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.

Early life
Vijaya was born as Deivanayaki, eldest children to Malayali Parents Ramachandra Nair and Kalyani at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Republic 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. 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.

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). M. Velayuthan died on 26 March 2016, aged 82.

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. 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). 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.

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. She has acted in over 500 films.

Awards

 * Satyabama College
 * 2009 - Doctorate


 * Nandi Awards
 * 1989 - Nandi Special Jury Award for Sutradharulu


 * Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
 * 1967 - Best Actress for Iru Malargal
 * 1970 - Best Actress for Namma Veetu Dheivam


 * Filmfare Awards South
 * 1974 - Filmfare Special Award - South for Dheerga Sumangali
 * 2004 - Lifetime Achievement Award


 * Kerala State Film Awards
 * 1984 - Second Best Actress - Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove
 * 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