C. R. Vijayakumari

C. R. Vijayakumari Biography

C. R. Vijayakumari is a former actress associated with Tamil cinema, who did many memorable roles during 1950s-1970s. She also played a few character roles later. In Tamil film industry, she was well-known for pronouncing Tamil words perfectly with perfect accuracy, and a rare talent of transforming herself into the character. She delivered the longest dialogue of a woman artist in Tamil cinema, originally written by M. Karunanidhi, and this famous dialogue belongs to the film, Poomphuhar (1964), where she played lead role opposite S. S. Rajendran, with whom she has done many hit movies and also had a romantic relationship for long 12 years, and got married as well.

C. R. Vijayakumari worked extensively for Tamil cinema, when she was at her career peak. She worked restless, giving some finest performances of the era. ‘Kumgumam’, ‘Kumudam’, ‘Santhi’, ‘Aanandhi’, ‘Avan Pithan’, ‘Alli’, ‘Thedi vantha thirumagal’, ‘Pachai vilakku’, ‘Poleeskaaran magal’, ‘Kodimalar’, ‘Naanum oru penn’, ‘Paar magale paar’, ‘Kaakkum karangal’, Saradha’, ‘Aalayamani’ etc are her major hits, and she played lead roles most. She worked with MGR, Sivaji Ganeshan and all major actors of her era. ‘Kanchi thalaivan’ was her first film with MGR, where she played his sister. She played the role of Sivaji’s sister in ‘Pachai vilakku’, ‘Savalae samaali’, and his daughter in ‘Paar magalae paar’.

She had 12 year courtship with her co-star S. S. Rajendran, and their pairing was a big success way back in the 1960s and 1970s. Vijayakumari was his third wife, and he was legally not divorced his first wife, when he took her along with their newborn child Ravi Kumar to his home at Teynampet. There were three houses inside the compound. Rajendran lived with his first wife Pankajam and children in the first house. His sister and her husband T. V. Narayanaswamy lived in the second house and Vijayakumari was provided the third house. Later she got separated from him, and married National Muthaliar.

Vijayakumari had acted with the fourth generation heroes like Rajinikanth, Prabhu, Karthik, Rajkiran and Murali. Her last film is ‘Kaadhal sadugudu’, released in 2003.

Published: September 17, 2018

Updated: September 17, 2018