Padmini

Acting

Padmini

Born 1932-06-12 · 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.

Acting credits

No artwork available
7.5

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.

Ezhai Padum Paadu

1950

No artwork available
7.3

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.

Uthama Puthiran

1958

Naan Vanangum Deivam poster
NR

A Tamil version of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.

Naan Vanangum Deivam

1963

Edhir Paradhathu poster
NR

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.

Edhir Paradhathu

1954

Thigambara Samiar poster
NR

When Sattanathan, a corrupt lawyer, forces Vadivambal to marry his brother, a Chokkalingam Pillai arrives to rescue her and expose Sattanathan's activities.

Thigambara Samiar

1950

Or Iravu poster
7.0

A thief breaks into a wealthy man's house unaware that the man is his father, who had abandoned his mother and him a long time ago.

Or Iravu

1951

Manthiri Kumari poster
10.0

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.

Manthiri Kumari

1950

Maragatham poster
7.0

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.

Maragatham

1959

Deiva Piravi poster
8.3

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.

Deiva Piravi

1960

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu poster
8.0

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.

Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu

1984

No artwork available
5.7

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.

Iruttinte Athmavu

1967

Panam poster
NR

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

Panam

1952

Thiruvarutchelvar poster
7.5

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.

Thiruvarutchelvar

1967

Amarakavi poster
NR

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.

Amarakavi

1952

Vidivelli poster
NR

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.

Vidivelli

1960

No artwork available
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Raja Desingu

1960

No artwork available
NR

Goddess Parvati always help the devotees overcome adversities.

Aayiram Kannudayaal

1986

Vivahitha poster
9.0

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.

Vivahitha

1970

No artwork available
4.0

No synopsis available yet.

Rajarajan

1957

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Mohini

1948

Dollar poster
8.0

The movie depicts the life of Malayali families settled in the US. It discusses the clash of the cultures.

Dollar

1993

Mera Naam Joker poster
7.3

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."

Mera Naam Joker

1970

Rickshawkaran poster
6.2

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.

Rickshawkaran

1971

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Arasilangumari

1960