T. R. Rajakumari | |
|---|---|
 T. R. Rajakumari in Sivakavi (1943). | |
| Born | Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee 5 May 1922 |
| Died | 20 September 1999 (age 77) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Years active | 1936–1963 |
| Parent(s) | Father: Radhakrishnan Mother: Ranganayaki |
| Family | T. S. Damayanthi (Sister), T. D. Kusalakumari (niece), T. R. Ramanna (brother) |
Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (5 May 1922 – 20 September 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][2]
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.[3] 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.[4][5] In 1944, Rajakumari starred in the record-breaking film Haridas alongside M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and gained recognition for her glamorous portrayal.[6]
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 Vanambadi (1963).[1][7]
Later life and death
Rajakumari died on 20 September 1999 after a prolonged illness.[8]
Partial filmography
| Year | Title[9] | Role | Co-Star | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Kumara Kulothungan | |||
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Devayani | ||
| 1941 | Mandharavathi | |||
| 1941 | Soorya Puthiri | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||
| 1942 | Sathi Suganya | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | ||
| 1942 | Manonmani | Manonmani | P. U. Chinnappa | |
| 1943 | Sivakavi | Vanji | 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 | Chandralekha | Ranjan, K. L. V. Vasantha | |
| 1946 | Valmiki | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam | ||
| 1946 | Vikatayogi | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| 1948 | Chandralekha | Chandralekha | M. K. Radha, Ranjan | |
| 1949 | Krishna Bakthi | Devakumari | P. U. Chinnappa | |
| 1949 | Pavalakkodi | Pavalakkodi | T. E. Varadhan | |
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Thara | T.R. Mahalingam | |
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | K. R. Ramaswamy | ||
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Vanasundari | P. U. Chinnappa | |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar | ||
| 1953 | Anbu | Thangam | 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 | 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 | Vanambadi | S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam | ||
| 1963 | Periya Idathu Penn | Gangamma, Murugappan's elder sister | M. G. Ramachandran, Saroja Devi |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Guy, Randor (17 November 1990). "T. R. Rajakumari: 'The dream girl' with many-sided talent". The Indian Express. p. 18.
- ↑ "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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ Guy, Randor (22 March 2014). "Kumara Kulothungan (1941)". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ 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. Archived from the original on 29 November 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ Guy, Randor (11 July 2008). "Blast From the Past : Haridas 1944". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ↑ ""கனவுக்கன்னி" டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி 5 சூப்பர் ஸ்டார்களுடன் நடித்தார்". Maalai Malar. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Actress Rajkumari dies at 79". The Indian Express. 21 September 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "T. R. Rajakumari filmography". Jointscene.com. Retrieved 14 March 2010.