Travancore Sisters
Travancore Sisters refers to the trio of Padmini, Lalitha and Ragini who were actors, dancers and performers in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films.[1][2]
The Travancore sisters learned dancing under Guru Gopinath and Guru T. K. Mahalingam Pillai.[3] Ragini died from cancer in 1976 and Lalitha in 1982. Padmini died in 2006. Few documents relating to them survived except for dozens of films and articles in Indian newspapers. The Travancore Sisters grew up in a joint family tharavadu 'Malaya Cottage' in Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram.[4] Uday Shankar called the sisters to Chennai (then Madras) to act in a film based on dance which he was planning to make . Padmini and her sisters were disciples of the noted Indian dancer Guru Gopinath .
The matriarchial head of the family was Karthiyayini Amma whose husband was PK Pillai (Palakunnathu Krishna Pillai of Cherthala) alias 'Penang Padmanabha Pillai'. PK Pillai had six sons of whom Satyapalan Nair (Baby) was a leading producer of many early Malayalam films. Another son, Raveendran Nair's daughter Latika Suresh, is a leading producer of Malayalam TV programs. They performed at the 1955 Filmfare Awards.[5]
Filmography
Dance and musical drama performances in films.
Year | Film | Language | Song | Singer | Music | Notes |
1947 | Kannika | Tamil | Dance Drama of Lord Siva and Mohini | Background Music | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Lalitha & Padmini |
1948 | Adhithan Kanavu | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1948 | Baktha Jana | Tamil | Reema, Narayanan & BNR | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1948 | Bhojan | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1948 | Gokuladasi | Tamil | S. V. Venkatraman & C. N. Pandurangan | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1948 | Vedhala Ulagam | Tamil | Vaasam Ulla Poo Parippene | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | R. Sudharsanam | Lalitha & Padmini |
1948 | Vedhala Ulagam | Tamil | Dance | Background Music | R. Sudharsanam | Lalitha & Padmini |
1948 | Gnana Soundari | Tamil | Dance | Background Music | S. V. Venkatraman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Deva Manohari | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1949 | Kanniyin Kaadhali | Tamil | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1949 | Laila Majnu | Telugu | Amdala Chinna Daana | P. Leela & Jikki | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Laila Majnu | Telugu | EenaaTi Maa Paataa | P. Leela & Jikki | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Laila Majnu | Tamil | Kuliridhe Suvai Madhu | P. Leela & Jikki | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Laila Majnu | Tamil | Kannaadi Kanni Neeye | P. Leela & Jikki | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Mangaiyarkarasi | Tamil | Dance | Background Music | G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Naattiya Rani | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
1949 | Pavalakkodi | Tamil | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1949 | Vazhkai | Tamil | Uzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan Koodum | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | R. Sudharsanam | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Velaikaari | Tamil | Oridam Thanile Inaiyilla Ulaginile | P. Leela & K. V. Janaki | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1949 | Vinothini | Tamil | Srinivasa Iyengar | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1950 | Ponmudi | Tamil | Vaanam Kumurudhamma | K. V. Janaki & N. Lalitha | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini |
1950 | Jeevitham | Telugu | Bhoomi Dunnaloy Mana Desam | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | R. Sudharsanam | Lalitha & Padmini |
1950 | Idhaya Geetham | Tamil | Juma Juma Jum Jum | P. A. Periyanayaki & A. P. Komala | S. V. Venkatraman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1950 | Manthiri Kumari | Tamil | O Raja O Rani Indha Ezhaiyeliya | P. Leela, N. Lalitha and U. R. Chandra | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini |
1950 | Krishna Vijayam | Tamil | C. S. Jayaraman & S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1950 | Vijaya Kumari | Tamil | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1950 | Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi | Tamil | Veerathaayai Panivom | P. Leela | M. S. Gnanmani | Lalitha & Padmini |
1950 | Parijatham | Tamil | S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1950 | Dhigambara Swamiyar | Tamil | Kaakka Vendum Kadavule Nee | A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. Chandra | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu & G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini |
1951 | Sudharsanam | Tamil | Unnai Kandu Mayamngaadha Pergal Undo | P. A. Periyanayaki | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha |
1951 | Sudharsanam | Tamil | Ulagame Sandhai Koottamada.... Paaril Sandhai Koottam | P. A. Periyanayaki | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha |
1951 | Or Iravu | Tamil | Arumbu Pol Meesai…. Paartthu Paartthu Kanngal Rendum | M. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi & V. J. Varma | R. Sudharsanam | Lalitha & Padmini with A. Nageswara Rao |
1951 | Devagi | Tamil | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
1951 | Singari | Tamil | Pasum Paalu Virkkum | P. A. Periyanayaki & P. Leela | S. V. Venkatraman, T. R. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam | Lalitha & Padmini |
1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Deeyo Deeyo Deeyaalo | P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Leela & K. V. Janaki | S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini |
1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Pennin Inbam Naadida Vaareer | P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki | S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Inbamaaga Paaduvom Anbin Kaadhal Vaazhave | P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki | S. V. Venkatraman & C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha & Padmini |
1952 | Andhaman Kaidhi | Tamil | College Padippukku Goodbye Nam Kaadhal Vaazhvukkini Welcome | T. V. Rathinam & A. P. Komala | G. Govindarajulu Naidu | Lalitha & Padmini |
1952 | Dharma Devadhai | Tamil | Lambadi Lambadi | K. Rani | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha |
1952 | Dharma Devadha | Telugu | Lambadi Lambadi | K. Rani | C. R. Subburaman | Lalitha |
1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Vendhazhalaai Erikkum Venmadhiye | A. P. Komala & N. L. Ganasaraswathi | T. R. Pappa | Lalitha & Padmini |
1953 | Ponni | Tamil | Aaduvome Oonjal Aaduvome | A. P. Komala, P. A. Periyanayaki, Jayalakshmi & C. B. Radha | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini with Ambika |
1953 | Marumagal | Tamil | Aanukkoru Penn Pillai | P. A. Periyanayaki, A. G. Rathnamala & A. P. Komala | G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman & Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Padmini & Ragini with T. D. Kuchalakumari |
1956 | Madurai Veeran | Tamil | Summa Kidanthaa Sotthukku Nashtam | P. Leela & Jikki | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Ragini |
1957 | Chakravarthi Thirumagal | Tamil | Kannaalane Vaarunga | Jikki | G. Ramanathan | Ragini |
1957 | Raja Rajan | Tamil | Aadum Azhage Azhagu | P. Leela & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi | K. V. Mahadevan | Lalitha & Padmini |
1958 | Uthama Puthiran | Tamil | Kaatthiruppaan Kamala Kannan | P. Leela | G. Ramanathan | Padmini & Ragini |
1958 | Uthama Puthiran | Tamil | Kondaattam Manasukkulle Kondaattam | P. Leela | G. Ramanathan | Padmini & Ragini |
1958 | Vanjikottai Valiban | Tamil | Kannum Kannum Kalanthu | P. Leela & Jikki | C. Ramchandra | Padmini with Vyjayanthimala |
1958 | Mangalya Baghyam | Tamil | Imaya Malaiyai Idadhu Kaiyaal | K. Jamuna Rani & A. G. Rathnamala | G. Ramanathan | Padmini |
1960 | Raja Desingu | Tamil | Pazhanimalai | P. Leela | G. Ramanathan | Ragini |
1960 | Mannadhi Mannan | Tamil | Kanniyar Perumai | P. Leela | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy | Ragini |
1961 | Punar Jenmam | Tamil | Manam Aadudhu Paadudhu | S. Janaki & Jikki | T. Chalapathi Rao | Padmini & Ragini |
1962 | Vikramaadhithan | Tamil | Nilaiyaana Kalai Vaahgave | P. Leela & T. V. Rathinam | S. Rajeswara Rao | Padmini & Ragini |
1962 | Raani Samyuktha | Tamil | Mullaimalar Kaadu Engal Mananvan Ponnaadu | A. P. Komala | K. V. Mahadevan | Ragini |
References
- ↑ Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal (2008). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd.
- ↑ "Malaya Cottage was their grooming ground : The Travancore Sisters, Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, were the pride of Malaya Cottage". The Hindu. 30 September 2006.
- ↑ "Life dedicated to dance". The Hindu. 3 January 2003.
- ↑ "When the stars shone in Malaya Cottage". The Hindu. 30 September 2006.
- ↑ "From year to eternity". Filmfare Print Edition. April 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2010.