# T. R. Rajakumari

Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (5 May 1922 – 20 September 1999), better known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, was an Indian actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dreamy girl" of Tamil cinema.

## Film career

Rajayee made her film debut in Kumara Kulothungan, which was produced in 1938–39 but was released in 1941 after Kacha Devayani. In the initial ads, her name appeared as T. R. Rajayee, but later in the film, she was credited as T. R. Rajalakshmi. Her second film, Mandharavathi, directed by D.S. Marconi, was also released in 1941. Kacha Devayani (1941) was a hit and helped launch her career in movies. There is some confusion about which film she actually made her debut in, as the director of Kacha Devayani' K. Subramaniam, later insisted that he was the one who introduced her to films. In 1944, Rajakumari starred in the record-breaking film Haridas alongside M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and gained recognition for her glamorous portrayal.
In her Tamil film career, Rajakumari acted as the female lead opposite many major film stars, including Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Mahalingam, K. R. Ramasamy, P. U. Chinnappa, M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan. She also started a film production company (with her brother T. R. Ramanna) called "R. R. Pictures" and produced films like Vaazhapirandhavan (1953), Koondukkili (1954), Gul-E-Bagaavali (1955), Paasam (1962), Periya Idathu Penn (1963), Panam Padaithavan (1965) and Parakkum Paavai (1966). Her last film as an actress was Vanambadi (1963).

## Later life and death

Rajakumari died on 20 September 1999 after a prolonged illness.

## Partial filmography

| Year | Title | Language | Role | Notes |
| 1935 | Karwan-E-Hayat | Hindi | Princess of Vijaypore | |
| 1935 | Karwan-E-Hayat | Urdu | Princess of Vijaypore | |
| 1936 | Devdas | Hindi | Chandramukhi | |
| 1939 | Kumara Kulothungan | Tamil | Buvaneswari | |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Devayani | |
| 1941 | Mandharavathi | Tamil | | |
| 1941 | Surya Puthri | Tamil | Queen Sulochana | |
| 1942 | Sathi Sukanya | Tamil | | |
| 1942 | Manonmani | Tamil | Manonmani | |
| 1943 | Sivakavi | Tamil | Vanji | |
| 1943 | Kubera Kuchela | Tamil | Mallika | |
| 1944 | Haridas | Tamil | Ramba (Dasi) | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Mayavathi | |
| 1945 | Saalivaahanan | Tamil | Chandralekha | |
| 1946 | Valmiki | Tamil | | |
| 1946 | Vikatayogi | Tamil | | |
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | Tamil | | |
| 1948 | Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra | Tamil | Menaka | |
| 1948 | Chandralekha | Tamil | Chandralekha | |
| 1948 | Chandralekha | Hindi | Chandralekha | |
| 1949 | Krishna Bakthi | Tamil | Devakumari | |
| 1949 | Pavalakkodi | Tamil | Pavalakkodi | |
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Tamil | Thara | |
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | Tamil | | |
| 1951 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Vanasundari | |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Tamil | Padmini | Bilingual film |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Telugu | Padmini | Bilingual film |
| 1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Thangam | |
| 1953 | En Veedu | Tamil | | |
| 1953 | Na Illu | Telugu | | |
| 1953 | Panakkaari | Tamil | | |
| 1953 | Vazha Pirandhaval | Tamil | | |
| 1954 | Manohara | Hindi | Vasanthasena | Trilingual film |
| 1954 | Manohara | Tamil | Vasanthasenai | Trilingual film |
| 1954 | Manohara | Telugu | Vasanthasena | Trilingual film |
| 1955 | Gulebagavali | Tamil | Princess Lakbesha | |
| 1955 | Rajkumari | Hindi | | |
| 1957 | Pudhumai Pithan | Tamil | Inbavalli | |
| 1957 | Thangamalai Ragasiyam | Tamil | Nandhini | |
| 1957 | Rathnagiri Rahasyam | Telugu | Nandhini | |
| 1957 | Veera Khadgamu | Telugu | Inbavalli | |
| 1959 | Thanga Padhumai | Tamil | Maya Mohini | |
| 1961 | Kanyaka Parameswari Mahatmyam | Telugu | Maya Mohini | |
| 1962 | Paasam | Tamil | Shantha | |
| 1963 | Vanambadi | Tamil | Parvathi | |
| 1963 | Periya Idathu Penn | Tamil | Gangamma | |

## Discography

| Year | Film | Language | Song | Co-singers | Music Director |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Parkka Parkka Thikattuvathumillai | | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Bhoomiyinezhil Pukalavu Medharama | Kothamangalam Seenu & Kothamangalam Subbu | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Premaiye Jagam | Kothamangalam Seenu | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Irunda Vazhvil Kuthuhalam | | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Narumana Mikumalare Unadhu | | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Sarasam Seiyave Vanthanai | Kothamangalam Seenu | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Parama Kripanidhe | | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Anbariya Aadavar Irumbu | Kothamangalam Seenu | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | Tamil | Avanaiyiladavar Ullame Vairamadho | Kothamangalam Seenu | Vidwan V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar |
| 1943 | Kubera Kuchela | Tamil | Ennai Vittu Engey Sentreer | | Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer & S. V. Venkatraman |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Varuvare Varuvare | | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Engum Eppozhutham Vilaiyatta | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar & K. Mahadevan Iyer | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Ododi Vasantham Poovodu Sambandam | C. Honnappa Bhagavathar | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Gomatha Neeye Adharame Shri Gomatha | | |
| 1944 | Prabhavathi | Tamil | Marumalithai Soodumthirumal Magan Enge | | |
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | Tamil | Dheivamum Mandhira Vaal | | Papanasam Sivan |
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | Tamil | Devinin Vadivazhagai | | Papanasam Sivan |
| 1947 | Chandralekha | Tamil | Indrae Enathu Kuthukalam | | S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1947 | Chandralekha | Tamil | Manamohana Saaranae | | S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1947 | Chandralekha | Tamil | Aaduven Mayilaayi Naan | Mayavaram Venu | S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1947 | Chandralekha | Tamil | Vaanamengume Nirainthu | Mayavaram Venu | S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1949 | Krishna Bhakthi | Tamil | Enna Vazhvu | | S. V. Venkatraman & Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer |
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Tamil | Vaanulaavum Tharai Nee En Ithaya Geethame | T. R. Mahalingam | S. V. Venkatraman |
| 1950 | Ithaya Geetham | Tamil | Odi Vaa Venmugil Poley | T. R. Mahalingam | S. V. Venkatraman |
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | Tamil | Katchi Yaavaiyum | K. R. Ramasamy & A. L. Raghavan | C. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman |
| 1950 | Vijayakumari | Tamil | Pozhuthu Vidinthaal | | C. R. Subburaman & C. S. Jayaraman |
| 1948 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Kannile Vilaiyaadum Inba Kaadhal | P. U. Chinnappa | S. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman |
| 1948 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Mannan Pennaaga Naanum Mann Meedhu | | S. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman |
| 1948 | Vanasundari | Tamil | Namasthe Namasthe | P. U. Chinnappa | S. V. Venkataraman & C. R. Subburaman |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Tamil | Pasiyaale Nondhene | | G. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam |
| 1952 | Amarakavi | Tamil | Thoondi Mullu Pole...Paarunga Thinnu | | G. Ramanathan & T. A. Kalyanam |
| 1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Anbe Dheiveegam.... Anbaale Ulagil | | T. R. Pappa |
| 1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Kappadhu Un Paramamma | | T. R. Pappa |
| 1953 | Anbu | Tamil | Manadhu Magizhave Manamum | | T. R. Pappa |
| 1953 | Vazha Pirandhaval | Tamil | Chandiranai Polirukkumaa | | G. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1953 | Vazha Pirandhaval | Tamil | Vaazha Pirandhaval Naan | T. A. Mothi & P. Leela | G. Ramanathan & S. Rajeswara Rao |
| 1954 | Manohara | Tamil | Pozhudhu Pularndhadhe | | S. V. Venkatraman & T. R. Ramanathan |