The Travancore sisters refers to the trio of Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini. They were actresses and dancers who performed in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada films.[1] [2]
The Travancore sisters grew up in a joint Nair family tharavadu Malaya Cottage in Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram.[3] They were nieces of the famous beauty Narayani Pillai Kunjamma, who spurned the king of Travancore in favour of marrying the aristocratic landowner Kesava Pillai of Kandamath and through her they were related to the actress Sukumari's mother Sathyabhama Amma and the Travancore Royal Family through their cousin Ambika.[4] They learned dancing under the noted Indian dancer Guru Gopinath and guru T. K. Mahalingam Pillai.[5] Uday Shankar called the sisters to Chennai (then Madras) to act in a film based on dance which he was planning to make.
The matriarchal head of the family was Karthyayini Amma, wife of Palakunnathu Krishna Pillai of Cherthala alias 'Penang Padmanabha Pillai'or P K Pillai, who had six sons of whom Satyapalan Nair was a leading producer of many early Malayalam films. Another son, Raveendran Nair's daughter Latika Suresh, is a leading producer of Malayalam TV programs. They performed at the 1955 Filmfare Awards.[6]
Ragini died from cancer in 1976, Lalitha in 1982, and Padmini died in 2006. Few documents relating to them have survived, except for dozens of films and articles in Indian newspapers.
Dance and musical drama performances in films.
| Year | Film | Language | Song | Singer | Music | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Tamil | Dance Drama of Lord Siva and Mohini | Background Music | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1948 | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1948 | Tamil | Reema, Narayanan & BNR | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1948 | Bhojan | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1948 | Tamil | Dance | Background Music | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1948 | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1948 | Tamil | Aahaa Ivar Yaaradi | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1948 | Tamil | Vaasam Ulla Poo Parippene | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| Dance | Background Music | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| Ezhil Annam Vadivaagi Eduthheginen | Lalitha & Padmini | |||||
| Saantham Kolvaai En Sagodhariye | Padmini | |||||
| 1949 | Deva Manohari | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1949 | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1949 | Amdala Chinna Daana | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| Eenaati Maa Paataa | Lalitha & Padmini | |||||
| 1949 | Tamil | Kuliridhe Suvai Madhu | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| Kannaadi Kanni Neeye | Lalitha & Padmini | |||||
| 1949 | Tamil | Dance | Background Music | G. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer | Lalitha & Padmini | |
| 1949 | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1949 | Tamil | Konjum Kiliye | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1949 | Tamil | Uzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan Koodum | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1949 | Tamil | Oridam Thanile Inaiyilla Ulaginile | P. Leela & K. V. Janaki | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1949 | Vinothini | Tamil | Srinivasa Iyengar | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1950 | Tamil | Kaakka Vendum Kadavule Nee | A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. Chandra | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1950 | Tamil | Juma Juma Jum Jum | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1950 | Telugu | Bhoomi Dunnaloy Mana Desam | T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1950 | Tamil | Ennadi Aniyaayam Idhu | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1950 | Tamil | O Raja O Rani Indha Ezhaiyeliya | P. Leela, N. Lalitha and U. R. Chandra | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini | |
| 1950 | Tamil | Veerathaayai Panivom | M. S. Gnanmani | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1950 | Tamil | Manamagizh Vasandha Kaalamidhe | Jikki & K. V. Janaki | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1950 | Tamil | Vaanam Kumurudhamma | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1950 | Tamil | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1951 | Tamil | Tea Tea Soodaana Tea | Jikki, A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. Chandra | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini | ||
| 1951 | Tamil | Arumbu Pol Meesai.... Paartthu Paartthu Kanngal Rendum | M. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi & V. J. Varma | Lalitha & Padmini with A. Nageswara Rao | ||
| 1951 | Tamil | Pasum Paalu Virkkum | S. V. Venkatraman, T. R. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam | Lalitha & Padmini | ||
| 1951 | Tamil | Unnai Kandu Mayamngaadha Pergal Undo | Lalitha | |||
| Ulagame Sandhai Koottamada.... Paaril Sandhai Koottam | Lalitha | |||||
| 1951 | Tamil | Deeyo Deeyo Deeyaalo | P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Leela & K. V. Janaki | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini | ||
| Pennin Inbam Naadida Vaareer | P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| Inbamaaga Paaduvom Anbin Kaadhal Vaazhave | P. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. Janaki | Lalitha & Padmini | ||||
| 1952 | Tamil | Mookkutthi Minnal Kannile | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| Mullaich Chirippile | Lalitha & Padmini | |||||
| 1952 | Tamil | College Padippukku Goodbye Nam Kaadhal Vaazhvukkini Welcome | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1952 | Telugu | Lambadi Lambadi | Lalitha | |||
| Pataku Pallavi | Lalitha | |||||
| Lalitha | ||||||
| 1952 | Tamil | Lambadi Lambadi | Lalitha | |||
| Aananda Leelai Tharum | Lalitha | |||||
| Paaduven Paarungko | Lalitha | |||||
| 1953 | Tamil | Vendhazhalaai Erikkum Venmadhiye | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1953 | Tamil | Aanukkoru Penn Pillai | Padmini & Ragini with T. D. Kusalakumari | |||
| 1953 | Tamil | Aaduvome Oonjal Aaduvome | Lalitha, Padmini & Ragini with Ambika | |||
| 1956 | Tamil | Jalilo Jimkana | Padmini with E. V. Saroja | |||
| Ellorum Koodi Aadi Paadi | Padmini | |||||
| Pachchai Kilipaadudhu | Padmini | |||||
| 1956 | Telugu | Yekkadunnadi Dharmamekkadunnadi | S. Rajeswara Rao | Ragini with Ambika | ||
| 1956 | Tamil | Summa Kidanthaa Sotthukku Nashtam | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Ragini | ||
| 1956 | Telugu | Somarulaithe Thindiki Nashtam | G. Ramanathan | Lalitha & Ragini | ||
| 1956 | Tamil | Denjaru Aiyaa Denjaru | T. V. Rathnam & G. Kasthoori | S. Rajeswara Rao | Ragini with Rita | |
| 1957 | Tamil | Paruvam Malarndhu Asaindhu Aadum | Ragini | |||
| 1957 | Tamil | Kannaalane Vaarunga | Ragini | |||
| 1957 | Tamil | Illaadha Adhisayamaai Irukkudhudhadi | Ragini with Rita | |||
| 1957 | Tamil | Neela Vanna Kannane Unadhu | Padmini | |||
| Mangaamal Valarum Singaara Nadanam | Padmini | |||||
| 1957 | Tamil | Kaadhal Kalyaaname Seidha Paappaa | Ragini | |||
| 1957 | Hindi | Na Dir Dhin Tana Dere Na | Padmini | |||
| 1957 | Hindi | Jaa Re Saanwale Salone | Padmini | |||
| Jhuki Jhuki Ankhiya | Padmini | |||||
| 1957 | Tamil | Aadum Azhage Azhagu | Lalitha & Padmini | |||
| 1956 | Tamil | Jali Lo Dim Tana | Padmini & Ragini | |||
| Lagi Apni Najariya Katar Ban Ke | Padmini | |||||
| Mere Man Ka Bawra Panchhi | Padmini | |||||
| 1958 | Tamil | Imaya Malaiyai Idadhu Kaiyaal | Padmini | |||
| 1958 | Tamil | Kannaikkavarum Baradhakalai | Ragini | |||
| Otrumaiye Namakku Uyirnaadi | Ragini with M. N. Rajam | |||||
| 1958 | Ragini | Hindi | Main Bangaali Chhokraa | Padmini with Kishore Kumar | ||
| 1958 | Hindi | Aaja To Aaja | Padmini with Vyjayanthimala | |||
| 1958 | Tamil | Kaatthiruppaan Kamala Kannan | G. Ramanathan | Padmini & Ragini | ||
| Kondaattam Manasukkulle Kondaattam | Padmini & Ragini | |||||
| 1958 | Tamil | Padmini with Vyjayanthimala | ||||
| 1958 | Telugu | Kannu Kannu Kalipi | Padmini with Vyjayanthimala | |||
| 1959 | Tamil | Azhagaana Maaran | Ragini | |||
| 1959 | Tamil | Aangila Naagareegam Nalladhu | Padmini with Sukumari | |||
| 1959 | Tamil | Anjatha Singam En Kaalai | Padmini | |||
| Takku Takku Takkunu | Padmini & Ragini | |||||
| 1959 | Telugu | Andala Basavanna | Padmini | |||
| Takku Takku Bada Bada | Padmini & Ragini | |||||
| 1960 | Hindi | Alhad Jawan Mera Jaage | Padmini | |||
| 1960 | Hindi | Tu Hai Mera Prem Devta | Padmini & Ragini | |||
| 1960 | Tamil | Kanniyar Perumai | Ragini | |||
| 1960 | Tamil | Pazhanimalai | Ragini | |||
| Paarkadal Alaimele | Padmini | |||||
| 1961 | Tamil | Manam Aadudhu Paadudhu | Padmini & Ragini | |||
| 1961 | Sabarimala Ayyappan | Malayalam | Minnal Ente Kannu | Padmini | ||
| 1961 | Sabarimalai Sri Ayyapan | Tamil | Minnal Endhan Kannu | S. M. Subbaiah Naidu | Padmini | |
| 1962 | Tamil | Kannukkulle Onnirukku | Ragini with Harban Lal | |||
| 1962 | Tamil | Mullaimalar Kaadu Engal Mananvan Ponnaadu | Ragini | |||
| 1962 | Tamil | Nilaiyaana Kalai Vaahgave | Padmini & Ragini | |||
| 1967 | Tamil | Mannavan Vandhaanadi | Padmini | |||
| 1968 | Tamil | Karaiyeri Meen Vilaiyaadum | Padmini with Rajasulochana | |||
| 1968 | Tamil | Maraindhirundhu Paarkkum | Padmini | |||
| Nalandhaanaa Nalandhaanaa | ||||||
| Tillana | Nadhaswaram Instrumental |