She was the mother-in-law of playback singer Tiruchi Loganathan and grandmother of playback singers and popular music show judges T. L. Maharajan and Deepan Chakkravarthy Rajakantham was born in Coimbatore in about 1917.

Once while staging a play in the city, the members of a drama troupe headed by S. R. Janaki stayed at a house owned by Rajakantham's father.

Impressed by her acting skills, Janaki inducted Rajakantham in her troupe.

Starting with minor roles, Rajakantham later formed a successful comedy duo with veteran comedian Kali N. Rathnam.

Rajakantham made her debut in the 1941 movie Sabapathy alongside Rathnam.