Travancore Sisters

Travancore Sisters - Padmini, Ragini and Lalitha

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

  1. Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal (2008). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd.
  2. "Malaya Cottage was their grooming ground : The Travancore Sisters, Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, were the pride of Malaya Cottage". The Hindu. 30 September 2006.
  3. "Life dedicated to dance". The Hindu. 3 January 2003.
  4. "When the stars shone in Malaya Cottage". The Hindu. 30 September 2006.
  5. "From year to eternity". Filmfare Print Edition. April 2002. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
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