Malini is a lesser-known Tamil and Telugu film actress of the classic era who worked in a very few movies between 1957 and 1962. Though her career span was very small, she played lead roles opposite top heroes of the era, including Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R, K. Balaji, and S. S. Rajendran. She was launched into the Tamil film scene as the female lead of Sivaji Ganesan’s Sabaash Meena in 1958. She has already acted in Telugu films by then. Among all actors, her pairing and screen chemistry with Balaji were appreciated most. They worked together in Azhagarmalai Kalvan for the first time in 1959, followed by Uthami Petra Rathinam and Ellorum Vazhavendum.

Malini – Noted South Indian Actress of the Classic Era

Malini actress

Actress Malini took several screen names in her brief career journey as an actress. Her real name is Vijayalaxmi, very often confused with her contemporary actress, L. Vijayalakshmi. In fact, she took a different screen name for her Telugu movies. She used the name Kusuma Kumari for Bavamaradallu, released in 1961. She had earlier done Akka Chellelu (1957) in Telugu, which marked her screen debut. Both the movies were directed by C. V. Ranganatha. She played the titular role in NTR’s Telugu film, Vijayalaxmi. For her Tamil films, she used the screen name Malini. Her performance in Uthami Petra Rathinam opposite Balaji is one of her impressive roles, though the movie was not a commercial hit.

Actress Malini – Less-known and interesting facts

1. Her real name is believed to be Vijayalaxmi. Less data is available about this actress, who played the titular role in a Telugu film, Vijayalakshmi. Hence, her real name is often confused with her screen character names. She took the screen name – Kusuma Kumari for Telugu movies and Malini for Tamil movies.

2. She got her first break in acting through the Telugu film, Akka Chellelu, in 1957, and then worked in both Tamil and Telugu cinema, under two screen names.

3. She was paired with S. S. Rajendran for Thalai Koduthaan Thambi, MGR for Sabaash Mapillai and Kalyan Kumar for Azhagu Nila, her last release, before she retired from films in 1962.

 

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