T. R. Rajakumari
| Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajakumari | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee May 5, 1922 Thanjavur, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died |
September 20, 1999 (aged 77) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Years active | 1936–1963 |
| Family | T. R. Ramanna (brother) |
Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee (May 5, 1922 – September 20, 1999), popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, was an Indian film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.[1]
Early life
Rajayee was born in 1922 in a family of carnatic musicians. Both her mother and her grandmother wanted Rajayee to become a singer and trained her in Carnatic music. Tamil movie director T. R. Ramanna is her brother who is married to Sakkubai.
Film career
Rajayee made her film debut in Kumara Kulothungan which was produced in 1938–39 but was released in 1941 after Kacha Devayani. In the initial ads her name appeared as T. R. Rajayee but later in the film she was credited as T. R. Rajalakshmi. Her second film was Mandharavathi directed by D.S. Marconi was also released in 1941.[2] Kacha Devayani (1941) was a hit and helped launch her career in movies. There is some confusion about in which film she actually made her debut as Kacha Devayani's director K. Subramaniam later insisted that he was the one who introduced her to films.[3][4] In 1944, Rajakumari starred in the record-breaking film Haridas alongside M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and gained recognition for her glamorous portrayal.[5] Ekaambavanan (1943)
In her Tamil film career, Rajakumari acted as the female lead to many major film stars including Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramaswamy, P. U. Chinnappa, M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. She also started a film production company (with her brother T. R. Ramanna) called "R. R. Pictures" and produced films like Vaazhapirandhavan (1953), Koondukkili (1954), Gul-E-Bagaavali (1955), Paasam (1962), Periya Idathu Penn (1963), Panam Padaithavan (1965) and Parakkum Paavai (1966). Her last film as an actress was Vaanampadi (1963).[6]
Later life and death
Rajakumari died on September 20, 1999 after a prolonged illness.[7]
Partial filmography
| Year | Title[8] | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Kumara Kulothungan | |||
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | |||
| 1941 | Mandharavathi | |||
| 1941 | Soorya Puthiri | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||
| 1942 | Sathi Suganya | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | ||
| 1942 | Manonmani | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1943 | Sivakavi | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi | ||
| 1943 | Kubera Kuchela | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1944 | Haridas | Haridas' mistress | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, N. C. Vasanthakokilam | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | ||
| 1945 | Saalivaahanan | Ranjan, K. L. V. Vasantha | ||
| 1946 | Valmiki | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam | ||
| 1946 | Vikatayogi | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1947 | Pankaja Valli | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1948 | Chandralekha | M. K. Radha | ||
| 1949 | Krishna Bakthi | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1949 | Pavalakkodi | T. E. Varadhan | ||
| 1950 | Idhaya Geetham | T.R. Mahalingam | ||
| 1950 | Vijaya Kumari | K. R. Ramaswamy | ||
| 1951 | Vanasundari | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1952 | Amarakavi | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar | ||
| 1953 | Anbu | Sivaji Ganesan | ||
| 1953 | En Veedu | Chittor V. Nagaiah | ||
| 1953 | Panakkaari | Chittor V. Nagaiah, M. G. Ramachandran | ||
| 1953 | Vazha Pirandavan | |||
| 1954 | Manohara | Vasanthasenai | Sivaji Ganesan | |
| 1955 | Rajakumari | |||
| 1955 | Gulebagavali | M. G. Ramachandran, G. Varalakshmi | ||
| 1957 | Pudhumai Pithan | M. G. Ramachandran, B. S. Saroja | ||
| 1957 | Thangamalai Ragasiyam | Sivaji Ganesan, M. N. Nambiar | ||
| 1959 | Thanga Padhumai | Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini | ||
| 1962 | Paasam | M. R. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran | ||
| 1963 | Periya Idathu Pen | M.G.R., Saroja Devi | ||
| Vanambadi | S. V. Sahasranamam, S. S. Rajendran | |||
References
- ↑ "தமிழ்ப்பட உலகின் முதல் கனவுக்கன்னி டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி" [T. R. Rajakumari, the first dream girl of Tamil cinema]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 2 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ Guy, Randor (22 March 2014). "Kumara Kulothungan (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ↑ Narayanan, Aranthai (2009). Aramba Kaala Tamil cinema (1931–1941). Vijaya Publications. p. 107.
- ↑ Randor Guy (23 October 2009). "Blast from the Past: Katcha Devayani 1941". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ Guy, Randor (11 July 2008). "Blast From the Past : Haridas 1944". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ ""கனவுக்கன்னி" டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி 5 சூப்பர் ஸ்டார்களுடன் நடித்தார்". Malaimalar. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ "Actress Rajkumari dies at 79". The Indian Express. September 21, 1999. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ↑ "T. R. Rajakumari filmography". Jointscene.com. Retrieved 14 March 2010.