T. R. Rajakumari

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T. R. Rajakumari
T. R. Rajakumari in Sivakavi (1943).
Born
Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee

5 May 1922
Thanjavur, Madras Presidency, British India
Died20 September 1999 (age 77)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Years active1936–1963
Parent(s)Father: Radhakrishnan
Mother: Ranganayaki
FamilyT. S. Damayanthi (Sister),
T. D. Kusalakumari (niece),
T. R. Ramanna (brother)

Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (5 May 1922 – 20 September 1999), 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]

Film career[edit]

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.[4] 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.[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 to 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[edit]

Rajakumari died on 20 September 1999 after a prolonged illness.[9]

Partial filmography[edit]

Year Title[10] Language Role Notes
1935 Karwan-E-Hayat Hindi
Urdu		 Princess of Vijaypore
1936 Devdas Hindi Chandramukhi
1939 Kumara Kulothungan Tamil Buvaneswari
1941 Kacha Devayani Tamil Devayani
1941 Mandharavathi Tamil
1941 Surya Puthri Tamil Queen Sulochana
1942 Sathi Sukanya Tamil
1942 Manonmani Tamil Manonmani
1943 Sivakavi Tamil Vanji
1943 Kubera Kuchela Tamil Mallika
1944 Haridas Tamil Haridas' mistress
1944 Prabhavathi Tamil Mayavathi
1945 Saalivaahanan Tamil Chandralekha
1946 Valmiki Tamil
1946 Vikatayogi Tamil
1947 Pankajavalli Tamil
1948 Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra Tamil Menaka
1948 Chandralekha Hindi Chandralekha
1948 Chandralekha Tamil Chandralekha
1949 Krishna Bakthi Tamil Devakumari
1949 Pavalakkodi Tamil Pavalakkodi
1950 Ithaya Geetham Tamil Thara
1950 Vijayakumari Tamil
1951 Vanasundari Tamil Vanasundari
1952 Amarakavi Tamil Padmini
1952 Amarakavi Telugu Padmini
1953 Anbu Tamil Thangam
1953 En Veedu Tamil
1953 Na Illu Telugu
1953 Panakkaari Tamil
1953 Vazha Pirandhaval Tamil
1954 Manohara Hindi Vasanthasena
1954 Manohara Tamil Vasanthasenai
1954 Manohara Telugu Vasanthasena
1955 Gulebagavali Tamil Princess Lakbesha
1955 Rajkumari Hindi
1957 Pudhumai Pithan Tamil Inbavalli
1957 Thangamalai Ragasiyam Tamil Nandhini
1957 Rathnagiri Rahasyam Telugu Nandhini
1958 Veera Khadgamu Telugu Inbavalli
1959 Thanga Padhumai Tamil Maya Mohini
1961 Kanyaka Parameswari Mahatmyam Telugu Maya Mohini
1962 Paasam Tamil Shantha
1963 Vanambadi Tamil Parvathi
1963 Periya Idathu Penn Tamil Gangamma, Murugappan's elder sister

Discography[edit]

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 Tamil Ennai Vittu Engey Sentreer Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer & S. V. Venkatraman
1944 Prabhavathi Tamil 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 Tamil Dheivamum Mandhira Vaal Papanasam Sivan
Devinin Vadivazhagai
1947 Chandralekha Tamil Indrae Enathu Kuthukalam S. Rajeswara Rao
Manamohana Saaranae
Aaduven Mayilaayi Naan Mayavaram Venu
Vaanamengume Nirainthu Mayavaram Venu
1949 Krishna Bhakthi Tamil Enna Vazhvu S. V. Venkatraman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
1950 Ithaya Geetham Tamil Vaanulaavum Tharai Nee En Ithaya Geethame T. R. Mahalingam S. V. Venkatraman
Odi Vaa Venmugil Poley T. R. Mahalingam
1950 Vijayakumari Tamil Katchi Yaavaiyum K. R. Ramasamy & A. L. Raghavan C. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman
Pozhuthu Vidinthaal
1948 Vanasundari Tamil 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 Tamil Pasiyaale Nondhene G. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam
Thoondi Mullu Pole...Paarunga Thinnu
1953 Anbu Tamil Anbe Dheiveegam.... Anbaale Ulagil T. R. Pappa
Kappadhu Un Paramamma
Manadhu Magizhave Manamum
1953 Vazha Pirandhaval Tamil Chandiranai Polirukkumaa G. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao
Vaazha Pirandhaval Naan T. A. Mothi & P. Leela
1954 Manohara Tamil Pozhudhu Pularndhadhe S. V. Venkatraman & T. R. Ramanathan

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Guy, Randor (17 November 1990). "T. R. Rajakumari: 'The dream girl' with many-sided talent". The Indian Express. p. 18.
  2. ^ "தமிழ்ப்பட உலகின் முதல் கனவுக்கன்னி டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி" [T. R. Rajakumari, the first dream girl of Tamil cinema]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 2 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  3. ^ "A Legend in her time - the Hindu". www.cscsarchive.org:80. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  4. ^ Guy, Randor (22 March 2014). "Kumara Kulothungan (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  5. ^ Narayanan, Aranthai (2009). Aramba Kaala Tamil cinema (1931–1941). Vijaya Publications. p. 107.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ ""கனவுக்கன்னி" டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி 5 சூப்பர் ஸ்டார்களுடன் நடித்தார்". Maalai Malar. 4 August 2009. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  9. ^ "Actress Rajkumari dies at 79". The Indian Express. 21 September 1999. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  10. ^ "T. R. Rajakumari filmography". Jointscene.com. Retrieved 14 March 2010.

External links[edit]

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