T. P. Muthulakshmi Biography 
T. P. Muthulakshmi was a prominent female comedian of Tamil cinema in the classic era. She has acted in around 350 movies in Tamil language, since early 1950s, and her screen pairing with male comedian A. Karunanidhi was well received those days. They together worked in a series of movies since late 1950s and throughout 1960s. She was one of the early well-established female comedians of Tamil cinema, who set new benchmark in the industry. Ponmudi in 1950, directed by Ellis R. Dungan marked her screen debut. Kula Gouravam in 1974 was her last release. Her career spanned to more than two decades.
T. P. Muthulakshmi’s full name is Thuthukudi Ponnaiyapandiyan Muthulakshmi. She was born on 1931 to Ponnaiyapandiyan and Shanmugathammal at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, British India. She studied till 8th grade, and was proficient in Indian classical dance forms, and also Carnatic music which paved her way to films. Right from childhood she was determined to pursue a career in the field of acting. Her uncle M. Perumal worked as a dancer in a film of K. Subramaniyam, and through his recommendation she got her first bit role as a dancer in Chandralekha. She was a background dancer to T. R. Rajakumari in the film.
After that she was hired by Gemini studio at a monthly salary of 65 rupees in the role of a dancer. After a few months she got her first big break as an actress through Ponmudi in 1950. From there on she started playing small and lengthy character roles on screen. Slowly she came to prominence as a female comedian on celluloid. In 1958 she married P. K. Muthuramalingam, yet she continued her career as an actress in the industry. During her last years she stayed away from limelight and passed away in 2008 aged 77.
Published: January 05, 2020
Updated: January 05, 2020
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