T. P. Rajalakshmi

Thiruvaiyaru Panchapakesa Rajalakshmi (11 November 1911 – 1964), popularly known as "Cinema Rani TPR", was an Indian actress, filmmaker, singer, producer & social reformist. She is the first Tamil and Telugu film heroine, the first South Indian female director, screenplay writer, singer, music director and producer. She supported the Dravidian movement and was closely associated with Dravidian leaders.

Her work Miss Kamala was a revolutionary movie that conveyed a strong woman equality message to society. It made Rajalakshmi the first Tamil feature film director, the first female director in South India, and the second in India after Fatma Begum. In addition to producing and directing the film, she wrote, edited and composed the music for the film.

Rajalakshmi was the first heroine in the South Indian Cinemas to have had a fan club.

Rajalakshmi was awarded the Kalaimamani award in 1964.

Early life Rajalakshmi was born on 11 November 1911 in Saliamangalam, a village near present-day Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. She was married at the age of 11, but the marriage reportedly did not last. Due to her family's reported inability to pay the dowry, Rajalakshmi was sent back to her mother's house just a few days after the marriage commenced. Rajalakshmi and her parents then reportedly moved to Trichy in poverty.

Even as a child, Rajalakshmi is said to have shown promise in singing and acting. She could quickly learn and sing any kind of song, and instantly act out stories she observed. This special quality of Rajalakshmi was reportedly recognized by Sankaradas Swamigal, and she joined his drama troupe. Rajalakshmi went on to reportedly perform the lead role in Pavalakkodi and other stage plays produced by Sankaradas Swamigal.

At the age of 20, Rajalakshmi fell in love and married her co-star T. V. Sundaram. T.P. Rajalakshmi gave birth in 1936 to her only biological child, a daughter named Kamala. T. P. Rajalakshmi also directed a film named Miss Kamala and inaugurated the birth year of her daughter Kamala. The movie Miss Kamala turned out to be a hit of those days and Rajalakshmi was a leading star of those days, which made the people to expect and wait anxiously for her upcoming movies. Rajalakshmi established her own production company named "Sri Rajam Talkies " and she produced her films from her own production company- Rajam Talkies.

Rajalakshmi acted in several stage plays showing protest against the British government, who ruled India in those days, which led to Rajalakshmi being imprisoned several times by the British Government.

In addition, Rajalakshmi supported & took care of several people who came seeking help. Rajalakshmi's house was always filled with people who came in search of help. Rajalakshmi encouraged everyone to stay with her in her house as a family. Rajalakshmi was a role model for the people of those days and she initiated social awareness to fight against the female child assassination and to fight for the freedom of the nation through her lifestyle that she led.

Rajalakshmi was well appreciated by leaders of the Dravidian movement. 'Periyar' E. V. Ramasamy (president of the Dravidar Kazhagam) visited Rajalakshmi at her home in Rajarathinam street and appreciated her contributions to the society. Periyar also used to address Rajalakshmi as Thangachi , according to Kamala -daughter of Rajalakshmi- in one of the press interviews.

Rajalakshmi owned several properties at Kilpauk and became a wealthy woman. She resided at the Palace house, that she purchased at the very first. TPR also permitted her brothers and their families too to reside at her palace "Raj Mahal" that was located at No. 1 Rajarathnam street. soon after, she owned several properties in Rajarathnam Street and Professor Subramanian street Vasu Street etc. at Kilpauk. As a wealthy woman, she continued her roles in several films and she had a strong welcome by the people for her movies and songs. Indhiya Thaai was her last film.

Stage career In order to support her family, Rajalakshmi joined a drama troupe and acted in stage plays. She learnt dance and music from Sankaradas Swamigal, a popular dramatist. Rajalakshmi got her big break in 1931, when she was cast as the heroine in the first Tamil talkie, Kalidas. Later on, Rajalakshmi turned out to be the star cast of those days. Many directors and producers requested Rajalakshmi to provide her call sheet for the upcoming films. of Tamil Films. Movie: Kalidas is the first Talkie film of South India & T.P. Rajalakshmi is the heroine of Kalidas movie. The movie reel of Kalidas was brought to the theatres as a procession by Tamil audiences in Chennai. All along the way, people lit Agarbathis and broke coconut, welcoming the Film Reel of the First Talkie movie starring their favourite Cinema Rani T.P. Rajalakshmi. Kalidas is a movie that showed the audience that 'MOVIES CAN SPEAK'. All the films that were released before Kalidas movie were Silent Movies. Also it is noted that before Rajalakshmi turned out to be a Heroine, male actors used to disguise as Women actors and act in movies for the heroine roles.

A staunch patriot, Rajalakshmi was associated with the Freedom Movement and the Indian National Congress. To express her devotion to the cause, she produced a film, India Thai. The British Indian censors objected to the title of the film, but TPR never minded the protest and she released the film daring in the name of the Indhiya Thaai. Heavily mauled by the censors, this film fared badly at the box office but she did not mind the loss for her, rather she felt it was her contribution to the Freedom Movement.

She later switched to matronly roles in movies such as Idhaya Geetham. Rajalakshmi became wealthy, owning sizeable properties in Kilpauk. In one of her movies, Nandakumar, T. P. Rajalakshmi objected to wearing a "katcham" (a bra-like costume). Noted star Durga Khote wore it for the Marathi version without a murmur of protest. However, Rajalakshmi threatened to walk out of the movie, and left with no option, a 1930s – Poona-fashion "jumper" blouse was used for the replacement of the katcham.

When T.P.R was staying at a hotel for her film shoot, Kumari Rukmini (Actress Lakshmi's mother) was staying on the next room where TPR stayed. Kumari Rukmini along with her parents met the star-Rajalakshmi & expressed Rukmini's interests & passion to act in movies. T.P.R recommended Rukmini for the film & Rukmini's film acting career thus begun. Similarly, when T.P.R visited Madurai for her film shoot, playback singer T.M. Soundarrajan visited T.P. Rajalakshmi as a courtesy call & asked for a singing chance.

T.P.R acted many films with V.A. Chellappa, T.R. Mahalingam, N.S. Krishnan, M.G. Chakrapani (brother of actor and former CM of Tamil Nadu- Dr. M.G.R

T.P. Rajalakshmi's birth centenary was celebrated by the Government of Tamil Nadu. The Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, J.Jayalalitha stated, "Tamil Nadu feels pride in gifting to the Indian Cinemas, the first female director, producer and heroine honored with the title – CINEMA RANI T. P. Rajalakshmi". Her birth centenary was celebrated recently as a Government Function to honor the pioneer. Veteran Actress M. N. Rajam was the first recipient to receive the T. P. Rajalakshmi award.

Several other recognition were conducted by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Naadagam Mandram, Year Film name Director RoleNotes 1929 Kovalan Raghupathy S. Prakasa Actor 1930 Usha Sundari P. K. Raja Sandow Actor Rajeshwari Actor 1931 Kalidas H. M. Reddy Vidhyadhari 1932 Ramayanam Sita 1933 Savitri Satyavan Actor Valli Thirumanam P. V. Rao Actor 1934 Draupadi Vastrapaharanam R. Padmanaban Draupadi 1935 Harichandra Prafula Ghosh Actor Lalithangi Actor Gul-e-bakavali S. Soundararajan Actor 1936 Miss Kamala T. P. Rajalakshmi Miss KamalaDirectorial debut Bhama Parinayam Y. V. Rao Actor Seemanthini Ellis R. Duncan Actor Veera Abimanyu Prafula Ghosh Actor 1938 Nandakumar Keshav Rao Dhaibar Yashoda 1939 Madurai Veeran T. P. Rajalakshmi Actor & Director Saguna Saraasa Narayan Deware Actor Bhakta Kumaran K. Ranga Rao Actor Tamil Thaai Actor 1943 Utthami R. Prakash Actor 1945 Paranjoti T. R. Raghunath Actor 1948 Jeevajothi K. M. Multani Actor 1950 Ithaya Geetham Joseph Thaliath Jr. Actor

Family Rajalakshmi had one biological daughter T.P. Rajalakshmi inaugurated the birth year of her daughter- Kamala by naming the movie

T. Rajalakshmi's grandson is Mr.S.Raghavan and daughter-in-law is Vijayalakshmi Raghavan.

T.P.Rajalakshmi's great-grandsons & great daughter-in-law are Mrs. Suma Subramanian, Mr. Subramanian Raghavan and Dr. Harish Raghavan.