L. Vijayalakshmi

L. Vijayalakshmi
Born	Lakshmanan Vijayalakshmi (1944-05-05)5 May 1944 Tirunelveli, British India, (now in Tamil Nadu, India)
Other names	L. Vijayalakshmi, Vijayalakshmi, Viji, Vijayalakshmi Datta
Occupation(s)	Actress, Indian Classical Dancer, Budgeting Officer in Virginia Polytechnic University
Years active	1959-1969
Spouse	Surajit Kumar De Datta ​ ​ (m. 1969)​
Children	Raj Kumar (b.1970)
Parent	Lakshmanan (father) Kanthimathi (mother)

Lakshmanan Vijayalakshmi is an Indian actress and classical dancer whose career was from 1959 to 1969.^{[citation needed]} She appeared in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films.^{[citation needed]}

Early life and training

"I remember I used to take bus route 21C to Ramayya Pillai house. Often lessons went on for six hours. E. V. Saroja was learning from him too that time."

Suganthy Krishnamachari^[1]

Vijayalakshmi was born in a Tamil family on 5th of May 1944 as daughter of Lakshmanan and Kanthimathi a Veenaist in Tirunelveli.^[2] Her family then moved to Pune. There, at six years of age, Vijayalakshmi was inspired when she saw Vyjayanthimala, Lalitha and Padmini dance at the South Indian Association; she eventually started to practice dance in the backyard of her house.^[1]

Vijayalakshmi's father noticed her talent for dancing and sent her to a mentor, Sukumara Pillai.

Vijayalakshmi's first performance was at a temple in Andhra Pradesh when she was nine years old. When Vijayalakshmi needed advanced dance training in the discipline of Bharathanatyam, her family moved to Madras. They lived in South Mada Street, Mylapore and Vijayalakshmi was mentored by Kamala.^{[citation needed]}

Then, quite by accident when walking near the Kapaleeswarar Temple, Vijayalakshmi met K. J. Sarasa, who sent her to the dance teacher, Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. E. V. Saroja was also his student.^[1] Ten months later, on 28 October 1955, Vijayalakshmi made her debut at the Rasika Rajya Sabha, a cultural organisation.

Vijayalakshmi was not from a wealthy family. She had only one costume for the three-hour performance. The family could not offer more than tea as refreshments to the audience, and there were no printed invitations. Despite these disadvantages, the concert was well attended. Vijayalakshmi was introduced by E. Krishna Iyer, a classical artist. The filmmaker, V. Shantaram and the dance exponent, Kamala Lakshmanan, were in attendance.

Following her debut, Vijayalakshmi was offered employment at no less than four cultural organisations (sabha).^[1] However, her teacher suggested she advance her dance skills through tuition with T. K. Swaminatha Pillai.^[1]

Acting career

Vijayalakshmi's debut film performance was in S. K Chaari's film, Marumakal (1952). In 1959, she acted in a character role and danced in the Telugu language film Sipayi Kuthuru. This involved training and performing in a modified classical dance style.^[1] Vijayalakshmi's beauty and dance skill made her suitable for that film and other films of the time, so she became well known. She was cast with NTR, ANR and other well-known performers.

Vijayalakshmi was also cast in a few Malayalam language movies. Three of these were with Prem Nazir. Some of these films were with Jnana Sundari, Laila Majnu, and Sathya Bhama.

In Tamil films, Vijayalakshmi was cast with actors such as M. G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Jaishankar, Gemini Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, and Ravichandran.^[1]

Many of Vijayalakshmi's films include the Bhangra dance form. One such film is Kudiyirundha Koyil, which features the song, Aadaludan Paadalai Kettu Rasipathilethan Sugam Sugam, with MGR in her partner role.^[3]

Vijayalakshmi's Tamil language film debut was Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar (1960), and she also acted in "Aalukkoru Veedu". Although it won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, the movie was not a commercial success. Some suggested Vijaylakshmi should have danced in this movie, but the director indicated she had not because her character did not know how to dance.^[1]

In 1964, Vijayalakshmi was cast in the S. Balachander movie Bommai, a Tamil suspense thriller. It was shown for at least a hundred days in Madras theatres. Ooty Varai Uravu (1967) directed by C.V. Sridhar was one of her most popular Tamil movies.

Personal life

In 1969, while shooting Ooty Varai Uravu, Vijayalakshmi married her brother's friend, Surajit Kumar De Dutta, an agricultural scientist working in Philippines.^[1] After getting married, Vijayalakshmi took the Benares Hindu matriculation exam as a private candidate.^[1] She then completed Bcom in Madras University through correspondence. In 1969, she moved to Manila, Philippines. In 1977, when Morarji Desai, the prime minister of India (1977 - 1979) visited Manila, the Indian Embassy asked Vijayalakshmi to dance at an official function. In 1991, Vijayalakshmi moved to the United States. She became an auditor and was employed as a budgeting officer at Virginia Polytechnic University.

She pursued Masters in Accounting and CPA (Certified Public Accounting) in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (in Blacksburg, Virginia), commonly known as Virginia Tech. Now she is residing Davis, California where her only son has a software company in Silicon Valley.

Filmography

Telugu

• Sipayi Kuthuru (1959)
• Jagadekaveeruni Katha (1961)
• Aradhana (1962)
• Mahamantri Thmmarusu (1962)
• Gundamma Katha (1962) as Padma
• Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha (1962)
• Narthanasala (1963) as Uttarā
• Punarjanma (1963)
• Pooja phalam (1964)
• Bhabruvahana (1964)
• Bobbili Yuddham (1964)
• Ramudu Bheemudu (1964)
• Vijaya Simha (1965)
• Aakasaramanna^[4] (1965) as Kalavathi
• Mangamma Sapatham (1965)
• Pandava Vanavasamu (1965) as Sasirekha
• Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha (1966)
• Zamindar (1966 film)
• Palnati Yuddham (1966 film) as Subbai
• Pidugu Ramudu (1966)
• Aata Bommalu (1966)
• Sangeeta Lakshmi (1966)
• Srikrishnaavataaram (1967)
• Ummadi Kutumbam (1967)
• Bhama Vijayam (1967)
• Nindu Manasulu (1967)
• Kanchukota (1967)
• Bhakta Prahlada (1967)
• Sipayi Chinnayya (1969)

Malayalam

• Jnaanasundari (1961)
• Laila Majnu (1962)
• Snapaka Yohannan (1963)
• Sathyabhaama (1963)

Tamil

Year	Movie	Character
1959	Panchaali
1960	Kavalai Illaadha Manithan	Sevvanthi
	Aalukkoru Veedu
	Petra Manam
	Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar
	Kalathur Kannamma	Dancer
	Ponni Thirunaal	Dancer (Nattukor Thandhaiyadi)
1961	Marutha Nattu Veeran	Dancer
	Kanaal Neer	Dancer
	Thayilla Pillai	Suguna
1962	Manithan Maravillai	Padma
	Mahaveera Bheeman
	Sumaithaangi	Babu's sister
1963	Koduthu Vaithaval	Nalini
1964	Bommai	Mallika
	En Kadamai
1965	Enga Veetu Pillai	Kangalum Kavadi Sinthagattum - Dance
	Oru Viral
	Aayirathil Oruvan	Pirate captain's wife
	Panchavarna Kili	Azhagan Muruganidam - Dance
	Kakkum Karangal	Vijayalakshmi
1966	Vallavan Oruvan	Thara
	Naam Moovar
	Mahakavi Kalidas
	Iru Vallavargal	Rani
1967	Sabash Thambi	Shanthi
	Ethirigal Jakkirathai	Prabha
	Ooty Varai Uravu	Vijaya
	Bhavani
1968	Kudiyirundha Koyil	Aadaludan Paadalai - Dance
1969	Noorandu Kalam Vazhga
1971	Sabatham	Aadum Alaigalil Draupadi - Dance

Hindi

• Husn Aur Ishq (1966)
• Baadal (1966)
• Alibaba and the Forty Thieves (1966)
• Shabnam (1964)

Kannada

• Satya Harishchandra (1965)
• Sri Purandara Dasaru (1967)

References

1. Krishnamachari, S. (5 February 2015). "From Natya to numbers". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
2. "Alitho Saradaga L.Vijayalakshmi Interview in etvteluguindia channel (video - at 5.07 mins and 8.25 mins) 5 December 2022". YouTube. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
3. Narasimhan T. A. Magr learnt the Bhangra for a month to dance with Vijayalakshmi The Hindu 24 December 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2015
4. "Aakasaramanna (1965)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

External links

• L. Vijayalakshmi at IMDb