By Kashvi Raj Singh,News18,Sahas

Copyright news18

Rani Chandra, the first Miss Kerala, dancer and actor, won fans with her charismatic presence and exceptional dancing skills. But her meteoric rise in the industry was tragically cut short in a devastating plane crash at just 27. Though her career spanned less than a decade, she left an enduring legacy across Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
Born in 1949 in the then Thirukochi (Travancore-Cochin), Rani was one of six children of Chandran and Kanthimathi. While still a student, she took part in the beauty pageant, which was held in Kerala for the first time. To everyone’s surprise, she was crowned the first Miss Kerala. Her beauty, coupled with her exceptional dancing skills, quickly brought her into the limelight.
Rani Chandra’s Early Life
Her debut film, Pavappettaval, credited her as ‘Miss Kerala,’ and she formed a dance troupe titled ‘Miss Kerala and Party,’ which included her sisters, reported Manorama Online.
Their lives took a drastic turn when their father’s business failed, resulting in a deterioration of the family’s financial situation. Rani, determined to support her loved ones, shifted her full focus to acting and performing with her dance troupe after graduating from St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam.
Rani Chandra’s Rising Stardom
It did not take long for Rani Chandra to rise to fame in cinema, thanks to her charm and talent. She played leading roles opposite top actors like Prem Nazir and Madhu. Her performances in films like Chembarathi, Devi, Brahmachari, Jesus, and Aaraadhika earned her a strong fan following.
Her standout performance in Ramu Kariat’s Nellu (1974), scripted by Kariat and KG George, became a turning point in her career. This film also paved the way for her lead role in KG George’s Swapnadanam.
In 1976, legendary filmmaker KG George made his directorial debut with Swapnadanam, a psychological drama that featured a narrative and visual language never before seen in Malayalam cinema. The black-and-white film, scripted by Pamman and George, won both the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film and the National Award for Best Malayalam Feature Film. Rani Chandra’s powerful performance in the lead role earned her the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress, marking a high point in her career.
Rani Chandra’s Collaborations Across Languages and Stars
The actress has worked with celebrated filmmakers and actors, including IV Sasi, Sreekumaran Thampi, Raghavan, Gemini Ganesan, Adoor Bhasi, Bahadoor, KP Ummer, Srividya, and Jayabharathi. She has featured in over 70 films, including Tamil hits like Then Sindhudhe Vaanam and Bhadrakali with actors such as Kamal Haasan and Sivakumar.
Rani Chandra’s Death In Tragic Plane Crash
On October 12, 1976, Rani Chandra’s flourishing career was tragically cut short. She, along with her mother and three sisters, was on Indian Airlines Flight 171 from Bombay to Madras. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off while attempting an emergency landing at Bombay Airport (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport), killing all 95 passengers onboard.
The troupe, Miss Kerala and Party, along with accompanying musicians, also passed away in the crash. According to The Hindu, the ill-fated plane was scheduled to operate after two failed Boeing flights, one due to a bird strike and the other due to technical issues.
Rani Chandra’s last film
At the time of her death, the 27-year-old Rani was still filming Bhadrakali. The makers shot some parts of the movie using a body double. But things didn’t progress as intended, so they used some scenes from her previous films to complete it. Despite her brief career, Rani Chandra had left an indelible mark on Indian cinema.