Thiruvaiyaru Panchapakesa Rajalakshmi (11 November 1911[1] – 1964[2]) fondly known as "Cinema Rani T.P.R", was an Indian actress, first female director of South India, 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 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 was the first Tamil feature film to be directed by a woman film director. The film made Rajalakshmi the first female director in South India and the second in India. 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 Rasigar Manram (Fans Association) that was formed by Rajalakshmi's core Fans.[3]
T.P. Rajalakshmi had one biological daughter[5][6] named Kamala Mony.[7] T.P. Rajalakshmi inaugurated the birth year of her daughter- Kamala by naming the movie[3]Miss Kamala[3] Rajalakshmi also saved a child named Mallika from female infanticide, which was practiced in those days. Rajalakshmi adopted the girl.[5][8]
T. Rajalakshmi's grandson is Mr.S.Raghavan and daughter-in-law is Vijayalakshmi Raghavan.[9]
T.P.Rajalakshmi's great-grandsons & great daughter-in-law are Mrs. Suma Subramanian, Mr. Subramanian Raghavan and Dr. Harish Raghavan.
Early life
T.P. Rajalakshmi was born on November 11, 1911, in the town of Saliyamangalam in the then Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency. As a child, 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 to her only biological daughter in 1936 named "Kamala".[6] 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[10]" 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 were ruling over India in those days, which made Rajalakshmi to be imprisoned several times[11] by the British Government.
In addition, Rajalakshmi supported & took care of several people who came seeking help. Rajalakshmi's house were 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 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.[3]
She was honored with the title "Cinema Rani" and later, she was awarded the "Kalaimamani" award (1961–62) for her excellence towards the Cine Industry, for which Dr. M.G. Ramachandran, who later became the Chief Minister, honoured T. P. Rajalakshmi by sending his own car to Rajalakhmi's house in order to invite the pioneer to the venue, where Rajalakshmi was facilitated and awarded.
As a novelty, Rajalakshmi introduced a sequence in which a song is heard over the radio. It was a period when radio was not yet a familiar medium of entertainment.
Rajalakshmi employed stunt sequences to portray the kidnapping of the heroine by a hired gang for which she engaged well known stunt actors of the day – 'Battling' C. S. D. Singh and 'Stunt' Rajoo.
In addition of being a First Lady Director & producer of South Indian Cinemas, T.P. Rajalakshmi also holds a historic record of being the First Heroine[14] 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.[15]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.[16]
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[4]). The combination of T.P.R & V.A. Chellappa was a super-hit expectation of the audiences and fans.
Other leading stars like Sandhya (Mother of Ms. J. Jayalalithaa), Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Savithri, Gemini Ganesan, M.G.R, T.R. Mahalingam, M.N. Nambiar and others from the film industry of those days had a great respect for T. P. Rajalakshmi, and the entire South Indian Film Industry of those days were so proud for T.P. Rajalakshmi's achievements and contributions for the development of Tamil Cinemas.
Death
Rajalakshmi passed away on 20 August 1964 due to Low Blood Pressure.
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".[18] Her birth centenary was celebrated recently as a Government Function to honor the pioneer.[17]
Several other recognition were conducted by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Naadagam Mandram,[6] Ulagaayutha Tamil Talkies, Barathi Tamil Foundation. Smt. Kamala was honored in behalf of Cinema Rani TPR.
Actor Sivakumar during his speech at TPR's centenary celebration said- 'The magnitude of T.P. Rajalakshmi's achievement in becoming Southern Cinema's first woman Director-Producer is perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that Southern Cinema got its next Woman Film Director only after 17 years, when Bhanumathi directed Sandirani movie'
Sun TV honored Cinema Rani TPR on the occasion of the World women's day by organizing a show named Penmayai Potruvom.
Podhigai TV conducted a special star cast interview of Cinema Rani T. P. R's daughter- Kamala along with veteran Cine Actor, Mohanraman in the show named Muthal Thiruppam.
T.P. Rajalakshmi was a social reformist who supported Dravidian movement and women empowerment. She conveyed good social messages and morals to people through her films & stage plays. She was a revolutionary film artist who fought for the freedom. She sung patriotic songs against British in her stage plays and was imprisoned by the British government several times for doing so, she conveyed social awareness messages through her films and stage plays against Sati, female infanticide & favouritism towards a particular caste or religion. She was a brave woman to make her mark in the Cine Industry. Her community deserted her for stepping into the Cinema Industry. Rajalakshmi was separated away by her community. However, that didn't stop Rajalakshmi to continue her contributions to the society and film industry.
