Kumari Rukmani (19 April 1929[1] – 4 September 2007), also known as Kumari Rukmini,[2] was an Indian actress and dancer. She has acted in about 100 films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi languages.[3]
She is the daughter of Nungambakkam Janaki, also an actress. She hails from Melattur in Thanjavur district. During the shooting of Harishchandra (1932) in Bombay (now Mumbai) the producers were looking for a young actor to feature as Lohidasan. Kumari Rukmani, as a child, was staying with her parents in the next room where T. P. Rajalakshmi who was the female lead in the film, was staying. Rajalakshmi recommended Kumari Rukmani to the producers. The producers talked to the parents and made Kumari Rukmani to feature as Lohidasan in the film. Thus began her film career.[4]
She featured in many films together with T. P. Rajalakshmi. Her first film as heroine was Sri Valli in which she acted as Valli paired with T. R. Mahalingam.[3]In 1946 she featured in Lavangi paired with the multi-talented Y. V. Rao. While the shooting of this film was going on both she and Rao fell in love with each other and later got married. Cine actress Lakshmi is their daughter.[2]
She has produced two films in Hindi, with Lavangi and Manjari.[3]
After ailing for some time, Kumari Rukmani died on 4 September 2007 at her daughter actress Lakshmi residence in Chennai.[3]
There was another actress/singer named K. T. Rukmini during 1930/40s. She featured in films like Menaka (1935), Thirumangai Alwar (1940) and her last film was Ponnuruvi (1947)
The heroine was Kumari Rukmini, daughter of dancer Nungambakkam Janaki. She entered films as Baby Rukmini and went on to become a star.