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]
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 go to film shooting with her aunt T. R. Rajakumari.
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]
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 ]
Kusalakumari died of old age (83) on 7 March 2019 in Chennai. [1]
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Year | Film name | Language | Role | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1944 | Mahamaya | Tamil | Child Bala Credited as Baby Kusalambal | |
1949 | Krishna Bakthi | Tamil | Child dancer | |
1950 | Laila Majnu | Tamil | Young Laila | |
1951 | Manamagal | Tamil | ||
1951 | Pelli Koothuru | Telugu | ||
1952 | Parasakthi | Tamil | Dancer | |
1953 | Ammalakkalu | Telugu | Dancer | |
1953 | Avvaiyar | Tamil | Child Awvaiyar | |
1953 | Marumagal | Tamil | Dancer | |
1954 | Koondukkili | Tamil | Sokki | |
1954 | Bedara Kannappa | Kannada | ||
1954 | Nanban | Tamil | ||
1954 | Pona Machaan Thirumbi Vandhan | Tamil | Chandra | |
1954 | Raju Peda | Telugu | Dancer | |
1954 | Ratha Kanneer | Tamil | Dancer | |
1955 | Jayasimha | Telugu | Dancer | |
1955 | Donga Ramudu | Telugu | Dancer | |
1955 | Jayasimman | Tamil | Dancer | |
1955 | Kalvanin Kadhali | Tamil | Abirami | |
1955 | Menaka | Tamil | Dancer | |
1955 | Kaveri | Tamil | Dancer | |
1955 | Needhipathi | Tamil | ||
1956 | Ilavelpu | Telugu | Singari | |
1956 | Kudumba Vilakku | Tamil | Dancer | |
1957 | Aandi Petra Selvan | Tamil | Dancer | |
1957 | Parasakthi | Telugu | Dancer | |
1957 | Samaya Sanjeevi | Tamil | ||
1957 | Sati Anasuya | Telugu | Rati | |
1958 | Mangalya Bhagyam | Tamil | ||
1958 | Mariakutty | Malayalam | Betty | |
1959 | Kaveriyin Kanavan | Tamil | Dancer | |
1959 | Mahishasura Mardini | Kannada | ||
1959 | Nalla Theerpu | Tamil | ||
1959 | Raja Sevai | Tamil | ||
1959 | Rechukka Pagatichukka | Telugu | ||
1960 | Mahakavi Kalidasu | Telugu | Dancer | |
1960 | Bhatti Vikramarka | Telugu | Dancer | |
1960 | Desingu Raja Katha | Telugu | Dancer | |
1960 | Pathivratha | Telugu | Dancer | |
1960 | Patti Vikramathithan | Tamil | Dancer | |
1960 | Raja Desingu | Tamil | Dancer | |
1960 | Rathinapuri Ilavarasi | Tamil | ||
1960 | Seeta | Malayalam | Sita | |
1961 | Bhakta Kuchela | Malayalam | ||
1961 | Bharya Bharthalu | Telugu | ||
1961 | Ennai Paar | Tamil | ||
1961 | Sita Rama Kalyanam | Telugu | Rambha | |
1962 | Konjum Salangai | Tamil | Kamavalli | |
1962 | Mahathma Kabir | Kannada | ||
1964 | Ramudu Bheemudu | Telugu | Dancer | |
1964 | Rishyasringar | Tamil | ||
1964 | Oral Koodi Kallanayi | Malayalam | ||
1964 | Sree Guruvayoorappan | Malayalam | ||
1968 | Harichandra | Tamil | Dancer | |
1976 | Manmadha Leelai | Tamil | Rekha's mother | |
1977 | Nandha En Nila | Tamil |