Padmini,
the only surviving and the most famed member of the "Travancore
Sisters" is still an endearing screen image for the fans
of Malayalam cinema. This movie actress and classical dancer has
enthralled millions through her films. She has acted as the leading
lady in over 250 movies and had been the star of several "devotional"
hits in, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi.
Among
her most well known movies are Manamagal, Mr. Sampath, Adi Parashakthi,
Thillana Mohanambal, Vietnam Veedu all in Tamil and Mera Nam Joker
and Gis Desh Mein Ganga Behati Hai (In Hindi with Raj Kapoor)
and Snehaseema, Adhyapika, Umminithanka in Malayalam. Her last
film in Malayalam "Nokketha Doorathu Kannum Nattu",
depicting the role of a grandmother won many accolades.
Padmini
started learning classical dance at the age of four and at the
age of ten, she had her 'arangettam' or dance debut and by 14,
she became a member of a dance troupe that toured various parts
of India.
Her
entry in to film world was rather unexpected. The legendary dancer
Uday Shanker, on seeing her performance invited her to act in
the film he was making. Thus Padmini became the heroine of the
Hindi film "Kalpana." and started a career in Movies
spanning a period of over 40 years. She
acted with legendary stars like Raj Kapoor, MGR, Shivaji Ganesan,
and a number of other evergreen heroes in Indian film world. Her
career changed track with the marriage to Dr. KT Ramachandran
in 1961, devoted more time to family life than career, and got
back occasionally to act in film like "Mera Nam Joker."
Currently,
Padmini is the Director of the Padmini School of Fine Arts with
five branches in Queens, New York, and New Jersey. She is easily
one of the most sought after dance teachers in the USA now.
