Vijayasree

Vijayasree was an Indian actress who predominantly worked in Malayalam cinema in the 1970s. She acted in many movies opposite Prem Nazir and also worked in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films.

Biography Vijaysree was born in a Malayali family, to Vasu Pillai and Vijayamma. Her roots are from Travancore–Cochin (present-day Kerala, India).

Her first appearance onscreen was in the Tamil film Chitthi (1966). Her first film in Malayalam was Poojapushpam (1969), directed by the patriarch Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair. She ended up being a part of 3 of the 6 movies Thikkurissy directed in his prolific career as a director. She also got to share screen space with the leading lady of the times, Sheela in her debut movie itself.

She gained popularity due to her beauty in the Malayalam film history. She was a contemporary of the popular Malayalam actress Jayabharathi. Her most notable films are Angathattu (1973), Postmane Kananilla (1972), Lanka Dahanam (1971), Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka (1972), Pacha Nottukal (1973), Taxi Car (1972), Aromalunni (1972) and Ponnapuram Kotta (1973). In all these films, she starred opposite Prem Nazir and the Prem Nazir-Vijayasree pair created biggest hits in box office. "Theirs was the most successful pair in Malayalam cinema ever, I cannot think of a single film of theirs flopping." says R. Gopalakrishnan, one of the senior-most still photographers in Malayalam cinema. Many of her movies are directed by Kunchacko. At the end of her career, she parted ways with Kunchacko and joined with P. Subramaniam. She also acted in a number of Tamil films but in supporting roles. She had played an important role in Babu (1971), a Sivaji Ganesan starrer, as the pair of Sivaji who is killed early in the story. She had also acted opposite Gemini Ganesh in Chitthi, a hit. Other notable ones are Deivamagan (1970), Adhe Kangal (1967) and Kulavilakku (1968).

Many celebrities praised the beauty of Vijayasree. "She is the most beautiful woman I have ever met", said director Bharathan to his associate, Jayaraj, once. "She was verily the Marilyn Monroe of Malayalam. No other actress had as many male admirers as she had. No other actress had as many hits as her in such a short span of time. No actress had made such a sudden impact in Malayalam cinema. People went to the theatre to see her, and that is something that has not happened before (her time)", said Jayaraj. He directed a film Naayika, by which the character in the movie named "Vani" (played by actress Sarayu) portrays slight resemblance to Vijayasree's life. "If Jayan epitomised the essence in manly beauty among male actors, then there has never been an actress in Malayalam whose voluptuous beauty compared to Vijayasree's. Her graceful statuesque beauty was almost a symbol of God's artistry", said actor Kaduvakulam Antony. Many actors and directors said, due to the bad fate, Malayalam film fans could not see the great Jayan-Vijayasree combination on the screen. "She was extremely beautiful of course, but she was a capable performer too.", said actor Raghavan.

She committed suicide at the age of 21 on 17 March 1974. However, there were lot of controversies around the suicide and many still believe that she was murdered.

Vijayasree loved children with all her innocence, she used to distribute sweets or candies whenever she saw children nearby.

Filmography

Malayalam

Youvanam (1974) as Minikutti Alakal (1974) Jeevikkan Marannupoya Sthree (1974) Ajnathavasam (1973) as Kunjulakshmi Angathattu (1973) as Archa Padmavyooham (1973) as Jaya, Rani (Double role) Panchavadi (1973) as Nalini Veendum Prabhatham (1973) as Sarojam Pavangal Pennungal (1973) Ponnapuram Kotta (1973) Thiruvabharanam (1973) Swargaputhri (1973) as Lisy Thenaruvi (1973) as Neeli Pacha Nottukal (1973) as Leenamma Thaniniram (1973) as Radha Prethangalude Thazhvara (1973) Kaadu (1973) as Maala Aromalunni (1972) Manthrakodi (1972) Maravil Thirivu Sookshikkuka (1972) as Indumathi Postmane Kananilla (1972) as Kamalam Pushpanjali (1972) as Usha Adyathe Kadha (1972) as Rajakumari Anweshanam (1972) Maaya (1972) as Kamala Professor (1972) as Mayadevi Sree Guruvayoorappan (1972) Sambhavami Yuge Yuge (1972) as Sumathy Taxi Car (1972) as Rani Shiksha (1971) as Dancer Bobanum Moliyum (1971) Lanka Dahanam (1971) as Rajani Marunnattil Oru Malayali (1971) as Geetha Achante Bharya (1971) as Omana Palunkupaathram (1970) Dathuputhran (1970) as Vanaja Othenante Makan (1970) as Kunji Kunki Detective 909 Keralathil (1970) Rakthapushpam (1970) Poojapushpam (1969)

Tamil

Chitthi (1966) Adhey Kangal (1967) Naan (1967) Kulavilakku (1968) Naalum Therindhavan (1968) Neeyum Naanum (1968) Deiva Magan (1969) Thalattu (1969) Nilave Nee Satchi (1970) Thedi Vandha Mappillai (1970) as a seducer Kathal Jothi (1970) Babu (1971) as Kannamma Yanai Valartha Vanampadi Magan (1971) Delhi To Madras (1972) Kanimuthu Paappa (1972) Maru Piravi (1973) Malai Naattu Mangai (1973) Akkarai Pachai (1974) - Last movie in Tamil

Kannada

Bangalore Mail (1968) Broker Bheeshmachari (1969) Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970) Naguva Hoovu (1970) Kasturi Nivasa (1971) Nanda Gokula (1972) Janma Rahasya (1972)

Telugu Bhimanjaneya Yuddham (1966) Rangula Ratnam (1966) Manchi Kutumbam (1968) Prema Kanuka (1969) Ukku Pidugu (1969) as Sarpakesi, Nagakanya Jeevitha Chakram (1971) Revolver Rani (1971) as Lilly Kathanayakuralu (1971) as Hema Kiladi Bullodu (1972) Kalavari Kutumbam (1972) as Ruby Dora Babu (1974) Nippulanti Manishi (1974) as Rani