Vijayakumari

Vijayakumari Biography

Vijayakumari is a noted actress associated with Malayalam art industry. One of the eldest theatric artists of Malayalam, she is the wife of legendary theater personality - O. Madhavan, known as a stage actor and director. The couple together have worked and played a significant role to make plays popular among common audience since late 1960s. The couple has three children – cine star Mukesh and two daughters – Sandhya Rajendran and Jayshree and both are associated with theatre. Sandhya Rajendran is a well-known film personality who is married to noted theatre, film and television artist E. A. Rajendran. Apart from stage shows, Vijayakumari has worked in many television serials and Malayalam films.

She was born into a poor family in Kollam. Her father Paramu Panikker was a boat driver while her mother Bhargaviyamma was a worker at a cashew nut factory. She has two siblings and she lost her father at a very young age. She had primary education from Cantonment School, Kollam and later married to theater personality O. Madhavan, with whom she had three kids. After marriage she got fully involved with theatre activities in association with her husband and stood as his main inspiration and encouragement.

She got involved with theater in the 1960s and has also played character roles in a few films since that period. Ayisha, Ningalenne Communistakki, Oru Sundariyude Katha, Panchavankaadu, Kaattupookkal, Aisha and Thaara are some of her early movies. She is associated with Malayalam cinema till now and Oru Second Class Yathra (2015) is her latest release, where she played an old woman in the train which actors were travelling. Her role as a servant in 2002 blockbuster - Nandanam was well appreciated. Chota Mumbai, Jalolsavam, Ammakkili Koodu, Mizhi Randilum, Madhuchandra Lekha, Thaappaana and Chandranilekkoru Vazhi are other noted film appearances. She also appeared in Kamal Hassan starrer Tamil movie – Tenali in the year 2000.

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Updated: January 04, 2016