K. Thavamani Devi

K. Thavamani Devi (c. 1925 – 10 February 2001)^[1] was a Sri Lankan actress who also worked in a number of Tamil films during the 1940s.^[2] Born and brought up in a wealthy family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka her father was a successful barrister. Encouraged by parents, Thavamani moved to Madras, India at an early age.^[2] She was from Sri Lankan Tamil heritage.

K. Thavamani Devi
K. Thavamani Devi and M. S. Subbulakshmi in the 1940 film Shakuntala
Born	c. 1925
Died	10 February 2001 (aged 76)

During her time in Madras, she learnt Bharata Natyam and Carnatic music, which helped her sing her own lines in many Tamil films. owing to her singing talents won her the honorific "Ceylon Kuyil" (English: (lit.) Ceylon Cuckoo).^[2] She was MGR's heroine in Rajakumaari (1947).^{[citation needed]} Some of the other films that she did in Tamil include Shakuntala, Vana Mohini, Naatiya Rani, Krishna Kumar and Bhakta Kaalathi

Later years

She married a widower, Kodilinga Sankara Sastry of Rameshwaram, in November 1962 and retired to a spiritual life.^[3]