K. R. Vijaya

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]

K. R. Vijaya
Born
Deivanayaki

1945
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Dominion of India
Other namesPunnagai Arasi
OccupationActress
Years active1963-1966
1969–present
Spouse
Madathil Velayuthan
​
​
(m. 1966; died 2016)​
ChildrenHemalatha (b.1967)
RelativesK. R. Savithri
K.R. Vatsala

Early life

Vijaya was born as Deivanayaki, eldest children to Ramachandra Nair and Kalyani at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Dominion of India. 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, that were telecast on television in both India and Sri Lanka.

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
  • 2009 - Doctorate
Nandi Awards[9]
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Kerala State Film Awards
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards
  • 2013: Chalachitra Rathnam Award
Janmabhoomi Television Awards
  • 2018: Best Character Actress - Sathyam Sivam Sundaram
Other Awards
  • 2013: Nagi Reddy Memorial Awards
  • 2017: Congress Managalir Awards
  • 2019: Nakshathira Sathanaiyalar 2019

Filmography
Main article: K. R. Vijaya filmography

Television serials
YearTitleChannelLanguageRoleNotes
AdhiparasakthiRajshri TamilTamilDevi debut
1994Madisar MaamiSun TVTamil
1998KudumbamSun TVTamil
OorvashiGemini TVTelugu
PettammaDoordarshanMalayalamAmbalika
2000Daivathin MakkalSurya TVMalayalam
2000–2003MangaiSun TVTamilMangaiLead
2003VikramadithianSun TVTamilPaatti
2004AnandhamSun TVTamilVijay's motherSpecial Appearance
2004–2006Raja RajeswariSun TVTamilAbhirami Amma
2005-2007Sthree 2AsianetMalayalam
2007–2008Shree Krishna LeelaAsianetMalayalamKururamma
2008–2009Namma KudumbamKalaignar TVTamilSatya
2009Shree MahabhagavathamAsianetMalayalamKunthi Devi
2010–2012DevimahathmyamAsianetMalayalamDevakiyammaBilingual in Tamil as Adiparashakthi
2012-2013Sabarimala Shri DharmashashthaAsianetMalayalamSavithri
2012–2016Bhairavi Aavigalukku PriyamanavalSun TVTamilChintamani
2016–2018Sathyam Sivam SundaramAmrita TVMalayalamValliamma
2020IthikkarapakkiSurya TVMalayalampakki's umma
2021Anbe VaaSun TVTamilUlganayagiSpecial Appearance
2021-2022KanakanmaniSurya TVMalayalamPuthanmadathil Kadambariyamma
2023 MadhanakamarajanYouTubeMalayalamIndràpuri muthassiWeb serial
TBAMalikappuramAsianetMalayalamUpcoming series

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. 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. "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.
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