T.P.Rajalakshmi was an actress, producer and the first tamil woman director. She learnt dance and music and made her stage debut under the tutelage of Sankaradas Swamigal, considered the father of Modern Tamil Theater. In 1936, she directed the movie Miss Kamala (based on her first novel) and earned the recognition as the first woman director. She was the Super Star of those days and her appealing beauty and acting, she was called as "Cinema Rani" by the people. Her filmography are,
Paranjoti
Kalidas
Bhama Parinayam
Simanthini
Tamil Thayi
Poornachandra
Saguna Saraasa
Rajeshwari
Anadhai Penn
Idhaya Geetham
Miss Kamala
Lalithangi
Usha Sundari
Bhakta Kuchela
Bhakta Kumaran
Madurai Veeran
Gul-e-bakavali
Kausalya Parinayam
Savitri Satyavan
Nandakumar
Kovalan
Jeevajyoti
Rajalakshmi was born in 11 November 1911 in the town of Thiruvaiyaru in Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency and was married off at the age of eleven.She stepped into Dramas and freedom movement which made Rajalakshmi to lose interest in her married life .She got separated at the age of twelve.Rajalakshmi directed dramas and developed to direct Special Dramas.She turned to be the star of 1930s.Her appealing beauty awarded the title”Cinema Rani” to her.At the age of 20, Rajalakshmi fell in love married her Co-Actor T. V. Sundaram,.Rajalashmi was an example of courage and principles.She opposed Child marriage,Female child assassination that were practiced in those days.As a protest to Female child assassination,Rajalakshmi adopted a female child(Malliga) from her parents who tended to kill Malliga since she was born as a Girl Child.Rajalakshmi brought up the girl in her leadership till Malliga’s marriage.Likewise,Rajalakshmi enlightened the life of many people who came in search of her.She gave birth to a girl child T.S. Kamala in 1936.She directed the movie Miss Kamala (based on her first novel) and earned the recognition as the first woman director.Rajalakshmi was an outstanding star of those days.She leaded the first multi-lingual film”Gule Pakavali”,which consisted of three languages,where Hero performed inTelugu,Heroine(Rajalakshmi) performed in Tamil and Co-Actor performed in Hindi.Rajalakshmi owned a film production Company named “Sri Rajam Talkies”.The street where Rajalakshmi lived was renamed as Rajarathinam Street.Rajalakshmi owned 10 to 12 houses in Rajarathinam street.Her main house,#1,Rajarathinam street was named as “Rajmahal”.Rajalakshmi then directed a Patriotic movie”Indhiya Thaai”.
"My mother(T.P.Rajalakshmi) was awarded “Kalaimamani”.Since we didnot have our car,Puratchi Thalaivar Dr.MGR,sent his car to my home and received us to the Venue”….says T.P.Rajalakmi’s daughter smt.Kamala Mony with tears rolled in her eyes.
