T. D. Kusalakumari

Thanjavur Damayanthi Kusalakumari (6 December 1937 - 7 March 2019) was an Indian actress and dancer. She featured in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam language films.

Early life Born in Thanjavur, Kusalakumari is a niece of T. R. Rajakumari. Her birth name is Kusalambal. Being born in an artistes family, she began learning Bharata Natyam at the age of 3. When she was 5 years old, the family moved to Chennai. She used to accompany her aunt T. R. Rajakumari, for shooting of films.

Film career Kusalakumari began her film career as a child artiste. Though she has danced in films before, she got a character role in Avvaiyar as the child Avvaiyar. Her major role as the poor woman falling in love with Sivaji Ganesan, was in Koondukili, the only film Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran featured together. Later she acted as the younger sister of Sivaji Ganesan in Kalvanin Kadhali, and then as the younger sister of K. R. Ramasamy in Needhipathi.

The competition dance with Kumari Kamala in Konjum Salangai brought fame to her as a dancer.

She began her film career in Telugu with Raju Peda as a dancer. The film featured N. T. Rama Rao in the main role and was a success. After that, she starred in many Telugu films both as dancer and in character roles.

She was paired with Prem Nazir in Malayalam-language film Seeta in the title role. The film ran for more than 200 days. Another Malayalam film Mariakutty won the President's award.

Awards Kalaimamani Kalai Chelvam

Later life Kusalakumari did not marry. She lived with her brother T. D. Sekar in Chennai. The then Chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa learned of Kusalakumari's financial difficulties and sanctioned a monthly allowance of Rs.5000.

Death Kusalakumari died of old age (83) on 7 March 2019 in Chennai.

Filmography Year Title Role Language Notes 1944 Mahamaya Child Bala Tamil Debut (Baby Kusalambal) 1948 Chandralekha Dancer Tamil 1949 Krishna Bakthi Child dancer Tamil 1950 Laila Majnu Young Laila Tamil 1951 Manamagal Tamil 1951 Pelli Koothuru Telugu 1952 Parasakthi Dancer Tamil 1952 Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari Dancer Tamil 1953 Avvaiyar Child Avvaiyar Tamil 1953 Marumagal Dancer Tamil 1953 Ammalakkalu Dancer Telugu 1953 Devadasu Dancer Telugu 1954 Koondukkili Sokki Tamil 1954 Bedara Kannappa Kannada 1954 Vedan Kannappa Tamil 1954 Nanban Tamil 1954 Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhan Chandra Tamil 1954 Ratha Kanneer Dancer Tamil 1954 Raju Peda Dancer Telugu 1954 Kalahasti Mahatyam Telugu 1954 Sorgavasal Dancer Tamil 1955 Jayasimha Dancer Telugu 1955 Donga Ramudu Dancer Telugu 1955 Kalvanin Kadhali Abirami Tamil 1955 Kaveri Dancer Tamil 1955 Menaka Dancer Tamil 1955 Jayasimman Dancer Tamil 1955 Needhipathi Tamil 1956 Madurai Veeran Dancer Tamil 1956 Kudumba Vilakku Dancer Tamil 1956 Ilavelpu Singari Telugu 1956 Graha Devatha Malayalam 1956 Sahasaveerudu Telugu 1957 Aandi Petra Selvan Dancer Tamil 1957 Samaya Sanjeevi Tamil 1957 Sati Anasuya Rati Telugu 1957 Panduranga Mahatyam Dancer Telugu 1958 Mangalya Bhagyam Tamil 1958 Mariakutty Betty Malayalam 1958 Bhakta Markandeya Dancer Telugu 1958 Kadan Vaangi Kalyanam Dancer Tamil 1959 Kaveriyin Kanavan Dancer Tamil 1959 Mahishasura Mardini Kannada 1959 Mahishasura Mardini Telugu 1959 Nalla Theerpu Tamil 1959 Raja Sevai Tamil 1959 Rechukka Pagatichukka Telugu 1960 Mahakavi Kalidasu Dancer Telugu 1960 Bhatti Vikramarka Dancer Telugu 1960 Desingu Raja Katha Dancer Telugu 1960 Patti Vikramathithan Dancer Tamil 1960 Raja Desingu Dancer Tamil 1960 Rathinapuri Ilavarasi Tamil 1960 Seeta Sita Malayalam 1960 Durga Mata Hindi 1961 Bhakta Kuchela Malayalam 1961 Bharya Bharthalu Telugu 1961 Ennai Paar Tamil 1961 Sita Rama Kalyanam Rambha Telugu 1962 Konjum Salangai Kamavalli Tamil 1962 Muripinche Muvvalu Telugu 1962 Mahathma Kabir Kannada 1963 Lava Kusa Dancer Telugu 1963 Sampoorna Ramayanam Dancer Tamil 1964 Ramudu Bheemudu Dancer Telugu 1964 Rishyasringar Tamil 1964 Oral Koodi Kallanayi Malayalam 1964 Sree Guruvayoorappan Malayalam 1968 Harichandra Dancer Tamil 1969 Thirumal Perumai Dancer Tamil 1972 Kurathi Magan Tamil 1976 Manmadha Leelai Rekha's mother Tamil 1977 Meethi Meethi Baatein Hindi 1977 Nandha En Nila Tamil