Vijayakumar (Tamil actor)

Actor

Birthday August 29, 1943

Birth Sign Virgo

Birthplace Nattuchalai, Madras Presidency, British India

Age 80 years old

Nationality India

#12859 Most Popular

1943

Panchaksharam Rangasamy Pillai (born 29 August 1943), known professionally as Vijayakumar, is an Indian actor who works in Tamil cinema.

Vijayakumar was born on 29 August 1943 in Nattuchalai, Pattukkottai Taluk, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India.

His birth name Panchaksharam was changed to Vijayakumar for films.

1961

He started his film career in the Tamil film Sri Valli (1961) as a child actor and started playing a lead role from the movie Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974) then he worked in Madhura Geetham (1977) and Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979).

He has also acted in Telugu and Malayalam movies.

He also worked in television serials like Thangam, Vamsam, Talambralu, Nandini and Rasaathi.

His son is actor Arun Vijay.

He debuted in the 1961 Tamil movie Sri Valli.

His journey in filmdom began as a child actor in the film Sri Valli in 1961.

Vijayakumar was the little Lord Murugan in Sri Valli, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini.

1964

Again in 1964, with the help of his uncle, he came to Chennai and tried for roles, but only got a small role in the movie Kandhan Karunai as one of the devargal, arrested by the Asura king, Surapadma.

1967

Though not many offers were forthcoming for the little actor, he was supposed to play Lord Murugan in Kandhan Karunai (1967), but instead Sivakumar played that role.

Vijayakumar acted in a small role as one of the Lords that was arrested by Surapadman.

1970

While Vijayakumar was a popular supporting actor, he did play the lead role during the 1970s, in films such as Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), Madhura Geetham (1977) and Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979).

1973

Later in 1973, he got an offer to act in films.

In 1973, Vijayakumar got his first break in Ponnukku Thanga Manasu, directed by Devaraj–Mohan.

The other hero in the film was Sivakumar.

The success of Ponnuku Thanga Manasu got him a permanent place in Tamil cinema.

1974

His first major role was in Kailasam Balachander's Aval Oru Thodar Kathai in 1974.

1977

Vijayakumar was a popular actor the seventies, who acted alongside leading actors such as Sivaji Ganesan in Dheepam (1977), with M. G. Ramachandran in Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977) and Kamal Haasan in Neeya? (1979).

1980

Vijayakumar continued to act in supporting roles in the early 1980s.

1988

After a brief slump, Vijayakumar's second innings came in 1988 with Mani Ratnam's Agni Natchathiram (1988), where he played Prabhu and Karthik's father.

The movie told the story of two half brothers who fight for their father's love and property.

1990

During the 1990s, Vijayakumar was frequently seen in father roles such as Nattamai (1994) and Baashha (1995).

1993

During the same time, Vijayakumar also played lead roles in award-winning films such as Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993) and Anthimanthaarai (1996), with Bharathiraaja.

The latter took him close to winning the National Film Award for Best Actor, eventually missing it by one vote.

2000

Vijayakumar continued to play senior roles during the 2000s; eventually the actor was seen in more grandfather roles.

In the last few years, the actor has reduced his film commitments and focused on television serials.

Vijayakumar has acted in over 400 films, primarily in Tamil, but also had brief stints in Telugu cinema.

Vijayakumar's family consists of wives Muthukannu and Manjula, daughters Kavitha and Anitha and son Arun Vijay from his first wife, and daughters Vanitha, Preetha and Sridevi from his second wife.

So far, Arun and his father have appeared together on screen five times – in Pandavar Bhoomi, Malai Malai, Maanja Velu, Kuttram 23, and Oh My Dog.

2013

On 23 July 2013, Manjula died in Chennai at the age of 59.

2015

He was the vice-president of Nadigar Sangam until 18 October 2015.

He was also a member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

2016

On 16 March 2016, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the presence of the Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways, and Shipping.

Pon Radhakrishnan said he would campaign for the party for this Assembly election.