{{Short description|Indian actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = K. R. Vijaya | image = File:K. R Vijaya Exclusive Jeyalalitha Rajini Kamal Indiaglitz.png | caption = Vijaya during an interview | birth_name = Deivanayaki Ramachandra Nair | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|11|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Thrissur, Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Punnagai Arasi | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1963–present | works = Full list | spouse = {{Marriage|Madathil Velayuthan|1966|2016|end=died}} | children = 1 | parents = Ramachandran Nair<br/> Kalyani | relatives = K. R. Savithri<br /> K. R. Vatsala }}
'''Deivanayaki''', better known by her stage name '''K. R. Vijaya''', is an Indian actress who has featured in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada films. She started her career in 1963 and has been acting for more than six decades in South Indian cinema. The actress has worked with almost all the stalwarts of South Indian cinema and has played many key roles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ap7am.com/lv-291365-senior-actress-kr-vijaya-open-heart-with-rk-promo.html |title=Senior Actress K.R Vijaya: Open Heart with RK- Promo {{!}} ap7am |access-date=3 April 2021 |archive-date=20 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420005610/https://www.ap7am.com/lv-291365-senior-actress-kr-vijaya-open-heart-with-rk-promo.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Early life== Vijaya was born as Deivanayaki, eldest children to Malayali parents Ramachandra Nair and Kalyani in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Her father was in the army and her mother was a housewife. She has a younger brother, Narayanan and three younger sisters, K. R. Vatsala, K. R. Savithri and Radha. She had her primary education at Government Higher Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mangalam.com/news/detail/58081-celebrity.html |title=യവനികയിലെ മണവാട്ടി |website=mangalam.com |access-date=7 December 2016 |archive-date=6 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206163634/http://www.mangalam.com/news/detail/58081-celebrity.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Her father wanted her to become an actress since he was himself acting in M. R. Radha's drama troupe at the time after retiring from army. She made her film debut with Karpagam in 1963. She was the first ever actress to own a private jet.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://silverscreen.in/features/kr-vijaya-interview/ |title='Back Then, There Was No Pressure To Maintain Our Waistlines': Interview With KR Vijaya |last=Vandhana |date=24 September 2017 |website=Silverscreen.in |language=en-US |access-date=5 February 2019 |archive-date=7 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207014946/https://silverscreen.in/features/kr-vijaya-interview/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Personal life== She married a businessman, Madathil Velayuthan in 1966. Her husband was the CEO of Sudarshan trading company and a movie producer. The couple have a daughter Hemalatha (born 1967).<ref>{{cite book |title=The Illustrated Weekly of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vqCbp5XbiIEC |year=1988 |publisher=Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press |access-date=5 February 2019 |archive-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012041222/https://books.google.com/books?id=vqCbp5XbiIEC |url-status=live}}</ref> M. Velayuthan died on 26 March 2016, aged 82.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Sadasivan2000">{{cite book |author=S. N. Sadasivan |title=A Social History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Be3PCvzf-BYC&pg=PA679 |year=2000 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7648-170-0 |pages=679–682}}</ref>
==Career== Vijaya's first break itself was as a heroine in her debut film ''Karpagam'' (1963). Her notable films include ''Idhaya Kamalam'' (1965), ''Odayil Ninnu'' (1965), ''Saraswathi Sabatham'' (1966), ''Selvam'' (1966), ''Nenjirukkum Varai'' (1967), ''Iru Malargal'' (1967), ''Namma Veettu Deivam'' (1970), ''Dheerga Sumangali'' (1974), ''Thangappathakkam'' (1974), ''Thirisoolam'' (1979) and ''Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove'' (1984). In the year 1967 she had a distinct record of starring in 18 films in lead role besides having child born in the same year.
She has paired with top heroes like MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan.
She was called as "Punnagai Arasi" (Queen of the smiles - in Tamil) by her fans at a function held in Trichy.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Potpourri of titbits about cinema - K. R. Vijaya |url=http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Feb11_1_15/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_KR_Vijaya.html |work=Kalyanamalai Magazine}}</ref> Vijaya was always the first choice of directors to portray the roles of Hindu goddesses due to her looks which was similar to conventional depictions. Apart from her essaying the role of Goddess Shakti in ''Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal'' (1986), she essayed the Mariamman avatar in the film ''Mahasakthi Mariamman'' (1986) and ''Kandhan Karunai'' (1967).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Women's Day: From Ramya Krishnan to Nayanthara, actresses with divine presence on reel |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/women-s-day-from-ramya-krishnan-to-nayanthara-actresses-with-divine-presence-on-reel-q6uunw |access-date=2020-03-08 |work=Asianet News}}</ref> K R Vijaya reminisces about her first director "who gave her life" K. S. Gopalakrishnan who also directed her in her 100th film ''Nathayil Muthu'' (1973). Apart from acting in many films, she has also acted in ''Raja Rajeswari'' and ''Kudumbam'', two teleserials.
Vijaya returned to a mythological role in ''Sri Rama Rajyam'' (2011). K.R Vijaya also played Kausalya for the first time in Bapu's mythological extravaganza.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/screen-goddess/article2642189.ece |title=Screen goddess - The Hindu |website=The Hindu |date=19 November 2011}}</ref> She has acted in over 500 films.
==Awards== ; Satyabama College * 2009 - Doctorate
;Nandi Awards<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=13 March 2010 |title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008) |trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008) |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh |language=te}}</ref> * 1989 - Nandi Special Jury Award for ''Sutradharulu''
;Tamil Nadu State Film Awards * 1967 - Best Actress for ''Iru Malargal'' * 1970 - Best Actress for ''Namma Veetu Dheivam''
;Filmfare Awards South * 1974 - Filmfare Special Award - South for ''Dheerga Sumangali''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gkfAQAAMAAJ&q=k+r+vijaya |title=The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who |first=Sir Stanley |last=Reed |date=5 February 1980 |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company |via=Google Books}}</ref> * 2004 - Lifetime Achievement Award
;Kerala State Film Awards * 1984 - Second Best Actress - ''Ithiri Poove Chuvannapoove'' ;Kerala Film Critics Association Awards * 2013: Chalachitra Rathnam Award ;Janmabhoomi Television Awards *2018: Best Character Actress - ''Sathyam Sivam Sundaram'' ;Other Awards *2013: Nagi Reddy Memorial Awards *2017: Congress Managalir Awards *2019: Nakshathira Sathanaiyalar 2019
==Filmography==
{{Main|K. R. Vijaya filmography}}
==Television serials== {| class="wikitable" !Year!! Title !! Channel !! Language !! Role!!Notes |- |1993||''Adhiparasakthi'' || Rajshri Tamil || Tamil ||Mahadevi||debut |- |1994||''Madisar Maami''||Sun TV||Tamil|||| |- |1998||''Kudumbam''||Sun TV||Tamil|||| |- |||''Oorvashi''|| Gemini TV || Telugu |||| |- |||''Pettamma'' || Doordarshan || Malayalam || Ambalika|| |- |2000 ||''Daivathin Makkal'' || Surya TV || Malayalam |||| |- |2000–2003 || ''Mangai'' ||Sun TV || |Tamil || Mangai||Lead |- |2003 || ''Vikramadithian'' || Sun TV || |Tamil || Paatti|| |- |2004 || ''Anandham'' ||Sun TV || |Tamil || Vijay's mother ||Special Appearance |- |2004–2006 || ''Raja Rajeswari'' || Sun TV || |Tamil || Abhirami Amma|| |- |2005-2007|| ''Sthree 2'' || Asianet || Malayalam |||| |- |2007–2008|| ''Shree Krishna Leela'' || Asianet || Malayalam || Kururamma|| |- ||2008–2009 || ''Namma Kudumbam'' || Kalaignar TV || Tamil ||Satya|| |- |2009 || ''Shree Mahabhagavatham'' ||Asianet || Malayalam || Kunthi Devi|| |- |2010–2012 || ''Devimahathmyam'' || Asianet || Malayalam ||Devakiyamma||Bilingual in Tamil as Adiparashakthi |- |2012-2013 || ''Sabarimala Shri Dharmashashtha'' || Asianet || Malayalam || Savithri|| |- |2012–2016 || ''Bhairavi Aavigalukku Priyamanaval'' || Sun TV || Tamil || Chintamani|| |- |2014||''Sreekrishna vijayam''||Janam TV||Malayalam||Devakiyamma|| |- |2016–2018 || ''Sathyam Sivam Sundaram'' || Amrita TV ||Malayalam || Valliamma|| |- |2020 || ''Ithikkarapakki'' || Surya TV ||Malayalam||pakki's umma|| |- |2021|| ''Anbe Vaa'' || Sun TV || Tamil || Ulganayagi ||Special Appearance |- |2021-2022||''Kanakanmani'' || Surya TV || Malayalam || Puthanmadathil Kadambariyamma || |- |2023|| '' Madhanakamarajan''||YouTube||Malayalam|| Indràpuri muthassi ||Web serial |- |2024|| '' Siragadikka Aasai''||Star Vijay||Tamil|| ||<ref>{{cite web | title=Senior actresses KR. Vijaya and Vadivukarasi to make a cameo appearance in 'Siragadikka Aasai' | work=The Times of India | date=5 July 2024 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/tamil/senior-actresses-kr-vijaya-and-vadivukarasi-to-make-a-cameo-appearance-in-siragadikka-aasai/articleshow/111508897.cms }}</ref> |- |2023–2025||''Malikappuram: Apathbandhavan Ayyappan''||Asianet || Malayalam ||Devakiyamma|| |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1555772}}
{{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestActress}} {{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAwardSouth}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijaya, K. R.}} Category:Living people Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses from Thrissur Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:Kerala State Film Award winners Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:Actresses in Malayalam television Category:Indian television actresses Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:21st-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses in Tamil television Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Kerala Film Critics Awards winners Category:Malayali people