Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (5 May 1922 – 20 September 1999), better known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, was an Indian actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dreamy girl" of Tamil cinema.[1][2][3]
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) |
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, Mandharavathi, directed by D.S. Marconi, was also released in 1941.[4] Kacha Devayani (1941) was a hit and helped launch her career in movies. There is some confusion about which film she actually made her debut in, as the director of Kacha Devayani' K. Subramaniam, later insisted that he was the one who introduced her to films.[5][6] In 1944, Rajakumari starred in the record-breaking film Haridas alongside M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and gained recognition for her glamorous portrayal.[7]
In her Tamil film career, Rajakumari acted as the female lead opposite many major film stars, including Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramasamy, 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][8]
Later life and death
Rajakumari died on 20 September 1999 after a prolonged illness.[9]
Partial filmography
| Year | Title[10] | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Karwan-E-Hayat | Hindi | Princess of Vijaypore | |
| Urdu | ||||
| 1936 | Devdas | Hindi | Chandramukhi | |
| 1939 | Kumara Kulothungan | Tamil | Buvaneswari | |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Devayani | ||
| Mandharavathi | ||||
| Surya Puthri | Queen Sulochana | |||
| 1942 | Sathi Sukanya | |||
| Manonmani | Manonmani | |||
| 1943 | Sivakavi | Vanji | ||
| Kubera Kuchela | Mallika | |||
| 1944 | Haridas | Ramba (Dasi) | ||
| Prabhavathi | Mayavathi | |||
| 1945 | Saalivaahanan | Chandralekha | ||
| 1946 | Valmiki | |||
| Vikatayogi | ||||
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | |||
| 1948 | Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra | Menaka | ||
| Chandralekha | Chandralekha | |||
| Hindi | ||||
| 1949 | Krishna Bakthi | Tamil | Devakumari | |
| Pavalakkodi | Pavalakkodi | |||
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Thara | ||
| Vijayakumari | ||||
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Vanasundari | ||
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Padmini | Bilingual film | |
| Amarakavi | Telugu | |||
| 1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Thangam | |
| En Veedu | ||||
| Na Illu | Telugu | |||
| Panakkaari | Tamil | |||
| Vazha Pirandhaval | ||||
| 1954 | Manohara | Hindi | Vasanthasena | Trilingual film |
| Manohara | Tamil | Vasanthasenai | ||
| Manohara | Telugu | Vasanthasena | ||
| 1955 | Gulebagavali | Tamil | Princess Lakbesha | |
| Rajkumari | Hindi | |||
| 1957 | Pudhumai Pithan | Tamil | Inbavalli | |
| Thangamalai Ragasiyam | Nandhini | |||
| Rathnagiri Rahasyam | Telugu | |||
| 1957 | Veera Khadgamu | Inbavalli | ||
| 1959 | Thanga Padhumai | Tamil | Maya Mohini | |
| 1961 | Kanyaka Parameswari Mahatmyam | Telugu | ||
| 1962 | Paasam | Tamil | Shantha | |
| 1963 | Vanambadi | Parvathi | ||
| Periya Idathu Penn | Gangamma |
Discography
| Year | Film | Language | Song | Co-singers | Music Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Parkka Parkka Thikattuvathumillai | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar | |
| Bhoomiyinezhil Pukalavu Medharama | Kothamangalam Seenu & Kothamangalam Subbu | ||||
| Premaiye Jagam | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||||
| Irunda Vazhvil Kuthuhalam | |||||
| Narumana Mikumalare Unadhu | |||||
| Sarasam Seiyave Vanthanai | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||||
| Parama Kripanidhe | |||||
| Anbariya Aadavar Irumbu | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||||
| Avanaiyiladavar Ullame Vairamadho | Kothamangalam Seenu | ||||
| 1943 | Kubera Kuchela | Ennai Vittu Engey Sentreer | Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer & S. V. Venkatraman | ||
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Varuvare Varuvare | |||
| Engum Eppozhutham Vilaiyatta | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar & K. Mahadevan Iyer | ||||
| Ododi Vasantham Poovodu Sambandam | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | ||||
| Gomatha Neeye Adharame Shri Gomatha | |||||
| Marumalithai Soodumthirumal Magan Enge | |||||
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | Dheivamum Mandhira Vaal | Papanasam Sivan | ||
| Devinin Vadivazhagai | |||||
| Chandralekha | Indrae Enathu Kuthukalam | S. Rajeswara Rao | |||
| Manamohana Saaranae | |||||
| Aaduven Mayilaayi Naan | Mayavaram Venu | ||||
| Vaanamengume Nirainthu | |||||
| 1949 | Krishna Bhakthi | Enna Vazhvu | S. V. Venkatraman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer | ||
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Vaanulaavum Tharai Nee En Ithaya Geethame | T. R. Mahalingam | S. V. Venkatraman | |
| Odi Vaa Venmugil Poley | |||||
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | Katchi Yaavaiyum | K. R. Ramasamy & A. L. Raghavan | C. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman | |
| Pozhuthu Vidinthaal | |||||
| 1948 | Vanasundari | Kannile Vilaiyaadum Inba Kaadhal | P. U. Chinnappa | S. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman | |
| Mannan Pennaaga Naanum Mann Meedhu | |||||
| Namasthe Namasthe | P. U. Chinnappa | ||||
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Pasiyaale Nondhene | G. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam | ||
| Thoondi Mullu Pole...Paarunga Thinnu | |||||
| 1953 | Anbu | Anbe Dheiveegam.... Anbaale Ulagil | T. R. Pappa | ||
| Kappadhu Un Paramamma | |||||
| Manadhu Magizhave Manamum | |||||
| 1953 | Vazha Pirandhaval | Chandiranai Polirukkumaa | G. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao | ||
| Vaazha Pirandhaval Naan | T. A. Mothi & P. Leela | ||||
| 1954 | Manohara | Pozhudhu Pularndhadhe | S. V. Venkatraman & T. R. Ramanathan |
References
External links
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