Thiruvaiyaru Panchapakesa Rajalakshmi fondly called as 'Cinema Rani T.P.R' was an Indian actress, first female director of South India, filmmaker, singer, producer & social reformist. She is the first Tamil and Telugu film heroine, the first South Indian female director, screenplay writer, singer, music director and producer. She supported Dravidian movement and was closely associated with Dravidian leaders.
T. P. Rajalakshmi, January 1938
Kalidas is a 1931 Indian biographical film directed by H. M. Reddy and produced by Ardeshir Irani. It is notable for being the first sound film in the Tamil and Telugu languages, and the first sound film to be made in a language from South India. It was based on the life of the Sanskrit poet Kalidasa; it featured P. G. Venkatesan in the title role and T. P. Rajalakshmi as the female lead, with L. V. Prasad, Thevaram Rajambal, T. Susheela Devi, J. Sushila, and M. S. Santhanalakshmi in supporting roles.
Kalidas (film)
Pre-release advertisement for Kalidas
Image: Kalidas(1931)
Image: Kalidas 1931 still