T.P. Rajalakshmi (Aged 53), born in 1911 in Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, India, was the daughter of Punjabakesa Iyyer and Meenakshi. She experienced an early marriage at the age of 11 but was abandoned by her husband due to dowry issues, leading to her father’s tragic suicide. In the face of these challenges, Rajalakshmi and her mother left their village. To support her family, Rajalakshmi joined a drama troupe, where she began acting in stage plays. She also learned dance and music from the popular dramatist Sankaradas Swamigal.
Rajalakshmi found her footing in life in 1931 when she starred as the heroine in the first Tamil talkie, ‘Kalidas.’ She held the distinction of being the first Tamil actress and earned the special title of ‘Cinema Rani.’ Through her acting career, she achieved financial success and went on to establish her own film company named ‘Rajam Theatres.’ Notably, she produced a film titled ‘Miss Kamala,’ for which she not only wrote the story but also directed it, becoming the first female film director in South India.
Despite her popularity in the film industry, Rajalakshmi remained deeply interested in the Indian National Congress and Gandhian principles. In pursuit of her convictions, she produced a film titled ‘Indiya Thai’ to shed light on India’s struggle for independence. Despite facing objections from the British Indian censors regarding the film’s title, she boldly released it as ‘Indhiya Thai.’ Though the film faced significant censorship and struggled at the box office, Rajalakshmi considered it her contribution to the Freedom Movement. She passed away in 1964.
T.P. Rajalakshmi
(1911 – 1964) – (Tamilnadu)
T.P. Rajalakshmi (Aged 53), born in 1911 in Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu, India, was the daughter of Punjabakesa Iyyer and Meenakshi. She experienced an early marriage at the age of 11 but was abandoned by her husband due to dowry issues, leading to her father’s tragic suicide. In the face of these challenges, Rajalakshmi and her mother left their village. To support her family, Rajalakshmi joined a drama troupe, where she began acting in stage plays. She also learned dance and music from the popular dramatist Sankaradas Swamigal.
Rajalakshmi found her footing in life in 1931 when she starred as the heroine in the first Tamil talkie, ‘Kalidas.’ She held the distinction of being the first Tamil actress and earned the special title of ‘Cinema Rani.’ Through her acting career, she achieved financial success and went on to establish her own film company named ‘Rajam Theatres.’ Notably, she produced a film titled ‘Miss Kamala,’ for which she not only wrote the story but also directed it, becoming the first female film director in South India.
Despite her popularity in the film industry, Rajalakshmi remained deeply interested in the Indian National Congress and Gandhian principles. In pursuit of her convictions, she produced a film titled ‘Indiya Thai’ to shed light on India’s struggle for independence. Despite facing objections from the British Indian censors regarding the film’s title, she boldly released it as ‘Indhiya Thai.’ Though the film faced significant censorship and struggled at the box office, Rajalakshmi considered it her contribution to the Freedom Movement. She passed away in 1964.
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