Kumari Rukmani

Kumari Rukmani (19 April 1929^[1] – 4 September 2007), also known as Kumari Rukmini,^[2] was an Indian actress and dancer. She has acted in about 100 films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi languages.^[3]

Kumari Rukmani
Rukmani in the 1940s
Born	(1929-04-19)19 April 1929
Died	4 September 2007(2007-09-04) (aged 78) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1935–2000
Spouse	Y. V. Rao
Children	Lakshmi
Parent	Nungambakkam Janaki
Relatives	Aishwariyaa Bhaskaran (granddaughter)

Childhood

She is the daughter of Nungambakkam Janaki, also an actress. She hails from Melattur in Thanjavur district. During the shooting of Harishchandra (1932) in Bombay (now Mumbai) the producers were looking for a young actor to feature as Lohidasan. Kumari Rukmani, as a child, was staying with her parents in the next room where T. P. Rajalakshmi who was the female lead in the film, was staying. Rajalakshmi recommended Kumari Rukmani to the producers. The producers talked to the parents and made Kumari Rukmani to feature as Lohidasan in the film. Thus began her film career.^[4]

Film career

Rukmani in 1945 film Sri Valli

She featured in many films together with T. P. Rajalakshmi. Her first film as heroine was Sri Valli in which she acted as Valli paired with T. R. Mahalingam.^[3] In 1946 she featured in Lavangi paired with the multi-talented Y. V. Rao. While the shooting of this film was going on both she and Rao fell in love with each other and later got married. Cine actress Lakshmi is their daughter.^[2]

Partial filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1935	Harichandra	Lohidasan	Child Artist
1937	Chintamani		Child Artist
1937	Balayogini		Child Artist
1938	Desa Munnetram		Child Artist
1941	Rishyasringar		Child Artist
1945	Sri Valli	Goddess Valli
1946	Lavangi	Jagannatha Pandita Rayalu's wife
1947	Pankajavalli	Lord Krishna
1948	Ramadas
1955	Mullaivanam
1961	Kappalotiya Thamizhan[3]	Meenakshi Ammal	V. O. Chidambaram Pillai's wife
1961	Sri Valli
1963	Mani Osai[3]
1963	Idhayathil Nee
1963	Kadavulai Kanden
1963	Paar Magaleya Paar	Sekar Mother
1964	Poompuhar	Govalan Mother
1964	Karnan	Radha Karnan Step Mother
1964	Navarathri	Ananth Mother
1965	Vennira Aadai[3]	Seetha
1965	Idhayak Kamalam[3]	Baskar Mother
1966	Thedi Vantha Thirumagal
1970	Vilaiyaattu Pillai
1970	Thalaivan	Manimegalai
1970	Mayani Mamata		Telugu film
1971	Avalukendru Or Manam	Rajam
1971	Irulum Oliyum
1971	Moondrudeivangal
1973	Karaikkal Ammaiyar	Dharmavathi	Punithavathi's mother
1976	Rojavin Raja[3]	Visalam
1978	Ennai Pol Oruvan	Sekar Mother
2000	Kandukondain Kandukondain	Sivagnanam's mother

Producer

She has produced two films in Hindi, with Lavangi and Manjari.^[3]

Death

After ailing for some time, Kumari Rukmani died on 4 September 2007 at her daughter actress Lakshmi residence in Chennai.^[3]

K. T. Rukmini

There was another actress/singer named K. T. Rukmini during 1930/40s. She was featured in films like Menaka (1935), Thirumangai Alwar (1940) and her last film was Ponnuruvi (1947).