Rani Chandra
Rani Chandra (born in Kochi, Kerala) was a Malayalam film actress and winner of the Miss Kerala Title. She died in a plane crash in 1976. She acted in several landmark films such as Nellu (Malayalam, 1974), Bhadrakali (Tamil, 1976) and Swapnadanam (Malayalam, 1976).
Background
She was born to Chandran and Kanthimathi in 1949 at Fort Kochi, Travancore-Cochin (now Kerala). She had four sisters and a brother. She pursued degree from St Thereses College Ernakulam. She owned a dance troupe. She was selected as Miss Kerala in 1972.
Career
Her first film, Anjusundarikal, was widely accepted by the audience. Other major films included Ulsavam, Kadarumasam, Nellu, Swapnadanam, Oonjal, Alinganam, Abhinandanam, Sindoooram, Thirumadhuram, and Anuragam. She won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress for the film Swapnadanam. Rani Chandra played the major role in the very popular Tamil cinema song "Kannan Oru Kaikuzhanthai" on YouTube in the film Bhadrakali.
Death
Rani Chandra, her mother, and three sisters were killed in Indian Airlines Flight 171 crash in 1976. They were on a return flight from Bombay when their plane caught fire and nose dived near the airport, killing everyone on board. They were returning from a Dance performance in the Middle East. Ironically, their earlier flight from Mumbai to Chennai returned to Mumbai shortly after take off after a snag hit. The aircraft and all passengers were re-boarded onto the flight. The dead included members of her music troupe as well.
