T. R. Rajakumari

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), better known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, was an Indian actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.[1][2][3]

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 Language Role Notes
1935Karwan-E-HayatHindiPrincess of Vijaypore
Urdu
1936DevdasHindiChandramukhi
1939Kumara KulothunganTamilBuvaneswari
1941Kacha DevayaniDevayani
Mandharavathi
Surya PuthriQueen Sulochana
1942Sathi Sukanya
ManonmaniManonmani
1943SivakaviVanji
Kubera KuchelaMallika
1944HaridasRamba (Dasi)
PrabhavathiMayavathi
1945SaalivaahananChandralekha
1946Valmiki
Vikatayogi
1947Pankajavalli
1948Brahma Rishi VishwamitraMenaka
ChandralekhaChandralekha
Hindi
1949Krishna BakthiTamilDevakumari
PavalakkodiPavalakkodi
1950Ithaya GeethamThara
Vijayakumari
1951VanasundariVanasundari
1952AmarakaviPadmini
1953AnbuTamilThangam
En Veedu
Na IlluTelugu
PanakkaariTamil
Vazha Pirandhaval
1954ManoharaTamilVasanthasenaiBilingual film
ManoharaTeluguVasanthasena
1955GulebagavaliTamilPrincess Lakbesha
RajkumariHindi
1957Pudhumai PithanTamilInbavalli
Thangamalai RagasiyamNandhini
Rathnagiri RahasyamTelugu
1957Veera KhadgamuInbavalli
1959Thanga PadhumaiTamilMaya Mohini
1961Kanyaka Parameswari MahatmyamTelugu
1962PaasamTamilShantha
1963VanambadiParvathi
Periya Idathu PennGangamma

Discography

YearFilmLanguageSongCo-singersMusic director
1941Kacha DevayaniTamilParkka Parkka ThikattuvathumillaiVidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar
Bhoomiyinezhil Pukalavu MedharamaKothamangalam Seenu & Kothamangalam Subbu
Premaiye JagamKothamangalam Seenu
Irunda Vazhvil Kuthuhalam
Narumana Mikumalare Unadhu
Sarasam Seiyave VanthanaiKothamangalam Seenu
Parama Kripanidhe
Anbariya Aadavar IrumbuKothamangalam Seenu
Avanaiyiladavar Ullame VairamadhoKothamangalam Seenu
1943Kubera KuchelaEnnai Vittu Engey SentreerKunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer & S. V. Venkatraman
1944PrabhavathiVaruvare Varuvare
Engum Eppozhutham VilaiyattaC. Honnappa Bhagavathar & K. Mahadevan Iyer
Ododi Vasantham Poovodu SambandamC. Honnappa Bhagavathar
Gomatha Neeye Adharame Shri Gomatha
Marumalithai Soodumthirumal Magan Enge
1947PankajavalliDheivamum Mandhira VaalPapanasam Sivan
Devinin Vadivazhagai
ChandralekhaIndrae Enathu KuthukalamS. Rajeswara Rao
Manamohana Saaranae
Aaduven Mayilaayi NaanMayavaram Venu
Vaanamengume Nirainthu
1949Krishna BhakthiEnna VazhvuS. V. Venkatraman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
1950Ithaya GeethamVaanulaavum Tharai Nee En Ithaya GeethameT. R. MahalingamS. V. Venkatraman
Odi Vaa Venmugil Poley
1950VijayakumariKatchi YaavaiyumK. R. Ramasamy & A. L. RaghavanC. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman
Pozhuthu Vidinthaal
1948VanasundariKannile Vilaiyaadum Inba KaadhalP. U. ChinnappaS. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman
Mannan Pennaaga Naanum Mann Meedhu
Namasthe NamastheP. U. Chinnappa
1952AmarakaviPasiyaale NondheneG. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam
Thoondi Mullu Pole...Paarunga Thinnu
1953AnbuAnbe Dheiveegam.... Anbaale UlagilT. R. Pappa
Kappadhu Un Paramamma
Manadhu Magizhave Manamum
1953Vazha PirandhavalChandiranai PolirukkumaaG. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao
Vaazha Pirandhaval NaanT. A. Mothi & P. Leela
1954ManoharaPozhudhu PularndhadheS. V. Venkatraman & T. R. Ramanathan

References

  1. 1 2 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. Retrieved 26 June 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  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. Retrieved 14 March 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ "Actress Rajkumari dies at 79". The Indian Express. 21 September 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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