{{Short description|Indian actress}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Vijayasri | image = Vjayasrees.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1953|01|08}} | birth_place = Travancore–Cochin (present-day Kerala, India) <ref>{{Cite web |title=50 കൊല്ലത്തിനിപ്പുറവും മലയാള സിനിമയും വിജയശ്രീയും ബാക്കിവെച്ചത്; അഴിഞ്ഞുവീണ ഒറ്റമുണ്ട്, ബ്ലാക്ക് മെയില്, 21ല് വിജയശ്രീ ജീവിതം മതിയാക്കിയതോ? {{!}} Southlive |url=https://www.southlive.in/voices/after-50-years-malayalam-cinema-left-behind-vijayasree/amp |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.southlive.in}}</ref> | death_date = {{Death date|df=yes|1974|03|17}} (aged 21) | death_place = Madras (now Chennai) | death_cause = Suicide | other_names = Snehalatha<br/>Naseema | known_for = | parents = Father : Vasu Pillai<br/>Mother : Vijayamma <ref>{{Cite web |title=50 കൊല്ലത്തിനിപ്പുറവും മലയാള സിനിമയും വിജയശ്രീയും ബാക്കിവെച്ചത്; അഴിഞ്ഞുവീണ ഒറ്റമുണ്ട്, ബ്ലാക്ക് മെയില്, 21ല് വിജയശ്രീ ജീവിതം മതിയാക്കിയതോ? {{!}} Southlive |url=https://www.southlive.in/voices/after-50-years-malayalam-cinema-left-behind-vijayasree/amp |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.southlive.in}}</ref> | occupation = Actress }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=P. K. Ajith |date=17 March 2014 |title=40 years hence, Vijayasree still the Marilyn of Malayalam |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/40-years-hence-vijayasree-still-the-marilyn-of-malayalam/article5795244.ece |access-date=12 May 2020 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
==Biography== Vijaysree was born in a Malayali family, to Vasu Pillai and Vijayamma. Her roots are from Travancore–Cochin (present-day Kerala, India).<ref>{{Cite web |title=50 കൊല്ലത്തിനിപ്പുറവും മലയാള സിനിമയും വിജയശ്രീയും ബാക്കിവെച്ചത്; അഴിഞ്ഞുവീണ ഒറ്റമുണ്ട്, ബ്ലാക്ക് മെയില്, 21ല് വിജയശ്രീ ജീവിതം മതിയാക്കിയതോ? {{!}} Southlive |url=https://www.southlive.in/voices/after-50-years-malayalam-cinema-left-behind-vijayasree/amp |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=www.southlive.in}}</ref>
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).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-17 |title=40 years hence, Vijayasree still the Marilyn of Malayalam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/40-years-hence-vijayasree-still-the-marilyn-of-malayalam/article5795244.ece/amp/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2025}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nayika |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2011/nov/28/nayika-314827.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=16 May 2012 |access-date=12 May 2020}}</ref> "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.<ref name="Mollywood celebs’ most shocking suicides">{{Cite news |title=Mollywood celebs' most shocking suicides |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/photo-features/mollywood-celebs-most-shocking-suicides/photostory/48682114.cms |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Times of India|date=26 August 2015 }}</ref> However, there were lot of controversies around the suicide and many still believe that she was murdered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marilyn Monroe of Malayalam; Vijayasree's death remains a mystery even after 50 years |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news-amp.php?id=1371018&u=marilyn-monroe-of-malayalam-vijayasrees-death-remains-a-mystery-even-after-50-years-1371018 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=keralakaumudi.com}}</ref>
Vijayasree loved children with all her innocence, she used to distribute sweets or candies whenever she saw children nearby.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}
==Filmography==
===Malayalam=== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} # ''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) {{Div col end}}
===Tamil=== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} # ''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 {{Div col end}}
===Kannada=== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} # ''Bangalore Mail'' (1968) # ''Broker Bheeshmachari'' (1969) # ''Sri Krishnadevaraya'' (1970) # ''Naguva Hoovu'' (1970) # ''Kasturi Nivasa'' (1971) # ''Nanda Gokula'' (1972) # ''Janma Rahasya'' (1972) {{Div col end}}
===Telugu=== # ''Bhimanjaneya Yuddham'' (1966) # ''Rangula Ratnam'' (1966) # ''Manchi Kutumbam'' (1968) # ''Prema Kanuka'' (1969) # ''Ukku Pidugu''<ref>{{Citation |title=Ukku Pidugu Telugu Length Movie {{!}} Kaantha Rao {{!}} RajaShree {{!}} Raajanala {{!}} TVNXT Telugu | date=8 August 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxqRiyGx-Xw |access-date=2024-01-13 |language=en}}</ref> (1969) as Sarpakesi, Nagakanya # ''Jeevitha Chakram'' (1971) # ''Revolver Rani''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Revolver Rani (1971) |url=https://indiancine.ma/OQX |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref> (1971) as Lilly # ''Kathanayakuralu''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kathanayakuralu (1971) |url=https://indiancine.ma/OLR/info |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref> (1971) as Hema # ''Kiladi Bullodu'' (1972) # ''Kalavari Kutumbam''<ref>{{cite web |title=Kalavari Kutumbam (1972) |url=https://indiancine.ma/PBJ/info |website=Indiancine.ma |access-date=18 April 2023}}</ref> (1972) as Ruby # ''Dora Babu'' (1974) # ''Nippulanti Manishi''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nippulanti Manishi (1974) |url=https://indiancine.ma/QKJ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref> (1974) as Rani
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004147/http://en.msidb.org/displayProfile.php?category=actors&artist=Vijayasree&limit=39 Vijayasree at MSI] *{{IMDb name | id= nm5117465 }}
{{authority control}}
Category:20th-century Indian actresses Category:Actresses from Thiruvananthapuram Category:1974 deaths Category:Indian film actresses Category:Actresses in Malayalam cinema Category:Actresses in Tamil cinema Category:1953 births Category:Actresses in Telugu cinema Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema Category:Actresses in Kannada cinema Category:1974 suicides Category:Female suicides