Narayanapillai Vijayaraghavan

Biography:

Vijayaraghavan, born on December 20, 1951, is a prominent Indian actor renowned for his work in Malayalam cinema, where he specializes in character roles. He is the son of the respected drama and cinema artist N. N. Pillai. Born in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the Federation of Malaya, Vijayaraghavan’s father served as an Estate Manager there. He hails from a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, being the son of N. N. Pillai and Chinnamma, and has two sisters, Sulochana and Renuka. His early education was completed at Govt. High School in Kudamaloor.

Vijayaraghavan embarked on his cinematic journey with a brief appearance in the film “Kaapaalika,” adapted from his father’s play of the same name. He later transitioned into a full-fledged actor with “Surumayitta Kannukal” in 1983, and gained substantial recognition after his role in “New Delhi” in 1987. Notably, his breakthrough came with the portrayal of the villainous character Ramji Rao in “Ramji Rao Speaking” in 1989. Throughout the mid-1990s, he took on hero roles in several budget-friendly Malayalam movies, occasionally appearing alongside lead actor Suresh Gopi, such as in “Commissioner.” His contribution extended to memorable roles in films like “Ekalavyan,” “Crime File,” “Mafia,” and “King.” Notably, he reprised his role as Ramji Rao in the film “Mannar Mathai Speaking” in 1995.

As the 2000s dawned, Vijayaraghavan shifted his focus towards character and villain roles. His cinematic repertoire includes appearances in movies like “C.I.D. Moosa,” “Lion,” “Chotta Mumbai,” “Mayavi,” “Bharathchandran I.P.S.,” and “Raavanaprabhu.” He also showcased his talents on the small screen, featuring in the popular Malayalam TV serial “Kavyanjali,” produced by Balaji Telefilms. A notable highlight of his career is his portrayal of the iconic character Ramji Rao in the films “Ramji Rao Speaking” (1989), “Mannar Mathai Speaking” (1995), “Mannar Mathai Speaking 2” (2014), and “Mask” (2019). Beyond his acting career, Vijayaraghavan is a family man, married to Anitha, with two sons—Jinadevan, a businessman married to Rakhi, and Devadevan, who is also involved in the film industry. He resides in Olassa, Kottayam District, Kerala.