K. R. Vijaya

Last updated

K. R. Vijaya
Born
Deivanayaki

Other namesPunnagai Arasi
Occupation Actor
Years active1963–present
Works Full list
Spouse
Madathil Velayuthan
(m. 1966;died 2016)
ChildrenHemalatha (b. 1967)
Parent(s)Ramachandran Nair
Kalyani
Relatives K. R. Savithri
K. R. Vatsala

Deivanayaki, better known by her stage name K. R. Vijaya, is an Indian actress who has featured in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films. She started her career in 1963 and has been acting for almost six decades in South Indian cinema. The actress has worked with almost all the stalwarts of South Indian cinema and has played many key roles. [1]

Contents

Early life

Vijaya was born as Deivanayaki, eldest children to Malayali Parents Ramachandra Nair and Kalyani at Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her father was in the army and her mother was a housewife. She has a younger brother, Narayanan and four younger sisters, K. R. Vatsala, K. R. Savithri, Sashikala and Radha. She had her primary education at Government Higher Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai. [2] Her father wanted her to become an actress since he was himself acting in M. R. Radha's drama troupe at the time after retiring from army. She made her film debut with Karpagam in 1963. She was the first ever actress to own a private jet. [3]

Personal life

She married a businessman, Madathil Velayuthan in 1966. Her husband was the CEO of Sudarshan trading company and a movie producer. The couple have a daughter Hemalatha (born 1967). [4] M. Velayuthan died on 26 March 2016, aged 82. [3] [5]

Career

Vijaya's first break itself was as a heroine in her debut film Karpagam (1963). Her notable films include Idhaya Kamalam (1965), Odayil Ninnu (1965), Saraswathi Sabatham (1966), Selvam (1966), Nenjirukkum Varai (1967), Iru Malargal (1967), Namma Veettu Deivam (1970), Dheerga Sumangali (1974), Thangappathakkam (1974), Thirisoolam (1979) and Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove (1984).

She was called as "Punnagai Arasi" (Queen of the smiles - in Tamil) by her fans at a function held in Trichy. [6] Vijaya was always the first choice of directors to portray the roles of Hindu goddesses due to her looks which was similar to conventional depictions. Apart from her essaying the role of Goddess Shakti in Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986), she essayed the Mariamman avatar in the film Mahasakthi Mariamman (1986) and Kandhan Karunai (1967). [7] K R Vijaya reminisces about her first director "who gave her life" K. S. Gopalakrishnan who also directed her in her 100th film Nathayil Muthu (1973). Apart from acting in many films, she has also acted in Raja Rajeswari and Kudumbam, two teleserials.

Vijaya returned to a mythological role in Sri Rama Rajyam (2011). K.R Vijaya also played Kausalya for the first time in Bapu's mythological extravaganza. [8] She has acted in over 500 films. [7]

Awards

Satyabama College
Nandi Awards [9]
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Kerala State Film Awards
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards
Janmabhoomi Television Awards
Other Awards

Filmography

Television serials

YearTitleChannelLanguageRoleNotes
AdhiparasakthiRajshri Tamil Tamil Devi debut
1994Madisar MaamiSun TVTamil
1998KudumbamSun TVTamil
Oorvashi Gemini TV Telugu
Pettamma Doordarshan Malayalam Ambalika
2000Daivathin Makkal Surya TV Malayalam
2000–2003Mangai Sun TV Tamil MangaiLead
2003Vikramadithian Sun TV Tamil Paatti
2004 Anandham Sun TV Tamil Vijay's motherSpecial Appearance
2004–2006Raja Rajeswari Sun TV Tamil Abhirami Amma
2005-2007Sthree 2 Asianet Malayalam
2007–2008Shree Krishna Leela Asianet Malayalam Kururamma
2008–2009Namma Kudumbam Kalaignar TV Tamil Satya
2009Shree Mahabhagavatham Asianet Malayalam Kunthi Devi
2010–2012Devimahathmyam Asianet Malayalam DevakiyammaBilingual in Tamil as Adiparashakthi
2012-2013Sabarimala Shri Dharmashashtha Asianet Malayalam Savithri
2012–2016 Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval Sun TV Tamil Chintamani
2014Sreekrishna vijayam Janam TV Malayalam Devakiyamma
2016–2018Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Amrita TV Malayalam Valliamma
2020Ithikkarapakki Surya TV Malayalam pakki's umma
2021 Anbe Vaa Sun TV Tamil UlganayagiSpecial Appearance
2021-2022 Kanakanmani Surya TV Malayalam Puthanmadathil Kadambariyamma
2023 Madhanakamarajan YouTube Malayalam Indràpuri muthassiWeb serial
2023–present Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan Asianet Malayalam Devakiyamma

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References

  1. "Senior Actress K.R Vijaya: Open Heart with RK- Promo | ap7am".
  2. "യവനികയിലെ മണവാട്ടി". mangalam.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 Vandhana (24 September 2017). "'Back Then, There Was No Pressure To Maintain Our Waistlines': Interview With KR Vijaya". Silverscreen.in. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  4. The Illustrated Weekly of India. Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1988. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. S. N. Sadasivan (2000). A Social History of India. APH Publishing. pp. 679–682. ISBN   978-81-7648-170-0.
  6. "Kalyanamalai Magazine - Serial story, Thiraichuvai - Potpourri of titbits about Tamil cinema, K. R. Vijaya".
  7. 1 2 "Women's Day: From Ramya Krishnan to Nayanthara, actresses with divine presence on reel".
  8. "Screen goddess - The Hindu". The Hindu . 19 November 2011.
  9. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)](PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh (in Telugu). 13 March 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. Reed, Sir Stanley (5 February 1980). "The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who". Bennett, Coleman & Company via Google Books.