthaikkaga
1968
as Gowri
MovieThirumaal Perumai
1968
as Dancer
MovieIru Malargal
1967
MovieAurat
1967
Vasantha Sena
1967
as Anaga Sena
MovieThiruvarutchelvar
1967
Iruttinte Athmavu
1967
as Nani
Selvam
1966
MovieSaraswathi Sabatham
1966
as Parvathi
Thaaye Unakkaga
1966
as Devi
MovieAfsana
1966
MovieKaajal
1965
as Bhanu
MovieMahabharat
1965
as Draupadi
MovieNenjam Marappathillai
1963
MovieNaan Vanangum Deivam
1963
as Rukmani
MovieDil Hi To Hai
1963
as Bahar
MovieVikramaadhithan
1962
as Princess Rathnamalai
MoviePaadha Kaanikkai
1962
MovieRani Samyuktha
1962
as Rani Samyuktha
MovieAashiq
1962
as Preeti
MovieThen Nilavu
1961
MoviePunar Janmam
1961
as Parvathi
MovieUmminithanka
1961
Arasilangumari
1960
MovieVidivelli
1960
as Rosie
MovieBindya
1960
as Bindya
Mannadhi Mannan
1960
Raja Desingu
1960
MovieJis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960
as Kammo
MovieMeenda Sorgam
1960
as Nirmala
MovieDeiva Piravi
1960
as Thangam
MovieSingapore
1960
as Lata
Chathurangam
1959
MovieMaragatham
1959
as Maragatham/Alamu
MovieVeerapandiya Kattabomman
1959
as Vellayamma
Thangapadumai
1959
Do Behnen
1959
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
1958
MovieAnnaiyin Aanai
1958
MovieSampoorna Ramayanam
1958
as Seetha
MovieVanjikottai Valiban
1958
as Princess Padma
Uthama Puthiran
1958
as Amudhavalli
MovieRaj Tilak
1958
MovieMujrim
1958
MovieThe Eternal Lamp
1958
as Roopa
MovieRaagini
1958
Baagyavathi
1957
as Meena
MovieJourney Beyond Three Seas
1957
as Court Dancer Lakshmi
MovieMallika
1957
Rajarajan
1957
Pudhaiyal
1957
MoviePayal
1957
Iru Sahodarigal
1956
MovieAmara Deepam
1956
as Roopa
MovieMadurai Veeran
1956
as Velliaiyamma
Asai
1956
Koteeswaran
1955
as Neela
MovieMangayar Thilakam
1955
as Sulochana
MovieSnehaseema
1954
MovieEdhir Paradhathu
1954
as Sumathi
MovieThookku Thookki
1954
as Rajakumari
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
1954
as Padmini
MovieSorgavasal
1954
as Queen Kumara Devi
Anbu
1953
as Malathi
MoviePanam
1952
as Jeeva
MovieMr. Sampat
1952
as Malini
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952
MovieAmarakavi
1952
as Special appearance
Devaki
1951
as Self - Dancer
MovieOr Iravu
1951
Ezhai Padum Paadu
1950
as Lakshmi
MovieThigambara Samiar
1950
MoviePrasanna
1950
as Madanika
MovieManthiri Kumari
1950
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
Laila Majnu
1950
as Self - Dancer
MovieVaazhkai
1949
as Dancer
MovieLaila Majnu
1949
as Dancer
Natyarani
1949
as Self - Dancer
MovieKanniyin Kathali
1949
as Dancer
MovieVelaikari
1949
Mohini
1948
MovieKalpana
1948
MovieMarthanda Varma
1933
as Parukutty
