By A. LETCHUMANAN
Veteran actress Padmini who collapsed while attending a felicitation function of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai last Saturday, suffered a cardiac arrest and died early Monday.
The 74-year-old, who is renowned for her bharatanatyam skills, had acted in more than 250 films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi in her distinguished career.
Padmini (1932 – 2006)
She had acted with prominent actors including M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Prem Nazir, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand and was awarded the Nattiya Peroli title for her dancing prowess.
Born in Poojappura in Thiruvanthapuram in 1932, Padmini learnt classical dance at the age of four and made her acting debut in Hindi movie Kalpana in 1949.
Padmini had two sisters, Lalitha and Ragini, who were also dancers. The trio was popularly known as the “Travancore sisters” and danced to the song Sundari Soundari in Thooku Thooki.
Her first Tamil film was Manamagal (1950) that had dialogues by M. Karunanidhi and it was directed by veteran comedian N. S. Krishnan. The following year, she starred in Panam, opposite Sivaji Ganesan. It was the beginning of a partnership that spanned over 60 films. But her most famous film with Sivaji was Thillana Mohanambal. Her films with MGR included Madurai Veeran, Rani Samukhtha, Mannadhi Mannan and Rickshawkaran, featuring her in character roles.
After she married Dr K. T. Ramachandran in 1961, she settled down in the United States where she started the Padmini School of Fine Arts. After the death of her husband in 1981, she returned to Tamil Nadu.
Padmini went on to win best actress award of the Film Fans Association four times and the Kalaimamani award from Tamilnadu government in 1958.
She also won the best classical dancer award at Moscow Youth Festival for her dancing skills.
In 1985, she received the Filmfare Award for Poovae Poo Chudava, where she played Nadhiya’s grandmother. The erstwhile Soviet Union released a postal stamp in her honour.
During the Indian-Pakistan war in 1965, she went to the war front and performed for the wounded Indian soldiers.
Padmini also had the rare honour to perform for personalities like Queen Elizabeth, Pandit Nehru, Sardar Patel, President Rajendra Prasad, President S. Radhakrishnan and Lady Mountbatten.
Veteran comedian Nagesh, who had acted in several films including the much celebrated Thilana Mohanambal, said: “The Natiya Peroli who danced her way to fame has now gone silent. But her feats and achievements will be cherished by everyone.”
He said Padmini was a simple human being and acting with her was a great experience
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