K. R. Vijaya Height, Age, Husband, Children, Family, Biography

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Hometown: Chennai

Age: 75 Years

Marital Status: Widow

Some Lesser Known Facts About K. R. Vijaya

K. R. Vijaya’s father wanted her to become an actress since he was himself acting in M. R. Radha’s drama troupe at that time after retiring from the army.

In the late 1990s, she was called as ‘Punnagai Arasi’ (Queen of the smiles – in Tamil) by her fans at a function held in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

Vijaya was always the first choice of directors to portray the roles of Hindu goddesses due to her looks which were similar to conventional depictions.

Her father decided to move the family to Palani, Tamil Nadu when she was 10 to 11 years old.
her father dec

Vijaya always looked up to her father when he used to practice his acting scenes and that’s how she got interested in joining the field of entertainment. She was quoted saying in an interview that

He had a presence that was just hard to ignore. As children, we loved watching him act out stories from his life. He expressed with his whole body. As the eldest, I wanted to be most like him. So taking to the stage was natural.”
K. R. Vijaya was just 15 years old when she was cast in her first Tamil film titled ‘Karpagam’ in 1963.

She dies early in her first film and a lot of people told her parents that that’s a bad omen and which might lead to not getting enough roles for her. However, Vijaya’s parents never paid any heed to what people said and always supported her in her acting career.

Three years after the release of ‘Karpagam’ when Vijaya turned 18, her parents decided to get her married without obtaining her consent but Vijaya agreed to her parent’s choice.

By the time she turned 19 years old, she had decided to retire from the films as she felt settled in her own family and life but it was the Tamil poet and writer named Aroor Das who insisted on her not retiring at an early age considering how much talent she has.

Vijaya never took the credit for her immense success and always credited her family. She was quoted saying in an interview that

My family life was the blessing of my parents. My career was the blessing of my husband and others like Aroor Das. It is their intelligence that I reaped the benefits of. They held my hand every step of the way.”
In 1964, Vijaya was cast in the Tamil romantic drama film titled ‘Kai Kodutha Deivam’ which was remade in Telugu as ‘Marapurani Katha’ (1967), in Malayalam as ‘Palunku Pathram’ (1970), and in Hindi as ‘Pyar Ki Kahani’ (1971).

The poster of the Tamil film titled ‘Kai Kodutha Deivam’ (1964)

In 1965, she was cast in the Hindi drama film titled ‘Oonche Log’ in which she played the character of Bimla Prabhu.

The poster of the Hindi film titled ‘Oonche Log’ (1965)

In 1966, Vijaya was cast in the Telugu swashbuckler film titled ‘Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha’ which was a remake of the Telugu film titled ‘Paramanandayya Sishyulu’ (1950). She played the character of Chitralekha in the film.

The poster of the Telugu film titled ‘Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha’ (1966)

In 1969, she was cast in the Tamil legal drama film titled ‘Akka Thangai’ which was also her comeback film after her marriage.

The poster of the Tamil film titled ‘Akka Thangai’ (1969)

Within 10 years of her career, Vijaya completed 100 films and her 100th film was 1973’s Tamil film titled ‘Nathayil Muthu’ in which she played the character of Chelakannu.

The Tamil film titled ‘Nathayil Muthu’ (1973)

In 1979, Vijaya was cast in the Telugu Hindu mythological film titled ‘Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu’ in which she played the character of Durga Devi. The film is about Lord Ganesha’s life from his birth till he tamed Mushikasura, a rakshasa who later became Ganesha’s vahana.

The poster of the Telugu Hindi mythological film titled ‘Sri Vinayaka Vijayamu’ (1979)

She has been part of a lot of devotional films because of her homely and typical South-Indian appeal and features.

In 1986, Vijaya was cast in the Tamil devotional film titled ‘Melmaruvathur Arpudhangal’ which was derived from a story by “Sakthi Dasan” C. Ganesan. Vijaya played the character of Goddess Sakthi in the film.

The poster of the Tamil devotional film titled ‘Melmaruvathur Arpudhangal’ (1986)

In 1991, she was cast in the Tamil drama film titled ‘Sri Srisaila Bhramarambika Kataksham.’

The poster of the Tamil film titled ‘Sri Srisaila Bhramarambika Kataksham’ (1991)

In 1994, Vijaya was cast in the Kannada drama film titled ‘Mahashakti Maye.’

The poster of the Kannada film titled ‘Mahashakti Maye’ (1994)

In the same year, she was cast in the Tamil TV series titled ‘Madisar Maami’ which was telecast on the Sun TV channel.

The poster of the Tamil TV series titled ‘Madisar Maami’ (1994)

In 1998, Vijaya was cast in the Telugu drama TV series titled ‘Oorvashi’ which aired on the Gemini TV channel.

In the same year, she was cast in the Malayalam drama TV series titled ‘Pettamma’ in which she played the character of Ambalika. The series was telecast on DD Malayalam.

In 2003, she became part of the Kannada romantic drama film titled ‘Ondagona Baa’ which is a remake of the Telugu film titled ‘Kalisundam Raa’ (2000).

The poster of the Kannada film titled ‘Ondagona Baa’ (2003)

In 2011, Vijaya was cast in the Telugu romantic comedy film titled ‘100% Love.’

The poster of the Telugu film titled ‘100 Love’ (2011)

In 2012, K. R. Vijaya was cast in the Tamil supernatural horror mystery television series titled ‘Bhairavi: Aavigalukku Priyamanaval’ which was telecast on the Sun TV channel.

K. R. Vijaya (bottom left) on the poster of the Tamil horror TV series titled ‘Bhairavi- Aavigalukku Priyamanaval’

In 2015, she was cast in the Malayalam romantic-comedy film titled ‘Two Countries.’

The poster of the Malayalam TV series titled ‘Two Countries’ (2015)

In 2016, she was cast in the Malayalam drama TV series titled ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’ which was telecast on the Amrita TV channel.

The poster of the Malayalam TV series titled ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’ (2016)

K. R. Vijaya completed 50 years in the South Indian film industry in 2023.

In the same year, K. R. Vijaya was cast in the Tamil comedy-drama film titled ‘Rayar Parambarai.’

The poster of the Tamil film titled ‘Rayar Parambarai’ (2023)

In the same year, K. R. Vijaya was cast in the Malayalam devotional television series titled ‘Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan’ in which she played the character of Devakiyamma. The series was telecast on the Asianet TV channel and Disney+ Hotstar.

The poster of the Malayalam TV series titled ‘Malikappuram- Apathbandhavan Ayyappan’ (2023)

K. R. Vijaya has been part of many Tamil films and some of them include ‘Thattungal Thirakkappadum’ (1966), ‘Enna Muthalali Sowkiyama’ (1972), ‘Annan Ennada Thambi Ennada’ (1992), ‘Kavalai Padathe Sagodhara’ (1998), and ‘Junior Senior’ (2002).

The poster of the Tamil film titled ‘Annan Ennada Thambi Ennada’ (1992)

K. R. Vijaya has been part of many Telugu films and some of them include ‘Maa Manchi Akkayya’ (1970), ‘Talli Kodukula Anubandham’ (1982), ‘Sri Santhoshi Matha Vrata Mahatyam’ (1984), ‘O Thandri O Koduku’ (1994), and ‘Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam’ (1996).

The poster of the Telugu film titled ‘Sri Santhoshi Matha Vrata Mahatyam’ (1984)

K. R. Vijaya has been part of many Malayalam films and some of them include ‘Santha Oru Devatha’ (1977), ‘John Jaffer Janardhanan’ (1982), ‘Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove’ (1984), and ‘Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari’ (2002).

The poster of the Malayalam film titled ‘Nakshathrakkannulla Rajakumaran Avanundoru Rajakumari’ (2002)

K. R. Vijaya has been part of many Tamil TV series and some of them include ‘Vikramadithian’ (2003), ‘Raja Rajeswari’ (2004-2006), ‘Anandham’ (2004), ‘Namma Kudumbam’ (2008-2009), and ‘Anbe Vaa’ (2021).

She has been part of many Malayalam TV series and some of them are ‘Daivathin Makkal’ (2000), ‘Sthree 2’ (2005-2007), ‘Shree Krishna Leela’ (2007-2008), ‘Sabarimala Shri Dharmashashtha’ (2013-2013), ‘Kanakanmani’ (2021-2022), and ‘Madhanakamarajan’ (2023).

K. R. Vijaya was said to be the first actress to own a private jet in the Tamil film industry. Responding to this, she was quoted saying in an interview that

Aiyyo , it’s my husband’s not mine. A ship, a plane…I don’t bother much… it’s his fetish. All I would do is concentrate on my work, be good with my co-artistes. The studio would be my home and I considered the artistes my family members but after pack up I wouldn’t think about movies at all.”