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Padmini Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
 Padmini in 1950 | |
| Born | (1932-12-13)December 13, 1932 |
| Died | 24 September 2006(2006-09-24) (aged 73) |
| Other names | Natiya Peroli, Pappima, Thiruvancore Sisters, Thiruvithaamkoor sisters |
| Years active | 1947–1994, 2002 |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Shobana (niece) Ambika Sukumaran Vineeth (nephew) Sukumari (cousin) |
| Family | Lalitha (sister) Ragini (sister) |
| Signature | |
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Padmini Ramachandran (13 December 1932 – 24 September 2006)[1][2][3] was anIndian actress andBharatanatyam dancer, who acted in over 250 Indian films.[1] She acted inTamil,Hindi,Malayalam,Telugu andRussian language films. Padmini, her elder sisterLalitha and her younger sisterRagini, were collectively called the "Travancore sisters".[4]
Padmini was born and raised inTrivandrum (present-day Thiruvananthapuram), then part of theprincely state ofTravancore (now the Indian state ofKerala). She was the second daughter of Thankappan Pillai and Saraswathi Amma.[1] aMalayaliNair family.
At the age of 16, Padmini was cast as a dancer in the Hindi filmKalpana (1948), which launched her career.[5] She acted in films consecutively for nearly 30 years in the first lease of her career.[6] Padmini starred with several of the most well-known actors in Indian film, includingSivaji Ganesan,M. G. Ramachandran,N. T. Rama Rao,Raj Kapoor,Shammi Kapoor,Sathyan,Prem Nazir,Rajkumar,Gemini Ganesan andS. S. Rajendran.Ezhai Padum Padu, released in 1950, was her first film in Tamil. V A Gopalakrishnan taught the Padmini sistersTamil since their mother-tongue wasMalayalam. He was associated with Pakshi Raja studios.[1] Padmini Ramachandran's association with Sivaji Ganesan started with the filmPanam in 1952.[5] Some of her notable Tamil films includeSampoorna Ramayanam (1958 film) (1958),Thanga Padhumai,Anbu (1953),Kaattu Roja,Thillana Mohanambal (1968),Vietnam Veedu,Edhir Paradhathu,Sri Valli (1961). Other projects includeMangayar Thilakam andPoove Poochudava (1985),Thaikku Oru Thalattu (1986),Lakshmi Vandhachu (1986) andAayiram Kannudayaal (1986). Some of her Malayalam films includePrasanna,Snehaseema,Vivaahitha,Adhyaapika,Kumara Sambhavam (a 1969 Tamil/Malayalam bilingual),Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1984). WhereasVasthuhara andDolar marked the latter's last few films in her acting career and in Malayalam too after which, she immediately retired as an actress and hasn't appeared in any movies since.[4]
She was paired withRaj Kapoor in three films—Mera Naam Joker (1970) which wasRishi Kapoor's debut film,Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960) andAashiq (1962). Her other Bollywood films includeAmardeep (1958),Payal (1957),Afsana (1966),Vaasna (1968),Chanda Aur Bijli (1969) andBabubhai Mistry'sMahabharat (1965).[1]
Her most famous film is the Tamil filmThillana Mohanambal where she plays a dancer competing with a musician to determine whose skills are better.[4] She also acted in a 1957 Indian-Soviet filmJourney Beyond Three Seas (Hindi version:Pardesi) based on the travelogues of Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin, calledA Journey Beyond the Three Seas.
Padmini was known for her professional rivalry with actressVyjayanthimala, the successful dancer-actress.[7] They performed a dance number in the Tamil filmVanjikottai Valiban; the well-known song was "Kannum Kannum Kalanthu" sung byP. Leela andJikki. In the song, they were pitted against each other. Due to their professional rivalry, the song has acult following since the film was released.[7]
In 1961, Padmini married Ramachandran, a US-based physician.[4][1] The couple's only son was born in 1963; he resides inHillsdale, New Jersey and works for Warner Bros.[8][5] Padmini retired from films shortly after her son's birth, joining her husband in the United States to focus on family life.[4]
In 1977, she founded the Padmini School of Fine Arts inNew Jersey.[5] The institution grew to become one of the largestIndian classical dance schools in the United States.[5][citation needed]
Padmini's relatives in the film industry include her maternal first cousin, actressSukumari; her niece, the dancerShobana; Malayalam actressAmbika Sukumaran; and actorsVineeth andKrishna.
On 23 September 2006, Padmini was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai after suffering aheart attack during a meeting with then-Tamil Nadu Chief MinisterM. Karunanidhi. She died in the hospital the following day, 24 September, at the age of 74.
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