Syndicate bank and a Rani
There were a few occasions, a few years before the COVID lockdown brought the world to a startling halt, when I happened to pass by the Syndicate Bank branch in Anna Nagar. During one such visit, I overheard someone remark that the house nearby had once belonged to Rani Padmini. Several assumptions crossed my mind. Perhaps she was a forgotten glamour star, I thought, because as someone fond of retro cinema, I had never heard the name Rani Padmini before.
Two years ago, I stumbled upon a 2017 article titled “Rani Padmini’s Murderer Gets Acquitted.” Curious, I searched for her online and was immediately struck by the sight of one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Interviews by retired police officer Tilakavathi, along with scattered Quora discussions, revealed a tragic and fascinating story.
Rani Padmini was born in Chennai to Indira Kumari, a Malayali woman. Official records mention her father as one Vishwanath Chowdhury, and she reportedly had an elder brother, though little is known about either of them. According to available accounts, it was Indira Kumari who raised her daughter largely on her own. (Wikipedia)
Indira Kumari worked as a dubbing artist, lending her voice to Hindi films dubbed into Malayalam. She was perhaps imagines an ambitious young woman whose own cinematic aspirations never materialised, forcing her instead into dubbing work to earn a livelihood. When her daughter was born in 1961, she named her Padmini after the legendary Travancore Sisters.
When Padmini turned five, Indira enrolled her in Bharatanatyam classes under tutelage of famous Mylapore Guruji. As she grew older, Padmini blossomed into a breathtakingly beautiful teenager. Her mother, already familiar with the film industry, believed her daughter only needed one opportunity to shine. Padmini was enrolled at the Madras Film Institute, where she completed an acting course with distinction.
Determined to launch her daughter in Bollywood, Indira Kumari believed that the Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam industries were too small for someone of her daughter’s stature. Mother and daughter temporarily moved to Bombay with great hopes, but disappointment followed. Nobody seemed to take notice of the aspiring actress. As their finances dwindled, they returned to Madras. Initially, Indira resisted suggestions that her daughter enter the Malayalam film industry and instead tried her luck in Tamil cinema.
Despite their financial difficulties, she worked tirelessly to make her daughter visible. Auditions and screen tests continued until director Vishwambharan cast her in Sangharsham. Padmini was rechristened “Rani Padmini,” and after later playing a differently abled character in a Malayalam film, there was no looking back. (Wikipedia)
Though still an emerging actress who reportedly had to negotiate her pay carefully, Rani Padmini and her mother seemed to live far beyond what her earnings alone could explain. Former IPS officer Tilakavathi later observed that the two frequently left jewellery stores carrying multiple bags. They rented a bungalow and employed household staff.
According to later accounts, one careless decision by Indira Kumari may have contributed to their downfall. In need of a chauffeur, cook, and domestic help, they advertised in the newspaper’s wanted column. Jebaraj, driver Lakshmi Narasimhan alias Kutty, and Ganesan were hired.
Tilakavathi later remarked that this had been a reckless move. She contrasted it with the methods of M. G. Ramachandran, who reportedly recruited staff only through trusted recommendations and after verifying their backgrounds. Indira Kumari, however, appeared unconcerned, believing that paying them was safeguard enough.
The household staff soon became familiar with every aspect of the mother and daughter’s lives. They accompanied them to banks in an era before ATMs, witnessed them purchasing expensive jewellery, and even acted as intermediaries when Indira Kumari considered buying the bungalow they rented. They knew their employers’ routines intimately.
Accounts also suggest that mother and daughter often drank together and were frequently seen intoxicated. Rumours circulated that the actress was financially supported by one or more wealthy older men, though the identities of such individuals were never publicly established.
In the early hours of 15 October 1986, tragedy struck. Jebaraj, Ganesan, and Kutty allegedly entered the house and attacked Indira Kumari in the kitchen shortly after mother and daughter had returned home late at night. Hearing her mother scream, Rani Padmini reportedly rushed out of the bathroom, only to be overpowered as well. (Wikipedia)
Tilakavathi later claimed that both women were sexually assaulted, though this was reportedly not among the charges formally pursued in court.
A now-unavailable Quora account allegedly written by someone acquainted with a Malayali doctor at Apollo Hospital, described the horrifying condition of the bodies when they arrived for examination. According to the account, the victims had remained undiscovered for nearly a week. Decomposition had advanced severely, and the odour was overwhelming. The young doctor reportedly described it as among the most gruesome cases he had encountered.
Tilakavathi later stated that the attackers may initially have intended only robbery. Indira Kumari, who had entered the kitchen, allegedly caught them stealing. Matters escalated when Rani Padmini appeared. According to this theory, the attackers assaulted both women and ultimately murdered them to eliminate witnesses before fleeing with cash and jewellery.
Another disturbing allegation emerged years later. According to the same Quora narrative, Doctor supposedly received a warning from influential figures instructing him not to disclose sensitive details about the case. Fearful for his safety and that of his family, he allegedly left India and moved to London. These claims, however, remain unverified.
The murders also gave rise to rumours within the film industry. Some insiders reportedly noted that very few co-stars attended Rani Padmini’s funeral. Her elder brother never appeared publicly, while her father became untraceable. Speculation spread that a powerful political figure and his son had been involved in an illicit relationship with the actress, allegedly exchanging large sums of money for sexual favours. According to rumour, tensions arose when further payments were demanded and threats of exposure followed. No conclusive evidence supporting these claims has ever emerged.
In 1989, two of the accused — Ganesan and Lakshmi Narayanan — were acquitted due to lack of evidence. However, in 2001, the judgement was overturned. Jebaraj reportedly died in prison, Ganesan escaped and was never found, while Lakshmi Narayanan was eventually released in 2017 after serving a life sentence. (The Times of India)
The story of Rani Padmini remains one of Malayalam cinema’s most haunting tragedies — a tale of ambition, beauty, mystery, and brutal violence that continues to linger in public memory decades later.
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