#Golden Frames: T R Rajakumari - the first 'dream girl' of Tamil cinema

Born as Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee on May 5, 1922, in Tamil Nadu, T. R. Rajakumari was a trained Carnatic singer, dancer and actress, who is called the first 'dream girl' of Tamil cinema. T R Rajakumari was first spotted by American film director Ellis R. Dungan when she visited her aunt SP.L. Dhanalakshmi during the shooting of 'Kalamegam' (1940) in Chennai. Rajakumari got her first break in the movie 'Kumara Kulothungan' (1939). However, it was her third film 'Kacha Devayani' (1941), which helped her captivate the audience's attention. She became the top heroine of Tamil cinema and is known for films like 'Manonmani' (1942), 'Sivakavi' (1943), 'Haridas' (1944), and 'Chandralekha' (1948).