Ragini (27 March 1937 – 30 December 1976) was an Indian actress and dancer. She was the youngest of the Travancore Sisters; Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini.[1] She started her acting career in the mid-1950s along with her sister Padmini and has acted in movies of different Indian languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. She also starred opposite Shammi Kapoor in film Mujrim (1958). She played the role of Parvati opposite Trilok Kapoor who played Shiva in the 1962 film Shiv Parvati. The era of dance in Hindi cinema is considered to have begun with the entrance of Ragini and other South Indian actresses.[2] Ragini died of breast cancer in 1976. She had acted in many dramas also.[3]

Ragini
Born
Ragini

(1937-03-27)27 March 1937
Died30 December 1976(1976-12-30) (aged 39)
ChildrenLakshmi
Priya
Parent(s)Thangappan Pillai
Saraswathi Amma
RelativesShobana (niece)
Ambika Sukumaran
Vineeth (nephew)
Krishna (grandnephew)
FamilyLalitha (sister)
Padmini (sister)

Family

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She was married to Madhavan Thampi.[citation needed] The couple had two daughters, Lakshmi and Priya.[3] Actress Sukumari was the trio's maternal first cousin.[citation needed] Malayalam actors Shobana, Ambika Sukumaran, Vineeth and Krishna are her relatives. Her husband left for the US in 1972, but returned after his wife became ill from cancer.[citation needed]

Partial filmography

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Malayalam

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Hindi

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Year Film Role Notes
1956 Naya Admi
1957 Qaidi
1957 Beti
1957 Payal Indira
1957 Mr. X Ragini
1958 Sitamgar
1958 Mujrim Uma
1958 Amar Deep Champa
1959 Amar Shaheed
1960 Kalpana Asha
1960 Aai Phirse Bahar
1962 Shiv Parvati Parvati Devi
1963 Shikari Rita Lead Role
1963 Kinare Kinare Bharatanatyam Dancer Uncredited
1963 Naag Rani Princess Anjana
1963 Gehra Daag Dancer / Singer
1963 Yeh Dil Kisko Doon Sherry
1964 Awara Badal Aarti
1965 Aadhi Raat Ke Baad Ragini
1976 Jai Jagat Janani

Tamil

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Telugu

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Year Film Role Notes
1950 Beedala Patlu Dancer
1955 Santosham Dancer
1956 Charana Daasi Dancer
1957 Varudu Kavali Dancer
1961 Taxi Ramudu Mohini

Bengali

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Year Film Role Notes
1959 Nrityeri Tale Tale Lone Bengali film

Sinhala

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Year Film Role Notes
1958 Suneetha Choreography also
1956 Surathali

References

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  1. ^ Pandya, Haresh (2 October 2006). "Padmini Ramachandran, 74, Actress and Dancer". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  2. ^ Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal (2008). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 9788179910665.
  3. ^ a b "രാഗിണി:നടനകലയിലെ ലാവണ്യം". malayalam.webdunia.com.
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