K. R. Vijaya

Biography:

Indian actress Deivanayaki, better known by her stage name K. R. Vijaya, has acted in films in the languages of Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. She began her acting career in 1963 and has been a part of South Indian cinema for nearly sixty years. The actress has performed in numerous important roles and collaborated with nearly all of the greats of South Indian cinema.

Her father, who was then performing in M. R. Radha’s theater group after leaving the army, had always wanted her to become an actress. In 1963, she made her screen debut in Karpagam. She was the first actress to ever possess a private aircraft. In 1966, she wed Madathil Velayuthan, a businessman. Her spouse produced movies and served as the CEO of Sudarshan Trading Company. Hemalatha, the couple’s daughter, was born in 1967. 82-year-old M. Velayuthan passed away on March 26, 2016.

In her first motion picture, Karpagam (1963), Vijaya made her breakthrough as a heroine. Her notable motion pictures include: Dheerga Sumangali (1974), Thangappathakkam (1974), Thirisoolam (1979), Saraswathi Sabatham (1966), Odayil Ninnu (1965), Selvam (1966), Nenjirukkum Varai (1967), Iru Malargal (1967), Namma Veettu Deivam (1970), and Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove (1984).

She was referred to by her admirers as “Punnagai Arasi” (Tamil for “Queen of the Smiles”) at a Trichy event. Because of her similarity in appearance to traditional depictions, directors always first chose Vijaya to play Hindu goddess roles. In addition to playing Goddess Shakti in Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal (1986), she also played the Mariamman avatar in the movies Kandhan Karunai (1967) and Mahasakthi Mariamman (1986).

K R Vijaya remembers K. S. Gopalakrishnan, “who gave her life,” as her first director and the man who helmed her 100th movie, Nathayil Muthu (1973). In addition to her extensive filmography, she has acted in two television series, Raja Rajeswari and Kudumbam, which were broadcast on television in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Rama Rajyam (2011), Vijaya took on a mythological role once again. For the first time, K.R. Vijaya performed as Kausalya in Bapu’s mythological extravaganza. She performed in more than 500 movies.