# Ragini (actress)

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. 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. 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 became ill from cancer.

## Partial filmography
### 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 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

* 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 |
| 1950 | Beedala Patlu | Dancer |
| 1955 | Santosham | Dancer |
| 1956 | Charana Daasi | Dancer |
| 1957 | Varudu Kavali | Dancer |
| 1961 | Taxi Ramudu | Mohini |

### Bengali

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

### Sinhala

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | Suneetha | | Choreography also |
| 1956 | Surathali | | |