T. R. Rajakumari

Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (5 May 1922 – 20 September 1999), popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, was an Indian film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.[1]

Thanjavur Radhakrishnan 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)

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 was Mandharavathi directed by D.S. Marconi was also released in 1941.[2] 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.[3][4] In 1944, Rajakumari starred in the record-breaking film Haridas alongside M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and gained recognition for her glamorous portrayal.[5]

In her Tamil film career, Rajakumari acted as the female lead to many major film stars including Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramaswamy, 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 Vaanampadi (1963).[6]

Later life and death

Rajakumari died on 20 September 1999 after a prolonged illness.[7]

Partial filmography
Year Title[8] Role Co-Star Notes
1939Kumara Kulothungan
1941Kacha DevayaniDevayani
1941Mandharavathi
1941Soorya PuthiriKothamangalam Seenu
1942Sathi SuganyaC. Honnappa Bhagavathar
1942ManonmaniManonmaniP. U. Chinnappa
1943SivakaviVanjiM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi
1943Kubera KuchelaP. U. Chinnappa
1944HaridasHaridas' mistressM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, N. C. Vasanthakokilam
1944PrabhavathiC. Honnappa Bhagavathar
1945SaalivaahananChandralekhaRanjan, K. L. V. Vasantha
1946ValmikiC. Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam
1946VikatayogiP. U. Chinnappa
1947PankajavalliP. U. Chinnappa
1948ChandralekhaChandralekhaM. K. Radha, Ranjan
1949Krishna BakthiDevakumariP. U. Chinnappa
1949PavalakkodiPavalakkodiT. E. Varadhan
1950Ithaya GeethamTharaT.R. Mahalingam
1950VijayakumariK. R. Ramaswamy
1951VanasundariVanasundariP. U. Chinnappa
1952AmarakaviM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
1953AnbuThangamSivaji Ganesan
1953En VeeduChittor V. Nagaiah
1953PanakkaariChittor V. Nagaiah, M. G. Ramachandran
1953Vazha Pirandavan
1954ManoharaVasanthasenaiSivaji Ganesan
1955Rajakumari
1955GulebagavaliM. G. Ramachandran, G. Varalakshmi
1957Pudhumai PithanM. G. Ramachandran, B. S. Saroja
1957Thangamalai RagasiyamSivaji Ganesan, M. N. Nambiar
1959Thanga PadhumaiSivaji Ganesan, Padmini
1962PaasamM. R. Radha, M. G. Ramachandran
1963VanambadiS. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam
1963Periya Idathu PennGangamma, Murugappan's elder sisterM. G. Ramachandran, Saroja Devi

References
  1. "தமிழ்ப்பட உலகின் முதல் கனவுக்கன்னி டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி" [T. R. Rajakumari, the first dream girl of Tamil cinema]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 2 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  2. Guy, Randor (22 March 2014). "Kumara Kulothungan (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. Narayanan, Aranthai (2009). Aramba Kaala Tamil cinema (1931–1941). Vijaya Publications. p. 107.
  4. Randor Guy (23 October 2009). "Blast from the Past: Katcha Devayani 1941". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  5. Guy, Randor (11 July 2008). "Blast From the Past : Haridas 1944". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  6. ""கனவுக்கன்னி" டி.ஆர்.ராஜகுமாரி 5 சூப்பர் ஸ்டார்களுடன் நடித்தார்". Malaimalar. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  7. "Actress Rajkumari dies at 79". The Indian Express. 21 September 1999. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  8. "T. R. Rajakumari filmography". Jointscene.com. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
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