Padmini
Known for Acting · 116 credits
- Born
- 1932-06-12
- Died
- 2006-09-24
- Place of birth
- Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India
- Also known as
- Падмини · பத்மினி · पदमिनी · Pappima · Natiya Peroli · Padmini Ramachandran
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
Movies (116)
Uthama Puthiran
1958
as Amudhavalli
Thigambara Samiar
1950
Rickshawkaran
1971
as Parvathi
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
1984
as Kunjoonjamma Thomas
Raja Desingu
1960
Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu
1986
as Dhanam
Ezhai Padum Paadu
1950
as Lakshmi
Panam
1952
as Jeeva
Kuzhanthaikkaga
1968
as Gowri
Iruttinte Athmavu
1967
as Nani
Deiva Piravi
1960
as Thangam
Arasilangumari
1960
Madurai Veeran
1956
as Velliaiyamma
Dollar
1993
as Ammachi
Amarakavi
1952
as Special appearance
Edhir Paradhathu
1954
as Sumathi
Manthiri Kumari
1950
Mohini
1948
Vietnam Veedu
1970
Andhaman Kaidhi
1952
Vivahitha
1970
Maragatham
1959
as Maragatham/Alamu
Vidivelli
1960
as Rosie
Rajarajan
1957
Devaki
1951
as Self - Dancer
Koteeswaran
1955
as Neela
Snehaseema
1954
Or Iravu
1951
Natyarani
1949
as Self - Dancer
Thangapadumai
1959
Vikramaadhithan
1962
as Princess Rathnamalai
Velaikari
1949
Vaazhkai
1949
as Dancer
Laila Majnu
1950
as Self - Dancer
Umminithanka
1961
Vasthuhara
1991
as Bhavani
Rani Samyuktha
1962
as Rani Samyuktha
Vasantha Sena
1967
as Anaga Sena
Laila Majnu
1949
as Dancer
Thiruvarutchelvar
1967
Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi
1950
Mera Naam Joker
1970
as Meenu
Kalpana
1948
Baagyavathi
1957
as Meena
Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari
1954
as Padmini
Journey Beyond Three Seas
1957
as Court Dancer Lakshmi
Dard Ka Rishta
1982
Chathurangam
1959
Marthanda Varma
1933
as Parukutty
Sorgavasal
1954
as Queen Kumara Devi
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
1960
as Kammo
Iru Thuruvam
1971
as Thangam
Annai Velankanni
1971
Lakshmi Vandhachu
1986
as Rajeshwari
Thillana Mohanambal
1968
as Mohanambal
Mastana
1970
as Gauri
Navarathinam
1977
as Vayiduriyam
Uzhaikkum Karangal
1976
Amara Deepam
1956
as Roopa
Mr. Sampat
1952
as Malini
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1959
as Vellayamma
Dil Hi To Hai
1963
as Bahar
Pudhaiyal
1957
Kumara Sambhavam
1969
as Parvathi / Sathi
Payal
1957
Vanjikottai Valiban
1958
as Princess Padma
Thirumaal Perumai
1968
as Dancer
Iru Malargal
1967
Kaajal
1965
as Bhanu
Kanniyin Kathali
1949
as Dancer
Thenum Paalum
1971
as Janaki
Mujrim
1958
Singapore
1960
as Lata
Sampoorna Ramayanam
1958
as Seetha
Then Nilavu
1961
Raagini
1958
Thookku Thookki
1954
as Rajakumari
Mahabharat
1965
as Draupadi
Annaiyin Aanai
1958
Paadha Kaanikkai
1962
Poove Poochudava
1985
as Poongavanathamma
Bindya
1960
as Bindya
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi
1970
Punar Janmam
1961
as Parvathi
Saraswathi Sabatham
1966
as Parvathi
Mangayar Thilakam
1955
as Sulochana
Thaaye Unakkaga
1966
as Devi
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
1970
Bhai Bahen
1969
as Rani / Tara
The Eternal Lamp
1958
as Roopa
Penn Daivam
1970
as Ponnamma
Thirumagal
1971
Vilaiyaattu Pillai
1970
as Maragatham
Adi Parasakthi
1971
Aashiq
1962
as Preeti
Afsana
1966
Nannha Farishta
1969
as Gauri
Nenjam Marappathillai
1963
Punniya Boomi
1978
Aurat
1967
Gurudhatchanai
1969
Kulama Gunama
1971
Selvam
1966
Anbu
1953
as Malathi
Ethirkalam
1970
Raj Tilak
1958
Asai
1956
Mannadhi Mannan
1960
Appa Tata
1972
Meenda Sorgam
1960
as Nirmala
Mallika
1957
Iru Sahodarigal
1956
Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi
1958
Naan Vanangum Deivam
1963
as Rukmani
Prasanna
1950
as Madanika
Do Behnen
1959
About Padmini
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 fam… With 116 credits spanning from 1933 to 1993, Padmini has appeared in 116 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Padmini movies, Padmini filmography, or the latest projects starring Padmini can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Padmini Movies
- Uthama Puthiran (1958) — as Amudhavalli
- Thigambara Samiar (1950)
- Rickshawkaran (1971) — as Parvathi
- Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1984) — as Kunjoonjamma Thomas
- Raja Desingu (1960)
Where to Watch Padmini Films
Most Padmini movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Padmini, check our movies catalogue and browse page.