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India.com
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Not Kapoors or Khans: This film family has a huge legacy, 7 actresses, 1 director,1 cameraman, vanished from cinema now, they are...
Not Kapoors or Khans: This film family has a huge legacy, 7 actresses, 1 director,1 cameraman, vanished from cinema now, they are... In the glittering world of Indian cinema, it is often seen that last names hold paramount importance. Whether it's opening a new door of opportunities for the upcoming generation or just bearing the fruits of the ongoing legacy. From the Kapoors, Khans to the Deols of Bollywood, it is often witnessed that film families are widely celebrated and hailed not just for their talent but their ongoing heritage. In this industry, Surname is not merely the last name, it's a brand, a symbol of royalty, a generation carries. But besides the famous and mainstream film dynasties, there is another family that might not be in the spotlight as much but is equally powerful. This family once ruled the Tamil industry and has not just one or two but nine family members who are part of the Indian cinema, each of them being equally talented and remarkable on the silver screen. The family we are talking about is that of the actress TR Rajkumari, who is called the first dream girl of Tamil cinema The legacy of this cinematic family began centuries ago but has vanished gracefully from the limelight over the years. The family consists of seven actresses, one director, and one cameraman. Speaking of the roots of the family, it started with her grandmother, Kuzhalambal, who was a celebrated singer from Karnataka. She had seven children who went on to overpower the Tamil silver screen. SPL Dhanalakshmi is the first one to venture into acting and make a remarkable name for herself. She was an impeccable classical dance performer who caught the attention of film producer Manickam and was cast as the lead actress in National Movie Tone in 1935. Following in her footsteps, Dhanlakshmi's sister Tamyanati and then TR Rajkumari also stepped into the film industry. Rajkumari soon became a household name with her great work and was marked as the first dream girl of Tamil cinema. Taking the legacy forward, Rajkumari's daughter-in-law, Kusalakumari, also ventured into acting and stole the hearts of millions in the 1970s. Later, Dhanalakshmi's daughters, Jayamalini and Jyothi Lakshmi, also entered Tamil cinema and did over 800 films, making an unforgettable contribution to Tamil cinema. Jayamalini's father was a renowned cameraman. TR Ramanna of this family was a filmmaker from the same lineage, who cast both superstars MGR and Shivaji together in a film. Lastly, the black sheep of the family was Jothi Meena, who was the daughter of Jyothi Lakshmi, who left the cinema world after marrying a doctor and led a private life. While none of the family members are active in the cinema world, at one point, all of them dominated the silver screen. Their contribution to cinema remains unmatched, and their legacy will forever be remembered.
News18
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
7 Heroines In One Family: The Forgotten Queens Of Tamil Cinema
1/9 In India, the influence of family legacies can be seen across sectors, from business to politics, and cinema is no exception. Film families, where generations follow one another into the industry, exist in every regional language cinema. But few can rival the sheer scale of one remarkable family in Tamil cinema. Would you believe that seven heroines, a director, and a cameraman, all from a single family, once held sway over the Tamil film industry? This is indeed true, and at the heart of it lies Tamil cinema's very first 'dream girl': Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee, better known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari. To understand this legacy, we must begin with her grandmother, Kujalambal, a celebrated Carnatic singer of her time. The family hailed from Thanjavur, a cultural hub of Tamil Nadu. The cinematic journey began with S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi, the first-generation actress in the 1930s. In 1935, the production house National Movie Tone launched its debut film Parvathy Kalyanam. Producer Manickam, in search of talent, discovered S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi performing in Thanjavur and cast her as the lead. Her sister, Damayanthi, also appeared in a handful of films during that era. The family's rise reached new heights with Rajayee, who caught the attention of director K. Subramaniam during a visit to S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi's home. Struck by her beauty, he renamed her T.R. Rajakumari and cast her in Kacha Devayani (1941). She went on to become one of the most iconic actresses of her generation. Supporting this growing legacy was D.R. Ramanna, a producer and director, and notably the only filmmaker to produce a film featuring both MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, two titans of Tamil cinema. The next torchbearer was Kusalakumari, T. R. Rajakumari's niece, who starred in films during the 1970s. From the next generation came Jyothi Lakshmi and Jayamalini, daughters of S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi. The sisters dominated Tamil and Telugu cinema in the 1980s with their bold performances and dance sequences. Notably, Jyothi Lakshmi was adopted by S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi's sister, who had no children of her own. 7/9 Jyothi Lakshmi rose to fame with her performance in Periya Idathu Penn (1963) alongside MGR, particularly with the song Kattodu Kuzhalada Aada. She also contributed to iconic dance numbers such as Kana Karunguilile in Sethu (1999). Jayamalini, meanwhile, gained cult status for her role in the classic film Jaganmohini (1978). Between them, they acted in over 800 films. 8/9 The final known heir to this cinematic dynasty was Jyothi Meena, daughter of Jyothi Lakshmi. She appeared in several films during the 1990s, including Ullathai Allitha (1996), where she was paired with comedian Goundamani. Jyothi Meena also performed with leading stars like Vijay and Ajith, and took on occasional character roles. Her father was a cameraman, yet another film profession represented in this remarkable lineage.
