memories
"Mohana" is no more...
Padmini India's greatest classical dancer and a great actress passed away in the early hours of Monday September 25. She was the last surviving member of the Travancore sisters. Lalitha, Ragini and Padmini were accomplished dancers and actresses. Padmini broke linguistic barriers and acted in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi and dubbed in her own voice for all these languages.

She acted with M.G.R., Shivaji Ganeshan, Gemini Ganeshan, Prem Nazir, Raj Kapoor and many other leading men of her time. Some of my favourite movies in which she starred were-Vanji Kottai Valibhan-with Gemini and Vyjayanthi Mala, Thilana Mohanambal and Vietnam Veedu with Shivaji Ganeshan, Nokkatha Doorathu Kannum Nattu-Fazil's movie starring Nadiya and Mohanlal(remade as Poove Poo Choodava in Tamil)

She married Doctor Ramachandran and settled in the U.S. where she started a dance-school. She was an intelligent and humble woman who was a constant bundle of energy. A great artist and a beautiful person. Indian cinema will miss her.