Padmini

Name: Padmini Ramachandran
Date of Birth: 12th June 1932
Place of Birth: Trivandrum, Travancore (now India)
Date of Death: 24th September 2006
Place of Death: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Other Names: Natiya Peroli, Pappima, Thiruvancore Sisters
Years Active: 1947-1994, 2002
Spouse: Ramachandran (m. 1961; died 1981)
Children: Premanand (b. 1963)
Parents: Thangappan Pillai (Father), Saraswathi Amma (Mother)
Relatives: Lalitha (Sister), Ragini (Sister), Chandra Kumar (Brother), Shobana (Niece), Ambika Sukumaran (Relative), Vineeth (Nephew), Sukumari (Cousin)
Signature: "Padmini"

Early Life: Padmini Ramachandran was born on 12th June 1932 in Trivandrum, in what was then the princely state of Travancore, to Sree Thankappan Pillai and Saraswathi Amma.

Career: At the age of 16, Padmini made her debut as a dancer in the Hindi film Kalpana (1948), marking the beginning of a prolific career spanning over five decades. She appeared in over 250 Indian films across various languages, including Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, and even Russian. Notable among her works are Thillana Mohanambal (1968), Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958), and Journey Beyond Three Seas (1957). Her association with renowned actors like Sivaji Ganesan and Raj Kapoor further solidified her status as an icon of Indian cinema.

Personal Life: In 1961, Padmini married Ramachandran, a US-based physician, and subsequently retired from films to focus on her family. Together, they had one son, Premanand. Despite bidding adieu to the silver screen, Padmini's passion for dance remained undeterred. In 1977, she founded the Padmini School of Fine Arts in New Jersey, nurturing a new generation of classical dancers.

Legacy: Padmini Ramachandran's contributions to Indian cinema and classical dance continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. Her demise on 24th September 2006 marked the end of an illustrious era, leaving behind a legacy that transcends generations. Today, she is remembered as a cultural icon and a trailblazer in the realms of art and entertainment.