Vijayachander Telidevara

Biography:

Vijayachander, originally named Vijayachander Telidevara, is a versatile Indian artist renowned for his contributions to Telugu cinema, theater, and television. He is widely celebrated as one of the most exceptional character actors in the Telugu film industry, having graced the screen in a plethora of roles across more than forty feature films.

His notable achievements include pioneering work in biographical films. He portrayed Jesus of Nazareth in the 1978 film “Karunamayudu,” which he also produced, earning him the prestigious Nandi Award for Best Feature Film. Furthermore, he depicted his own maternal Grandfather, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, in the 1982 film “Andhra Kesari,” garnering recognition with the state Nandi Special Jury Award.

In 1986, he portrayed Sai Baba of Shirdi in the acclaimed film “Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam,” which was even showcased at the International Film Festival of India. During the same year, he delivered a remarkable performance as the saint Vemana in the super hit “Vemana Charithra.” In 1989, he played a pivotal role in Maniratnam’s romantic drama “Geetanjali,” which received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Subsequently, he took on the character of Kabir in the 2003 film “Kabirdas.” His involvement extended to the 2006 Tamil film “Veyil,” which was screened at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. He received acclaim for his portrayal in the socially relevant film “Virodhi,” which was showcased in the Indian panorama section of the 2012 International Film Festival of India.

Vijayachander’s lineage is linked to the famous Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu through his maternal grandfather’s brother. The renowned Telugu film singer Tanguturi Suryakumari was his maternal aunt. Vijayachander showcased his exceptional acting prowess by portraying iconic characters in numerous blockbuster films.

Some of his notable roles include Jesus of Nazareth in “Karunamayudu,” which was dubbed into Hindi as “Daya Sagar” and in English as “Ocean of Mercy.” He also took on the role of Sai Baba of Shirdi in “Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mahathyam,” which was dubbed into Hindi as “Shirdi Sai Baba Ki Kahani.” His remarkable performances extended to “Vemana Charithra” and “Dayamayudu,” cementing his reputation as a versatile and accomplished actor in the industry.

Prior to his cinematic journey, Vijayachander had a successful career in Telugu theater. His film acting debut was marked by the 1967 film “Sudigundalu,” which not only launched his film career but also earned the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu for that year. Notably, in 2007, he demonstrated his philanthropic side by donating land for the welfare of elderly film artists and the Movie Artists Association.

Between 1996 and 1998, he took part in a 50-episode serial titled “Dayasagar,” which was broadcast on DD National. The series gained popularity and was subsequently dubbed into various languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam.