Kumari Rukmani (19 April 1929 – 4 September 2007), also known as Kumari Rukmini, was an Indian actress and dancer. She has acted in about 100 films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi languages.
Childhood She is the daughter of Nungambakkam Janaki, also an actress. She hails from Melattur in Thanjavur district. During the shooting of Harishchandra (1932) in Bombay (now Mumbai) the producers were looking for a young actor to feature as Lohidasan. Kumari Rukmani, as a child, was staying with her parents in the next room where T. P. Rajalakshmi who was the female lead in the film, was staying. Rajalakshmi recommended Kumari Rukmani to the producers. The producers talked to the parents and made Kumari Rukmani to feature as Lohidasan in the film. Thus began her film career. (English translation)
Film career
She featured in many films together with T. P. Rajalakshmi. Her first film as heroine was Sri Valli in which she acted as Valli paired with T. R. Mahalingam. In 1946 she featured in Lavangi paired with the multi-talented Y. V. Rao. While the shooting of this film was going on both she and Rao fell in love with each other and later got married. Cine actress Lakshmi is their daughter.
Partial filmography Year Title Role Notes 1935 Harichandra Lohidasan Child Artist 1937 Chintamani Child Artist 1937 Balayogini Child Artist 1938 Desa Munnetram Child Artist 1941 Rishyasringar Child Artist 1945 Sri Valli Goddess Valli 1946 Lavangi Jagannatha Pandita Rayalu's wife 1947 Pankajavalli Lord Krishna 1948 Ramadas 1955 Mullaivanam 1961 Kappalotiya Thamizhan Meenakshi Ammal V. O. Chidambaram Pillai's wife 1961 Sri Valli 1963 Mani Osai 1963 Idhayathil Nee 1963 Kadavulai Kanden 1963 Paar Magaleya PaarSekar Mother 1964 PoompuharGovalan Mother 1964 Karnan Radha Karnan Step Mother 1964NavarathriAnanth Mother 1965 Vennira Aadai Seetha 1965 Idhayak Kamalam Baskar Mother 1966Thedi Vantha Thirumagal 1970 Vilaiyaattu Pillai 1970ThalaivanManimegalai 1970 Mayani Mamata Telugu film 1971 Avalukendru Or ManamRajam 1971 Irulum Oliyum 1971 Moondrudeivangal 1973 Karaikkal Ammaiyar Dharmavathi Punithavathi's mother 1976 Rojavin Raja Visalam 1978 Ennai Pol OruvanSekar Mother 2000 Kandukondain Kandukondain Sivagnanam's mother
Producer She has produced two films in Hindi, with Lavangi and Manjari.
Death After ailing for some time, Kumari Rukmani died on 4 September 2007 at her daughter actress Lakshmi residence in Chennai.
K. T. Rukmini There was another actress/singer named K. T. Rukmini during 1930/40s. She was featured in films like Menaka (1935), Thirumangai Alwar (1940) and her last film was Ponnuruvi (1947).
References
External links
- A song sung by Kumari Rukmani from the film Ramadas (1948) - A song sung by K. T. Rukmini (with Kothamangalam Seenu from the film Thirumangai Alvar (1940)