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 "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 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

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

Partial filmography

Year Title[10] Language Role Notes
1935Karwan-E-HayatHindi
Urdu		Princess of Vijaypore
1936DevdasHindiChandramukhi
1939Kumara KulothunganTamilBuvaneswari
1941Kacha DevayaniTamilDevayani
1941MandharavathiTamil
1941Surya PuthriTamilQueen Sulochana
1942Sathi SukanyaTamil
1942ManonmaniTamilManonmani
1943SivakaviTamilVanji
1943Kubera KuchelaTamilMallika
1944HaridasTamilHaridas' mistress
1944PrabhavathiTamilMayavathi
1945SaalivaahananTamilChandralekha
1946ValmikiTamil
1946VikatayogiTamil
1947PankajavalliTamil
1948Brahma Rishi VishwamitraTamilMenaka
1948ChandralekhaHindiChandralekha
1948ChandralekhaTamilChandralekha
1949Krishna BakthiTamilDevakumari
1949PavalakkodiTamilPavalakkodi
1950Ithaya GeethamTamilThara
1950VijayakumariTamil
1951VanasundariTamilVanasundari
1952AmarakaviTamilPadmini
1952AmarakaviTeluguPadmini
1953AnbuTamilThangam
1953En VeeduTamil
1953Na IlluTelugu
1953PanakkaariTamil
1953Vazha PirandhavalTamil
1954ManoharaHindiVasanthasena
1954ManoharaTamilVasanthasenai
1954ManoharaTeluguVasanthasena
1955GulebagavaliTamilPrincess Lakbesha
1955RajkumariHindi
1957Pudhumai PithanTamilInbavalli
1957Thangamalai RagasiyamTamilNandhini
1957Rathnagiri RahasyamTeluguNandhini
1958Veera KhadgamuTeluguInbavalli
1959Thanga PadhumaiTamilMaya Mohini
1961Kanyaka Parameswari MahatmyamTeluguMaya Mohini
1962PaasamTamilShantha
1963VanambadiTamilParvathi
1963Periya Idathu PennTamilGangamma, Murugappan's elder sister

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 KuchelaTamilEnnai Vittu Engey SentreerKunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer & S. V. Venkatraman
1944PrabhavathiTamilVaruvare Varuvare
Engum Eppozhutham VilaiyattaC. Honnappa Bhagavathar & K. Mahadevan Iyer
Ododi Vasantham Poovodu SambandamC. Honnappa Bhagavathar
Gomatha Neeye Adharame Shri Gomatha
Marumalithai Soodumthirumal Magan Enge
1947PankajavalliTamilDheivamum Mandhira VaalPapanasam Sivan
Devinin Vadivazhagai
1947ChandralekhaTamilIndrae Enathu KuthukalamS. Rajeswara Rao
Manamohana Saaranae
Aaduven Mayilaayi NaanMayavaram Venu
Vaanamengume NirainthuMayavaram Venu
1949Krishna BhakthiTamilEnna VazhvuS. V. Venkatraman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
1950Ithaya GeethamTamilVaanulaavum Tharai Nee En Ithaya GeethameT. R. MahalingamS. V. Venkatraman
Odi Vaa Venmugil PoleyT. R. Mahalingam
1950VijayakumariTamilKatchi YaavaiyumK. R. Ramasamy & A. L. RaghavanC. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman
Pozhuthu Vidinthaal
1948VanasundariTamilKannile Vilaiyaadum Inba KaadhalP. U. ChinnappaS. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman
Mannan Pennaaga Naanum Mann Meedhu
Namasthe NamastheP. U. Chinnappa
1952AmarakaviTamilPasiyaale NondheneG. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam
Thoondi Mullu Pole...Paarunga Thinnu
1953AnbuTamilAnbe Dheiveegam.... Anbaale UlagilT. R. Pappa
Kappadhu Un Paramamma
Manadhu Magizhave Manamum
1953Vazha PirandhavalTamilChandiranai PolirukkumaaG. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao
Vaazha Pirandhaval NaanT. A. Mothi & P. Leela
1954ManoharaTamilPozhudhu 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. 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.
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