Personal Details

• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 29 August 1943
• 📍 Place of Birth
• Nattuchalai, Pattukkottai Taluk, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
• Father: Rangasamy Pillai
• Mother: Chinnammal
• Spouse: Muthukannu, Manjula
• Children: Kavitha Vijayakumar, Anitha Vijayakumar, Arun Vijay, Preetha Vijayakumar, Sridevi Vijayakumar, Vanitha Vijayakumar

Early Career

• 👶 Early Life
• His birth name was Panchaksharam, which was later changed to Vijayakumar for his film career.
• 🎬 Film Debut
• He made his acting debut as a child in the 1961 Tamil movie Sri Valli.
• 🌆 Move to Chennai
• In 1964, with the support of his uncle, Vijayakumar moved to Chennai to pursue more acting opportunities. Initially, he managed only a small role in the film Kandhan Karunai, where he played one of the devargal who was arrested by the Asura king, Surapadma.
• ⭐ First Major Role
• His first significant break came in 1974 when he acted in Kailasam Balachander’s Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, marking the beginning of his rise in Tamil cinema.

Career Journey

• Vijayakumar is a versatile Tamil actor who transitioned from a police officer to a celebrated film personality, leaving a significant mark on the industry.
• 🎬 Career Beginnings
• Vijayakumar started his journey in cinema as a child actor in the film Sri Valli (1961), where he played the young Lord Murugan alongside Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. Although opportunities were limited during his early years, he was initially considered to reprise the role of Lord Murugan in Kandhan Karunai (1967), but the role went to Sivakumar. Vijayakumar instead appeared in a small role as one of the devargal arrested by Surapadman.
• 🌟 First Break & Rise to Fame
• In 1973, he got his first significant break in Ponnukku Thanga Manasu, directed by Devaraj–Mohan, alongside Sivakumar. The film’s success established him as a permanent figure in Tamil cinema.
• 🏆 Lead Roles in the 1970s
• During the 1970s, Vijayakumar became a popular actor, playing lead roles in films like Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), Madhura Geetham (1977), and Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979). He also acted alongside legendary actors: Sivaji Ganesan in Dheepam (1977), M.G. Ramachandran in Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga (1977), and Kamal Haasan in Neeya? (1979).
• 👨‍👦 Supporting & Father Roles
• In the 1980s, Vijayakumar continued acting in supporting roles. His second phase of fame began in 1988 with Mani Ratnam’s Agni Natchathiram, where he played the father of Prabhu and Karthik. In the 1990s, he gained widespread recognition for his fatherly roles in films such as Nattamai (1994) and Baashha (1995).
• 🏅 Award-Winning Roles & Later Career
• He also played lead roles in award-winning films such as Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993) and Anthimanthaarai (1996) with Bharathiraaja. The latter almost earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor, missing it by just one vote.
• 👴 Senior & Grandfather Roles
• During the 2000s, Vijayakumar transitioned to senior and grandfather roles. In recent years, he has reduced his film commitments and focused more on television serials. Throughout his career, he has appeared in over 400 films, primarily in Tamil, with brief appearances in Telugu cinema.
• 🎥 Filmography & Television
• Vijayakumar began his cinematic journey in the 1960s with child roles in Sri Valli (1961) and Mahaveera Bheeman (1962), gradually taking on lead roles in the 1970s with films like Aval Oru Thodar Kathai (1974), Madhura Geetham (1977), and Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979). During this decade, he worked with legends like Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran, and Kamal Haasan, while also appearing in several guest roles.
• In the 1980s, he continued as a prominent supporting actor, appearing in hits such as Agni Natchathiram (1988) and taking on fatherly roles. The 1990s saw him in award-winning films like Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993) and Anthimanthaarai (1996), as well as in popular father roles in Nattamai (1994) and Baashha (1995). Vijayakumar expanded to Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films, acting in notable movies such as Geethanjali (1989), Rukmini (1997), Mr. Fraud (2014), and Appu and Pappu (2010).
• From the 2000s onwards, he appeared in senior and grandfather roles in films like Chandramukhi (2005), Aathi (2006), Singam series (2010–2017), and Ravanasura (2023). He also produced the film Sinam (2022).
• In television, Vijayakumar has been active since the late 1990s, starring in Tamil serials such as Kokila Enge Pogiraal (1997–2001), Thangam (2009–2013), Vamsam (2013–2014), Nandini (2017–2018), Rasaathi (2019), Oru Oorla Rendu Rajakumari (2022),** and currently Karthigai Deepam (2023–present). He also appeared in the Telugu serial Talambralu (2016–2017).
• Overall, Vijayakumar has acted in over 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada cinema and remains a celebrated figure in Indian film and television.

Achievements and Milestones

• Cinema Express Award – Best Character Actor for Cheran Pandian (1991)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize – Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize – Anthimanthaarai (1996)