Jump to content

T. R. Rajakumari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

5 May 1922
Died20 September 1999 (age 77)
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), 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]

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, 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

[edit]

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

Partial filmography

[edit]
Year Title 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

[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 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

[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.
[edit]