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Kusalakumari

(Redirected from T. D. Kusalakumari)

Thanjavur Damayanthi Kusalakumari (6 December 1937 - 7 March 2019) was an Indian actress and dancer. She featured in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam language films.[1]

Early life

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Born in Thanjavur, Kusalakumari is a niece of T. R. Rajakumari. Her birth name is Kusalambal. Being born in an artistes family, she began learning Bharata Natyam at the age of 3. When she was 5 years old, the family moved to Chennai. She used to accompany her aunt T. R. Rajakumari, for shooting of films.

Film career

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Kusalakumari began her film career as a child artiste. Though she has danced in films before, she got a character role in Avvaiyar as the child Avvaiyar. Her major role as the poor woman falling in love with Sivaji Ganesan, was in Koondukili, the only film Sivaji Ganesan and M. G. Ramachandran featured together. Later she acted as the younger sister of Sivaji Ganesan in Kalvanin Kadhali, and then as the younger sister of K. R. Ramasamy in Needhipathi.

The competition dance with Kumari Kamala in Konjum Salangai brought fame to her as a dancer.

She began her film career in Telugu with Raju Peda as a dancer. The film featured N. T. Rama Rao in the main role and was a success. After that, she starred in many Telugu films both as dancer and in character roles.

She was paired with Prem Nazir in Malayalam-language film Seeta in the title role. The film ran for more than 200 days. Another Malayalam film Mariakutty won the President's award.[2]

Awards

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Later life

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Kusalakumari did not marry. She lived with her brother T. D. Sekar in Chennai. The then Chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa learned of Kusalakumari's financial difficulties and sanctioned a monthly allowance of Rs.5000.[citation needed]

Death

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Kusalakumari died of old age (83) on 7 March 2019 in Chennai.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Language Notes
1944MahamayaChild BalaTamilDebut (Baby Kusalambal)
1948ChandralekhaDancerTamil
1949Krishna BakthiChild dancerTamil
1950Laila MajnuYoung LailaTamil
1951ManamagalTamil
1951Pelli KoothuruTelugu
1952ParasakthiDancerTamil
1952Kalyanam Panniyum BrahmachariDancerTamil
1953AvvaiyarChild AvvaiyarTamil
1953MarumagalDancerTamil
1953AmmalakkaluDancerTelugu
1953DevadasuDancerTelugu
1954KoondukkiliSokkiTamil
1954Bedara KannappaKannada
1954Vedan KannappaTamil
1954NanbanTamil
1954Pona Machaan Thirumbi VandhanChandraTamil
1954Ratha KanneerDancerTamil
1954Raju PedaDancerTelugu
1954Kalahasti MahatyamTelugu
1954SorgavasalDancerTamil
1955JayasimhaDancerTelugu
1955Donga RamuduDancerTelugu
1955Kalvanin KadhaliAbiramiTamil
1955KaveriDancerTamil
1955MenakaDancerTamil
1955JayasimmanDancerTamil
1955NeedhipathiTamil
1956Madurai VeeranDancerTamil
1956Kudumba VilakkuDancerTamil
1956IlavelpuSingariTelugu
1956Graha DevathaMalayalam
1956SahasaveeruduTelugu
1957Aandi Petra SelvanDancerTamil
1957Samaya SanjeeviTamil
1957Sati AnasuyaRatiTelugu
1957Panduranga MahatyamDancerTelugu
1958Mangalya BhagyamTamil
1958MariakuttyBettyMalayalam
1958Bhakta MarkandeyaDancerTelugu
1958Kadan Vaangi KalyanamDancerTamil
1959Kaveriyin KanavanDancerTamil
1959Mahishasura MardiniKannada
1959Mahishasura MardiniTelugu
1959Nalla TheerpuTamil
1959Raja SevaiTamil
1959Rechukka PagatichukkaTelugu
1960Mahakavi KalidasuDancerTelugu
1960Bhatti VikramarkaDancerTelugu
1960Desingu Raja KathaDancerTelugu
1960Patti VikramathithanDancerTamil
1960Raja DesinguDancerTamil
1960Rathinapuri IlavarasiTamil
1960SeetaSitaMalayalam
1960Durga MataHindi
1961Bhakta KuchelaMalayalam
1961Bharya BharthaluTelugu
1961Ennai PaarTamil
1961Sita Rama KalyanamRambhaTelugu
1962Konjum SalangaiKamavalliTamil
1962Muripinche MuvvaluTelugu
1962Mahathma KabirKannada
1963Lava KusaDancerTelugu
1963Sampoorna RamayanamDancerTamil
1964Ramudu BheemuduDancerTelugu
1964RishyasringarTamil
1964Oral Koodi KallanayiMalayalam
1964Sree GuruvayoorappanMalayalam
1968HarichandraDancerTamil
1969Thirumal PerumaiDancerTamil
1972Kurathi MaganTamil
1976Manmadha LeelaiRekha's motherTamil
1977Meethi Meethi BaateinHindi
1977Nandha En NilaTamil

References

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  1. 1 2 Kusari, Kareena (8 March 2019). "Koondukili's Tamil Actress Kusalakumari Departs This Life On Wednesday At Age Of 83". Starbiz. Retrieved 13 December 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ R. C. Jayanthan (11 March 2016). "மறக்கப்பட்ட நடிகர்கள் 3: தென்னகம் கொண்டாடிய திறமை! - குசலகுமாரி". The Hindu (in Tamil). Retrieved 14 December 2019.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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