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 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.
Mera Naam Joker
as MeenuRaju faces many hurdles and disappointments in matters of the heart throughout his life. But as...
Movie page
Thillana Mohanambal
as MohanambalA classical bharathanatyam dancer and a nathaswaram player fall in love against the wishes of...
Movie page
Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu
as Kunjoonjamma ThomasKunjoonjamma Thomas is a widow living in the village all by herself. People always make fun of...
Movie page
Journey Beyond Three Seas
as Court Dancer LakshmiThis first co-production of the Soviet and Indian cinematographers is dedicated to the Tver...
Movie page
Thiruvarutchelvar
as uncreditedWhen a dancer makes a king realise the insignificance of the worldly pleasures, he decides to...
Movie page
Mastana
as GauriA poor and lonely woman strikes up a friendship with a rich but neglected child, but her parents...
Movie page
Uzhaikkum Karangal
as uncreditedRangan is a servant at the house of Nagalingam, a rich and ruthless man. While he strives to...
Movie page
Kaajal
as uncreditedThe Munim (Clerk) in Ranimaa's family lives with his son, Kaushal and daughter, Madhavi. After...
Movie page
Singapore
as LataWhen his employee disappears in Singapore, Shyam travels from India to investigate the absence...
Movie page
Deiva Piravi
as ThangamMadhavan marries Thangam. He takes care of Thangam’s mother and brother along with his younger...
Movie page
Poove Poochudava
as PoongavanathammaAn elderly woman who is rich lives alone in a town. However, her life changes for the better...
Movie page
Paadha Kaanikkai
as uncreditedPaadha Kaanikkai (English: Offering to the feet) is a 1962 Tamil-language drama film directed by...
Movie page
Aashiq
as PreetiWhen Pratap learns that his fiancee is in love with his younger brother, Gopal, he steps aside...
Movie page
Vanjikottai Valiban
as Princess PadmaVanjikkottai Valiban is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language romance film written by Gemini Studios...
Movie page
Adi Parasakthi
as uncreditedA man saved from death by God and told how God help others.
Movie page
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
as VellayammaAfter the East India Company forces Kattabomman, the king of Panchalankurichi, to pay taxes and...
Movie page
Vaazhkai
as DancerMeenakshi, an unwed mother, leaves her baby in Nathan’s car after her lover, Moorthy, abandons...
Movie page
Mahabharat
as DraupadiA version of the epic Indian poem "The Mahabharata", telling the story of the war between the...
Movie page
Saraswathi Sabatham
as ParvathiSage Narada instigates Goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvathi against each other. The trio...
Movie page
Kumara Sambhavam
as Parvathi / SathiKumara Sambhavam is based on the epic poem of the poet Kalidasa of the same name.
Movie page
Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai
as KammoRaju informs the police about a group of bandits, even though he is in love with the chief's...
Movie page
Amara Deepam
as RoopaAmara Deepam is a Tamil film is directed by T. Prakash Rao released in 1956. A educated...
Movie page
Raj Tilak
as uncreditedA young man goes on a quest to find his mother and to restore justice in a kingdom that has...
Movie page
Naan Vanangum Deivam
as RukmaniA Tamil version of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein.
Movie page
Aurat
as uncreditedA woman responsible for her mother and 7 siblings faces challenges after marrying a widower with...
Movie page
Marthanda Varma
as ParukuttyBased on the novel Marthandavarma, the film recounts the adventures of the crown Prince,...
Movie page
Vidivelli
as RosieChandru (Sivaji Ganesan) has a sister (Rajam) who is married to a handsome Ravi (Balaji). But...
Movie page
Meenda Sorgam
as NirmalaNirmala (Padmini) is a poor but talented young dancer who falls in love with a rich man's son...
Movie page
Mangayar Thilakam
as SulochanaThe story starts with the special birthday celebration of a girl. Vasudevan (Sivaji Ganesan)...
Movie page
Prasanna
as MadanikaThampi and Menon decide to strengthen their relations. Thampi decides to marry Madanika and...
Movie page
Iruvar Ullam
as uncreditedThe story revolves around Selvam, an easygoing youngster who befriends many girls without the...
Movie page
Rickshawkaran
as ParvathiA rickshaw puller, who also enjoys racing with other rickshaw pullers, finds a child whose...
Movie page
Madurai Veeran
as VelliaiyammaBommi, a princess, falls in love with Veeran, the adopted son of a cobbler, who reciprocates her...
Movie page
Dil Hi To Hai
as BaharChildren are exchanged by greedy aunt and uncle in childhood and they live undeserved lives.
Movie page
Raagini
as uncreditedBinda, an old musician in a village near Bombay, has brought up his son Rajan, in the hope that...
Movie page
The Maiden's Lover
as DancerAfter a shipwreck, Chandrika who's disguised as a man falls in love with Prince Vasanthakumar...
Movie page
Mujrim
as uncreditedShammi Kapoor stars as a criminal who exchanges identity with a dead man in order to start over.
Movie page
Nannha Farishta
as GauriGovind, Nazir and Joseph decide to give up the world of crime when a little girl enters their life.
Movie page
Bhai Bahen
as Rani / TaraRaja Saheb (Ashok Kumar) is a rich man, strict father to sons Virendra (Sunil Dutt) and...
Movie page
Dard Ka Rishta
as uncreditedTime is running out for Khushbu, Ravi Sharma(Sunil Dutt)'s daughter. Her leukemia can be cured...
Movie page
The Eternal Lamp
as RoopaFilm starring Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala and Padmini
Movie page
Umminithanka
as uncreditedUmminithanka is a 1961 Indian Malayalam film, directed by G Viswanath and produced by PK...
Movie page
Afsana
as uncreditedGopal escapes from prison and finds shelter hos Shekhar, a man who hates all women.
Movie page
Rani Samyuktha
as Rani SamyukthaPrithvirajan falls in love with princess Samyuktha, but her father Jayachandran insults him by...
Movie page
Laila Majnu
as DancerKhayas falls in love with Laila but her father refuses the alliance, which leaves Khayas...
Movie page
Amarakavi
as Special appearanceAmarakavi (English: Immortal Poet) is a 1952 Indian Tamil language film produced and directed by...
Movie page
Snehaseema
as uncreditedAn orphan raised by the local priest becomes a teacher and falls in love with the rich school...
Movie page
Annaiyin Aanai
as uncreditedGanesh's father is falsely accused of a crime and murdered in prison. Years later, his mother...
Movie page
Dollar
as AmmachiThe movie depicts the life of Malayali families settled in the US. It discusses the clash of the...
Movie page
Nenjam Marappathillai
as uncreditedA college sophomore, on a visit to his friend's village, explores a dilapidated and haunted...
Movie page
Sabarimala Shri Dharmasastha
as uncreditedSabarimala Sree Dharmashastha is a 1970 Indian Malayalam film, directed by M. Krishnan Nair
Movie page
Vasthuhara
as BhavaniVasthuhara (Malayalam: വാസ്തുഹാര English: The Dispossessed) is a Malayalam social film by the...
Movie page
Sampoorna Ramayanam
as SeethaThe story of the complete Ramayana, from the birth of Lord Rama to his Pattabhisheka after...
Movie page
Bindya
as BindyaA government contractor desires a criminal brother-in-low to marry a girl, but she has fallen in...
Movie page
Punar Janmam
as ParvathiPunar Janmam (Rebirth) is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by R. S. Mani. The...
Movie page
Annai Velankanni
as uncreditedMary, a nurse in a hospital, narrates the tale of how Mother Mary helped Kamakshi and her son...
Movie page
Edhir Paradhathu
as SumathiEthirpaaraathathu narrates the story of star-crossed lovers Sundar (Sivaji Ganesan) and Sumathi...
Movie page
Thigambara Samiar
as uncreditedWhen Sattanathan, a corrupt lawyer, forces Vadivambal to marry his brother, a Chokkalingam...
Movie page
Vietnam Veedu
as uncreditedPrestige Padmanabha Iyer retires from his company executive position and has a lonely and...
Movie page
Payal
as uncreditedA remake of the director's own Tamil film Mallika (1957).
Movie page
Maragatham
as Maragatham/AlamuOne day, a landlord belonging to a rich family gets murdered and the crime is imposed on...
Movie page
Thirumaal Perumai
as DancerThirumal Perumai tells three spell-bounding stories about how far you can get with Lord Vishnus
Movie page
Vivahitha
as uncreditedMeena marries her brother-in-law after her sister dies, even though she is in love with...
Movie page
Panam
as JeevaPanam (English: Money) is a 1952 Indian Tamil-language film, directed by N. S. Krishnan. The...
Movie page
Mr. Sampat
as MaliniThe charming Mr. Sampat weaves his way into theatrical company with his moneymaking schemes,...
Movie page