Travancore sisters


The Travancore sisters refers to the trio of Lalitha, Padmini, and Ragini, who were renowned actresses and dancers in Indian cinema. The three sisters performed in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada films.
The Travancore sisters were born into a joint Nair family and grew up at their ancestral tharavadu, Malaya Cottage, in Poojappura, Travancore. They were nieces of the celebrated beauty Narayani Pillai Kunjamma, who declined a marriage proposal from the King of Travancore and instead married the aristocratic landowner Kesava Pillai of Kandamath. Through her, the sisters were related to actress Sukumari's mother, Sathyabhama Amma, and to the Travancore royal family through their cousin Ambika.
They trained in classical dance under the renowned Indian dancers Guru Gopinath and T. K. Mahalingam Pillai. Uday Shankar invited them to Chennai to act in a dance-based film he was planning.
The matriarch of the family was Karthyayini Amma, wife of Panankavil Krishna Pillai of Cherthala, also known as Penang Padmanabha Pillai or P. K. Pillai. They had six sons, including Satyapalan Nair, a prominent producer of early Malayalam films. Another son, Raveendran Nair, was the father of Latika Suresh, a leading producer of Malayalam television programmes. The sisters performed at the 1955 Filmfare Awards.
Ragini died from cancer in 1976, Lalitha in 1982, and Padmini in 2006. Few documents related to them have survived, apart from numerous films and articles in Indian newspapers.

Filmography

Dance and musical drama performances in films.
YearFilmLanguageSongSingerMusicNotes
1947KannikaTamilDance Drama of Lord Siva and MohiniBackground MusicS. M. Subbaiah NaiduLalitha & Padmini
1948Adhithan KanavuTamilG. RamanathanLalitha & Padmini
1948Bhaktha JanaTamilReema, Narayanan & BNRLalitha & Padmini
1948BhojanTamilG. RamanathanLalitha & Padmini
1948Gnana SoundariTamilDanceBackground MusicS. V. VenkatramanLalitha & Padmini
1948GokuladasiTamilS. V. Venkatraman & C. N. PanduranganLalitha & Padmini
1948MohiniTamilAahaa Ivar YaaradiK. V. Janaki & P. LeelaS. M. Subbaiah Naidu & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1948Vedhala UlagamTamilVaasam Ulla Poo ParippeneT. S. Bagavathi & M. S. RajeswariR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini
1948Vedhala UlagamTamilDanceBackground MusicR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini
1948Vedhala UlagamTamilEzhil Annam Vadivaagi EduthheginenP. A. PeriyanayakiR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini
1948Vedhala UlagamTamilSaantham Kolvaai En SagodhariyeP. A. PeriyanayakiR. SudarsanamPadmini
1949Deva ManohariTamilG. RamanathanLalitha & Padmini
1949Kanniyin KaadhaliTamilS. M. Subbaiah Naidu & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949Laila MajnuTeluguAmdala Chinna DaanaP. Leela & JikkiC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949Laila MajnuTeluguEenaati Maa PaataaP. Leela & JikkiC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949Laila MajnuTamilKuliridhe Suvai MadhuP. Leela & JikkiC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949Laila MajnuTamilKannaadi Kanni NeeyeP. Leela & JikkiC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949MangayarkarasiTamilDanceBackground MusicG. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman
& Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer		Lalitha & Padmini
1949Naattiya RaniTamilPapanasam SivanLalitha & Padmini
1949PavalakkodiTamilKonjum KiliyeC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949VazhkaiTamilUzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan KoodumT. S. Bagavathi & M. S. RajeswariR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini
1949VelaikaariTamilOridam Thanile Inaiyilla UlaginileP. Leela & K. V. JanakiS. M. Subbaiah Naidu & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1949VinothiniTamilSrinivasa IyengarLalitha & Padmini
1950Digambara SamiyarTamilKaakka Vendum Kadavule NeeA. G. Rathnamala & U. R. ChandraS. M. Subbaiah Naidu & G. RamanathanLalitha & Padmini
1950Ithaya GeethamTamilJuma Juma Jum JumP. A. Periyanayaki & P. LeelaS. V. VenkatramanLalitha & Padmini
1950JeevithamTeluguBhoomi Dunnaloy Mana DesamT. S. Bagavathi & M. S. RajeswariR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini
1950Krishna VijayamTamilEnnadi Aniyaayam IdhuT. V. Rathnam & P. LeelaC. S. Jayaraman & S. M. Subbaiah NaiduLalitha & Padmini
1950Manthiri KumariTamilO Raja O Rani Indha EzhaiyeliyaP. Leela, N. Lalitha and U. R. ChandraG. RamanathanLalitha, Padmini & Ragini
1950Marudhanaattu IlavarasiTamilVeerathaayai PanivomP. LeelaM. S. GnanmaniLalitha & Padmini
1950ParijathamTamilManamagizh Vasandha KaalamidheJikki & K. V. JanakiS. V. Venkatraman & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1950PonmudiTamilVaanam KumurudhammaK. V. Janaki & N. LalithaG. RamanathanLalitha & Padmini
1950VijayakumariTamilC. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1951DevakiTamilTea Tea Soodaana TeaJikki, A. G. Rathnamala & U. R. ChandraG. RamanathanLalitha, Padmini & Ragini
1951Or IravuTamilArumbu Pol Meesai.... Paartthu Paartthu Kanngal RendumM. S. Rajeswari, T. S. Bagavathi & V. J. VarmaR. SudarsanamLalitha & Padmini with A. Nageswara Rao
1951SingariTamilPasum Paalu VirkkumP. A. Periyanayaki & P. LeelaS. V. Venkatraman, T. R. Ramanathan
& T. A. Kalyanam		Lalitha & Padmini
1951SudharshanTamilUnnai Kandu Mayamngaadha Pergal UndoP. A. PeriyanayakiG. RamanathanLalitha
1951SudharshanTamilUlagame Sandhai Koottamada.... Paaril Sandhai KoottamP. A. PeriyanayakiG. RamanathanLalitha
1951VanasundariTamilDeeyo Deeyo DeeyaaloP. A. Periyanayaki, P. Leela & K. V. JanakiS. V. Venkatraman & C. R. SubburamanLalitha, Padmini & Ragini
1951VanasundariTamilPennin Inbam Naadida VaareerP. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. JanakiS. V. Venkatraman & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1951VanasundariTamilInbamaaga Paaduvom Anbin Kaadhal VaazhaveP. A. Periyanayaki & K. V. JanakiS. V. Venkatraman & C. R. SubburamanLalitha & Padmini
1952AmarakaviTamilMookkutthi Minnal KannileN. L. Ganasaraswathi & P. LeelaG. Ramanathan & T. A. KalyanamLalitha & Padmini
1952AmarakaviTamilMullaich ChirippileN. L. Ganasaraswathi & P. LeelaG. Ramanathan & T. A. KalyanamLalitha & Padmini
1952Andhaman KaidhiTamilCollege Padippukku Goodbye Nam Kaadhal Vaazhvukkini WelcomeT. V. Rathnam & A. P. KomalaG. Govindarajulu NaiduLalitha & Padmini
1952Dharma DevathaTeluguLambadi LambadiK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1952Dharma DevathaTeluguPataku PallaviK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1952Dharma DevathaTeluguK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1952Dharma DevadhaiTamilLambadi LambadiK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1952Dharma DevadhaiTamilAananda Leelai TharumK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1952Dharma DevadhaiTamilPaaduven PaarungkoK. RaniC. R. SubburamanLalitha
1953AnbuTamilVendhazhalaai Erikkum VenmadhiyeA. P. Komala & N. L. GanasaraswathiT. R. PappaLalitha & Padmini
1953MarumagalTamilAanukkoru Penn PillaiP. A. Periyanayaki, A. G. Rathnamala & A. P. KomalaG. Ramanathan, C. R. Subburaman
& Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy		Padmini & Ragini with T. D. Kusalakumari
1953PonniTamilAaduvome Oonjal AaduvomeA. P. Komala, P. A. Periyanayaki,
Jayalakshmi & C. B. Radha		S. M. Subbaiah NaiduLalitha, Padmini & Ragini with Ambika
1956Amara DeepamTamilJalilo JimkanaJikkiG. Ramanathan & T. Chalapathi RaoPadmini with E. V. Saroja
1956Amara DeepamTamilEllorum Koodi Aadi PaadiJikkiG. Ramanathan & T. Chalapathi RaoPadmini
1956Amara DeepamTamilPachchai KilipaadudhuJikkiG. Ramanathan & T. Chalapathi RaoPadmini
1956Charana DaasiTeluguYekkadunnadi DharmamekkadunnadiK. Rani & JikkiS. Rajeswara RaoRagini with Ambika
1956Madurai VeeranTamilSumma Kidanthaa Sotthukku NashtamJikki & P. LeelaG. RamanathanLalitha & Ragini
1956Sahasa VeeruduTeluguSomarulaithe Thindiki NashtamP. Susheela & JikkiG. RamanathanLalitha & Ragini
1956Mathar Kula ManickamTamilDenjaru Aiyaa DenjaruT. V. Rathnam & G. KasthooriS. Rajeswara RaoRagini with Rita
1957BaagyavathiTamilParuvam Malarndhu Asaindhu AadumSoolamangalam RajalakshmiS. DakshinamurthyRagini
1957Chakravarthi ThirumagalTamilKannaalane VaarungaJikkiG. RamanathanRagini
1957KarpukkarasiTamilIllaadha Adhisayamaai IrukkudhudhadiA. P. Komala & K. Jamuna RaniG. RamanathanRagini with Rita
1957MallikaTamilNeela Vanna Kannane UnadhuP. SusheelaT. R. PappaPadmini
1957MallikaTamilMangaamal Valarum Singaara NadanamP. SusheelaT. R. PappaPadmini
1957Manamagan ThevaiTamilKaadhal Kalyaaname Seidha PaappaaP. LeelaG. RamanathanRagini
1957PardesiHindiNa Dir Dhin Tana Dere NaLata MangeshkarAnil BiswasPadmini
1957PayalHindiJaa Re Saanwale SaloneLata MangeshkarHemanta MukherjeePadmini
1957PayalHindiJhuki Jhuki AnkhiyaLata MangeshkarHemanta MukherjeePadmini
1957Raja RajanTamilAadum Azhage AzhaguSoolamangalam Rajalakshmi & P. LeelaK. V. MahadevanLalitha & Padmini
1956Amar DeepTamilJali Lo Dim TanaAsha BhosleC. RamchandraPadmini & Ragini
1956Amar DeepTamilLagi Apni Najariya Katar Ban KeAsha BhosleC. RamchandraPadmini
1956Amar DeepTamilMere Man Ka Bawra PanchhiLata MangeshkarC. RamchandraPadmini
1958Mangalya BhagyamTamilImaya Malaiyai Idadhu KaiyaalK. Jamuna Rani & A. G. RathnamalaG. RamanathanPadmini
1958ManamalaiTamilNadanam AadinaarP.Leela & Radha JayalakshmiVedhaRagini with Sukumari
1958Neelavukku Neranja ManasuTamilKannaikkavarum BaradhakalaiSoolamangalam RajalakshmiK. V. MahadevanRagini
1958Neelavukku Neranja ManasuTamilOtrumaiye Namakku UyirnaadiSoolamangalam Rajalakshmi & JikkiK. V. MahadevanRagini with M. N. Rajam
1958RaginiHindiMain Bangaali ChhokraaAsha Bhosle & Kishore KumarO. P. NayyarPadmini with Kishore Kumar
1958Raj TilakHindiAaja To AajaAsha Bhosle & Sudha MalhotraC. RamchandraPadmini with Vyjayanthimala
1958Uthama PuthiranTamilKaatthiruppaan Kamala KannanP. LeelaG. RamanathanPadmini & Ragini
1958Uthama PuthiranTamilKondaattam Manasukkulle KondaattamP. LeelaG. RamanathanPadmini & Ragini
1958Vanjikottai ValibanTamilKannum Kannum KalanthuP. Leela & JikkiC. RamchandraPadmini with Vyjayanthimala
1958Vijayakota VeeruduTeluguKannu Kannu KalipiP. Leela & JikkiC. RamchandraPadmini with Vyjayanthimala
1959Nalla TheerpuTamilAzhagaana MaaranP. LeelaS. M. Subbaiah NaiduRagini
1959Ponnu Vilaiyum BoomiTamilAangila Naagareegam NalladhuP. Susheela & K. Jamuna RaniK. H. ReddyRagini with Sukumari
1959Veerapandiya KattabommanTamilAnjatha Singam En KaalaiP. SusheelaG. RamanathanPadmini
1959Veerapandiya KattabommanTamilTakku Takku TakkunuP. Susheela, A. P. Komala & S. VaralakshmiG. RamanathanPadmini & Ragini
1959Veerapandya KattabrahmanaTeluguAndala BasavannaS. JanakiG. RamanathanPadmini
1959Veerapandya KattabrahmanaTeluguTakku Takku Bada BadaS. Janaki, A. P. Komala & S. VaralakshmiG. RamanathanPadmini & Ragini
1960Amar ShaheedHindiAlhad Jawan Mera JaageLata MangeshkarJamal SenPadmini
1960KalpanaHindiTu Hai Mera Prem DevtaMohammed Rafi & Manna DeyO. P. NayyarPadmini & Ragini
1960Mannadhi MannanTamilKanniyar PerumaiP. LeelaViswanathan–RamamoorthyRagini
1960Raja DesinguTamilPazhanimalaiP. LeelaG. RamanathanRagini
1960Raja DesinguTamilPaarkadal AlaimeleM. L. VasanthakumariG. RamanathanPadmini
1961Punar JenmamTamilManam Aadudhu PaadudhuS. Janaki & JikkiT. Chalapathi RaoPadmini & Ragini
1961Sabarimala AyyappanMalayalamMinnal Ente KannuP. LeelaS. M. Subbaiah NaiduPadmini
1961Sabarimalai Sri AyyapanTamilMinnal Endhan KannuP. LeelaS. M. Subbaiah NaiduPadmini
1962KavithaTamilKannukkulle OnnirukkuK. Jamuna Rani & T. M. SoundararajanK. V. MahadevanRagini with Harban Lal
1962Raani SamyukthaTamilMullaimalar Kaadu Engal Mananvan PonnaaduA. P. KomalaK. V. MahadevanRagini
1962VikramaadhithanTamilNilaiyaana Kalai VaahgaveP. Leela & T. V. RathnamS. Rajeswara RaoPadmini & Ragini
1963Chitor Rani PadminiTamilHum Tekaa Mele Shokkaa AadumS. JanakiG. RamanathanRagini
1967ThiruvarutchelvarTamilMannavan VandhaanadiP. SusheelaK. V. MahadevanPadmini
1968Thirumal PerumaiTamilKaraiyeri Meen VilaiyaadumP. Susheela & Soolamangalam RajalakshmiK. V. MahadevanPadmini with Rajasulochana
1968Thillana MohanambalTamilMaraindhirundhu PaarkkumP. SusheelaK. V. MahadevanPadmini
1968Thillana MohanambalTamilNalandhaanaa NalandhaanaaP. SusheelaK. V. MahadevanPadmini
1968Thillana MohanambalTamilTillanaNadhaswaram InstrumentalK. V. MahadevanPadmini