Sasikumar (actor, born 1944)

Vijaykumar (8 December 1944 – 24 August 1974) better known by his stage name Sasikumar, was an Indian actor and army officer who worked mainly in Tamil cinema.

Sasikumar
Born
Vijaykumar

(1944-12-08)8 December 1944
Died24 August 1974(1974-08-24) (aged 29)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Other namesRadha Vijaykumar
Radha Vetriselvan
EducationB. Sc Chemistry
Occupation(s)Actor, army officer
Years active1970–1974
Spouse
Sasikala
(died 1974)
Children2 (including Vijayasarathy)
Parents
  • Radhakrishnan (father)
  • Savithri (mother)

Early life

Sasikumar was born Vijaykumar on 8 December 1944 to Radhakrishnan and Savithri in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan, a follower of E. V. Ramasamy, worked at the National College, Tiruchirappalli as a Hindi professor. Vijaykumar studied chemistry at the same college, eventually graduating with a B.Sc degree.[1][2][3]

Career

While in his third year at college, Vijaykumar joined the army and became the second lieutenant; he registered under the name "Vetriselvan", previously conferred upon him by E. V. Ramasamy. After completing his college education, he was promoted to lieutenant and went to Patiala. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, he took over the leadership of the Button Bearing Division and won the President's Medal of Valour for driving out soldiers without using the bearings in the war. He later went to Madras (now Chennai) after being relieved of his military service, married Sasikala and founded a theatre troupe, acting in many of his plays. When filmmaker A. P. Nagarajan saw one of those plays and was impressed with Vijaykumar's performance, he cast him in Thirumalai Thenkumari (1970), making it Vijaykumar's film debut; Vijaykumar adopted the stage name Sasikumar, partly inspired by his wife. He went on to act in numerous successful films, including ...Aval!, Kasethan Kadavulada (both 1972), Arangetram, Bharatha Vilas, Rajapart Rangadurai, Suryagandhi (all in 1973), and Vellikizhamai Viratham (1974).[1][2][3]

Death

Sasikumar was leaving for a Congress public meeting when Sasikala was caught in a fire when she lit cooking gas in the kitchen. When Sasikumar tried to save his wife from the fire, a fire spread on her. Both were taken to Royapettah Hospital. However, both died on 24 August 1974. They had two children at the time, a six-year old daughter and a four-year old son, who were subsequently raised by their grandmother.[1][3] His son Vijayasarathy was a Sun TV anchor who hosted many successful programs in the 1990s and 2000s.[4]

Filmography

Year Title Role Ref.
1969 Thirudan Dancer
1970 Thirumalai Thenkumari Mohan
1971 Veettukku Oru Pillai Kalaimani
1972 ...Aval! Chandranath [5]
1972 Kasethan Kadavulada Mani [6]
1973 Arangetram Pasupathy [7]
1973 Bharatha Vilas Ameer
1973 Rajapart Rangadurai Ramu
1973 Suryagandhi Sundaram
1974 Panathukkaga Sundar
1974 Paruva Kaalam Jambhu
1974 Vellikizhamai Viratham Suresh [8]
1975 Manidhanum Dheivamagalam Kannan
1978 Ennai Pol Oruvan Usha's brother

References

  1. "திரைப்படச்சோலை 22: சசிகுமார் வம்சம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  2. Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about cinema – Sasikumar". Kalyanamalai. p. 1. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  3. Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about cinema – Sasikumar". Kalyanamalai. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. "என்னது ! சன் டிவி விஜய சாரதியின் அப்பா இந்த நடிகரா? வெளியான போட்டோ". News18 (in Tamil). 1 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  5. "எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., சிவாஜியுடன் நடித்து புகழ் பெற்ற வெண்ணிற ஆடை நிர்மலா". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  6. "Kasethan Kadavulada Press Meet Images & news Release". B4U Media. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  7. Dhananjayan, G. (2011). The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976. Galatta Media. p. 257. OCLC 733724281.
  8. Guy, Randor (12 November 2016). "Vellikizhamai Viratham (1974) TAMIL". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
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