Ragini

Ragini (27 March 1937 – 14 December 1976) was an Indian actress and dancer. She was the youngest of the Travancore Sisters; Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini. She started her acting career in the mid-1950s along with her sister Padmini and acted in movies of different Indian languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. She also starred opposite Shammi Kapoor in the Hindi film Mujrim. 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. Ragini died of breast cancer in 1976. She had acted in many dramas also.

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

Partial filmography

Bengali Year Film Role Notes 1959 Nrityeri Tale Tale Lone Bengali film

Malayalam

Prasanna (1950) Chandrika (1950) Ponkathir (1953) Minnunnathellam Ponnalla (1957) as Dancer Thaskaraveeran (1957) as Shobha Nairu Pidicha Pulivalu (1958) as Thankam Krishna Kuchela (1961) as Rukmini Ummini Thanka (1961) as Anandam Sabarimala Ayyappan (1961) as Mahishi Unniyarcha (1961) as Unniyarcha Puthiya Akasam Puthiya Bhoomi (1962) as Ponnamma Palattu Koman (1962) as Unniyamma Veluthambi Dalawa (1962) as Jagadambika Vidhi Thanna Vilakku (1962) as Bhavani Kaalpadukal (1962) as Chandalabishuki Viyarppinte Vila (1962) as Omana Bharya (1962) as Leela Nithya Kanyaka (1963) as Latha Chilamboli (1963) as Chinthamani Kalayum Kaminiyum (1963) as Usha Atom Bomb (1964) as Sushamma Anna (1964) as Anna School Master (1964) as Sarala Manavatty (1964) as Susi Saraswathi (1967) as Saraswathi Ammayenna Sthree (1970) as Bhanu Sabarimala Sree Dharmashastha (1970) Othenente Makan (1970) as Kunji Thurakkatha Vathil (1970) as Sulekha Aranazhikaneram (1970) as Deenamma Achante Bharya (1971) as Thankamma Ganga Sangamam (1971) as Philomina/Mini Muthassi (1971) as Mary Poompatta (1971) as Susheela Panchavan Kaadu (1971) as Unniyamma Lanka Dahanam (1971) as Maheswari Ernakulam Junction (1971) as Malathi Naadan Premam (1972) Aromalunni (1972) as Unniyarcha Lakshyam (1972) as Anna Thottilla (1972) Aalinganam (1976) as Vimala Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla (1983) as Archive footage Nokkethadhoorathu Kannum Nattu (1984) as Manikutty (photo appearance)

Hindi 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 ParvatiParvati Devi 1963 Shikari Rita Lead Role 1963 Kinare Kinare Bharatanatyam Dancer Uncredited 1963 Naag RaniPrincess 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

Sinhala Year Film Role Notes 1958 Suneetha Choreography also 1956 Surathali

Tamil

Manthiri Kumari (1950) Ezhai Padum Padu (1950) Chandrika (1950) Vanasundari (1951) Singari (1951) Devaki (1951) Andhaman Kaidhi (1952) Mappilai (1952) Ponni (1953) Marumagal (1953) Manithan (1953) Vaira Malai (1954) Kalyanam Panniyum Brammachari (1954) as Savithri Thooku Thooki (1954) as Mallika Koondukkili (1954) Menaka (1955) Mangaiyar Thilakam (1955) as Neela Ellam Inba Mayam (1955) as Bhanu Gomathiyin Kaadhalan (1955) Kaveri (1955) as Kurathi Koteeswaran (1955) as Kamala Shiv Bhakta (1955) as Chinthamani Madurai Veeran (1956) Pennin Perumai (1956) Verum Pechu Alla (1956) Baagyavathi (1957) as Suguna Manamagan Thevai (1957) Karpukkarasi (1957) Chakravarthi Thirumagal (1957) Mangalya Bhagyam (1958) Nilavukku Niranja Manasu (1958) Uthama Puthiran (1958) as Rajathi Ponnu Vilayum Bhoomi (1959) Nalla Theerpu (1959) Pandithevan (1959) Deivame Thunai (1959) Kalyanikku Kalyanam (1959) as Bharatham Pattammal Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) as Sundaravadivu Raja Desingu (1960) Irumanam Kalanthal Thirumanam (1960) Mannadhi Mannan (1960) as Dancer at festival Parthiban Kanavu (1960) as Valli Baghdad Thirudan (1960) Punar Jenmam (1961) as Pushpa Sri Valli (1961) as Valli's friend Senthamarai (1962) Raani Samyuktha (1962) as Amarawathi Vikramdhithan (1962) Kavitha (1962) Ezhai Pangalan (1963) Parisu (1963) as Shanthi Naan Vanangum Dheivam (1963) as Kalaivani Chitor Rani Padmini (1963) Aayiram Roobai (1964) Navagraham (1970) as Akhilandam Ethirkalam (1970) Aathi Parasakthi (1971) as A British Woman Raman Thediya Seethai (1972) as Actress/Dancer of the play Poove Poochooda Vaa (1985) as Alamelu (Photo only)

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