Travancore sisters explained

The Travancore sisters refers to the trio of Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini. They were actresses and dancers who performed in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films.[1] [2]

The Travancore sisters grew up in a joint Nair family tharavadu Malaya Cottage in Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram.[3] They were nieces of the famous beauty Narayani Pillai Kunjamma, who spurned the king of Travancore in favour of marrying the aristocratic landowner Kesava Pillai of Kandamath and through her they were related to the actress Sukumari's mother Sathyabhama Amma and the Travancore Royal Family through their cousin Ambika.[4] They learned dancing under the noted Indian dancer Guru Gopinath and guru T. K. Mahalingam Pillai.[5] Uday Shankar called the sisters to Chennai (then Madras) to act in a film based on dance which he was planning to make.

The matriarchal head of the family was Karthyayini Amma, wife of Palakunnathu Krishna Pillai of Cherthala alias 'Penang Padmanabha Pillai'or P K Pillai, who had six sons of whom Satyapalan Nair 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.[6]

Ragini died from cancer in 1976, Lalitha in 1982, and Padmini died in 2006. Few documents relating to them have survived, except for dozens of films and articles in Indian newspapers.

Filmography

Dance and musical drama performances in films.

Year Film Language Song Singer Music Notes
1947 TamilDance Drama of Lord Siva and Mohini Background Music Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Reema, Narayanan & BNR Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Bhojan Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Dance Background Music Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Aahaa Ivar Yaaradi Lalitha & Padmini
1948 Tamil Vaasam Ulla Poo Parippene T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari Lalitha & Padmini
Dance Background Music Lalitha & Padmini
Ezhil Annam Vadivaagi Eduthheginen Lalitha & Padmini
Saantham Kolvaai En Sagodhariye Padmini
1949 Deva Manohari Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Amdala Chinna Daana Lalitha & Padmini
Eenaati Maa Paataa Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Kuliridhe Suvai Madhu Lalitha & Padmini
Kannaadi Kanni Neeye Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Dance Background Music G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman
& Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Konjum Kiliye Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Uzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan Koodum T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Tamil Oridam Thanile Inaiyilla Ulaginile P. Leela & K. V. Janaki Lalitha & Padmini
1949 Vinothini Tamil Srinivasa Iyengar Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Kaakka Vendum Kadavule Nee A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. Chandra Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Juma Juma Jum Jum Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Telugu Bhoomi Dunnaloy Mana Desam T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Ennadi Aniyaayam Idhu Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil O Raja O Rani Indha Ezhaiyeliya P. Leela, N. Lalitha and U. R. Chandra G. RamanathanLalitha, Padmini & Ragini
1950 Tamil Veerathaayai Panivom M. S. Gnanmani Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Manamagizh Vasandha Kaalamidhe Jikki & K. V. Janaki Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Vaanam Kumurudhamma Lalitha & Padmini
1950 Tamil Lalitha & Padmini
1951 Tamil Tea Tea Soodaana Tea Jikki, A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. Chandra Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini
1951 Tamil Arumbu Pol Meesai.... Paartthu Paartthu Kanngal Rendum M. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi & V. J. Varma Lalitha & Padmini with A. Nageswara Rao
1951 Tamil Pasum Paalu Virkkum S. V. Venkatraman, T. R. Ramanathan
& T. A. Kalyanam
Lalitha & Padmini
1951 Tamil Unnai Kandu Mayamngaadha Pergal Undo Lalitha
Ulagame Sandhai Koottamada.... Paaril Sandhai Koottam Lalitha
1951 Tamil Deeyo Deeyo Deeyaalo P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Leela & K. V. Janaki Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini
Pennin Inbam Naadida Vaareer P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki Lalitha & Padmini
Inbamaaga Paaduvom Anbin Kaadhal Vaazhave P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki Lalitha & Padmini
1952 Tamil Mookkutthi Minnal Kannile Lalitha & Padmini
Mullaich Chirippile Lalitha & Padmini
1952 Tamil College Padippukku Goodbye Nam Kaadhal Vaazhvukkini WelcomeLalitha & Padmini
1952 Telugu Lambadi Lambadi Lalitha
Pataku Pallavi Lalitha
Lalitha
1952 Tamil Lambadi Lambadi Lalitha
Aananda Leelai Tharum Lalitha
Paaduven Paarungko Lalitha
1953 Tamil Vendhazhalaai Erikkum Venmadhiye Lalitha & Padmini
1953 Tamil Aanukkoru Penn Pillai Padmini & Ragini with T. D. Kusalakumari
1953 Tamil Aaduvome Oonjal Aaduvome Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini with Ambika
1956 Tamil Jalilo Jimkana Padmini with E. V. Saroja
Ellorum Koodi Aadi Paadi Padmini
Pachchai Kilipaadudhu Padmini
1956 Telugu Yekkadunnadi Dharmamekkadunnadi S. Rajeswara RaoRagini with Ambika
1956 Tamil Summa Kidanthaa Sotthukku Nashtam G. RamanathanLalitha & Ragini
1956 Telugu Somarulaithe Thindiki Nashtam G. RamanathanLalitha & Ragini
1956 Tamil Denjaru Aiyaa Denjaru T. V. Rathnam & G. Kasthoori S. Rajeswara RaoRagini with Rita
1957 Tamil Paruvam Malarndhu Asaindhu Aadum Ragini
1957 Tamil Kannaalane Vaarunga Ragini
1957 Tamil Illaadha Adhisayamaai Irukkudhudhadi Ragini with Rita
1957 Tamil Neela Vanna Kannane Unadhu Padmini
Mangaamal Valarum Singaara Nadanam Padmini
1957 Tamil Kaadhal Kalyaaname Seidha Paappaa Ragini
1957 Hindi Na Dir Dhin Tana Dere Na Padmini
1957 Hindi Jaa Re Saanwale Salone Padmini
Jhuki Jhuki Ankhiya Padmini
1957 Tamil Aadum Azhage Azhagu Lalitha & Padmini
1956 Tamil Jali Lo Dim Tana Padmini & Ragini
Lagi Apni Najariya Katar Ban Ke Padmini
Mere Man Ka Bawra Panchhi Padmini
1958 Tamil Imaya Malaiyai Idadhu Kaiyaal Padmini
1958 Tamil Kannaikkavarum Baradhakalai Ragini
Otrumaiye Namakku Uyirnaadi Ragini with M. N. Rajam
1958 Ragini Hindi Main Bangaali Chhokraa Padmini with Kishore Kumar
1958 Hindi Aaja To Aaja Padmini with Vyjayanthimala
1958 Tamil Kaatthiruppaan Kamala Kannan G. RamanathanPadmini & Ragini
Kondaattam Manasukkulle Kondaattam Padmini & Ragini
1958 Tamil Padmini with Vyjayanthimala
1958 Telugu Kannu Kannu Kalipi Padmini with Vyjayanthimala
1959 Tamil Azhagaana Maaran Ragini
1959 Tamil Aangila Naagareegam Nalladhu Padmini with Sukumari
1959 Tamil Anjatha Singam En Kaalai Padmini
Takku Takku Takkunu Padmini & Ragini
1959 Telugu Andala Basavanna Padmini
Takku Takku Bada Bada Padmini & Ragini
1960 Hindi Alhad Jawan Mera Jaage Padmini
1960 Hindi Tu Hai Mera Prem Devta Padmini & Ragini
1960 Tamil Kanniyar Perumai Ragini
1960 Tamil Pazhanimalai Ragini
Paarkadal Alaimele Padmini
1961 Tamil Manam Aadudhu Paadudhu Padmini & Ragini
1961 Sabarimala Ayyappan Malayalam Minnal Ente Kannu Padmini
1961 Sabarimalai Sri Ayyapan Tamil Minnal Endhan Kannu S. M. Subbaiah NaiduPadmini
1962 Tamil Kannukkulle Onnirukku Ragini with Harban Lal
1962 Tamil Mullaimalar Kaadu Engal Mananvan Ponnaadu Ragini
1962 Tamil Nilaiyaana Kalai Vaahgave Padmini & Ragini
1967 Tamil Mannavan Vandhaanadi Padmini
1968 Tamil Karaiyeri Meen Vilaiyaadum Padmini with Rajasulochana
1968 Tamil Maraindhirundhu Paarkkum Padmini
Nalandhaanaa Nalandhaanaa
Tillana Nadhaswaram Instrumental

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gulzar . Gulzar . Nihalani . Govind . Govind Nihalani . Chatterjee . Saibal . Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema . 2008 . Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd. . 9788179910665.
  2. News: Malaya Cottage was their grooming ground : The Travancore Sisters, Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, were the pride of Malaya Cottage . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616201945/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/09/30/stories/2006093003090300.htm . dead . 16 June 2010 . . 30 September 2006.
  3. News: When the stars shone in Malaya Cottage . https://web.archive.org/web/20101029063224/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/09/30/stories/2006093001410100.htm . usurped . 29 October 2010 . 30 September 2006 . The Hindu.
  4. Kerala Council for Historical research Family History Papers see under Tharishuthala by K. K. N Web site: keralahistory.ac.in . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170639/http://www.keralahistory.ac.in/family.htm . 3 March 2016 . 5 September 2016.
  5. News: 3 January 2003 . Life dedicated to dance . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20031206032543/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/01/03/stories/2003010301520800.htm . 6 December 2003 . The Hindu.
  6. Web site: April 2002 . From year to eternity . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20040102100622/http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/site/april2002/fb1.html . 2 January 2004 . 3 August 2010 . Filmfare Print Edition.