Lakshmanan Vijayalakshmi is an Indian actress and classical dancer whose career was from 1959 to 1969. She appeared in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Hindi films.

Early life and training

Vijayalakshmi was born to Tamil parents Kanthimathi (a Veenaist) and Lakshmanan on 5 May 1944 in present-day Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Her family then moved to Poona, Bombay Province (now Pune, Maharashtra). There, at six years of age, Vijayalakshmi was inspired by the dancing styles of Vyjayanthimala, Lalitha and Padmini at the South Indian Association; she eventually started to practice dance in the backyard of her house.

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.

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. 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). However, her teacher suggested she advance her dance skills through tuition with T. K. Swaminatha Pillai.

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. 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, S.S.Rajendran , Jaishankar, Gemini Ganesan, R. Muthuraman, and Ravichandran.

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.Narasimhan T. A. Magr learnt the Bhangra for a month to dance with Vijayalakshmi The Hindu 24 December 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2015

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.

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. After getting married, Vijayalakshmi took the Benares Hindu matriculation exam as a private candidate. 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 Year Title Role Language Notes 1959 Sipayi Kuthuru Telugu Debut Film Panchaali Tamil 1960 Kavalai Illaadha Manithan Sevvanthi Tamil Aalukkoru Veedu Tamil Petra Manam Tamil Kuravanji Tamil Bhaktha Sabari Tamil Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar Tamil Kalathur Kannamma Dancer Tamil Ponni Thirunaal Dancer Tamil "Nattukor Thandhaiyadi" dance1961 Jagadekaveeruni Katha Telugu Batasari Telugu Jnaanasundari Malayalam Marutha Nattu Veeran Dancer Tamil Kanaal Neer Dancer Tamil Thayilla Pillai Suguna Tamil Ennai Paar Tamil 1962 Aradhana Telugu Mahamantri Timmarusu Telugu Gundamma Katha Padma Telugu Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha Telugu Laila Majnu Malayalam Manithan Maravillai Padma Tamil Mahaveera Bheeman Tamil Sumaithaangi Babu's sister Tamil 1963 Nartanasala Uttarā Telugu Irugu Porugu Telugu Punarjanma Telugu Snapaka Yohannan Malayalam Sathyabhaama Malayalam Koduthu Vaithaval Nalini Tamil Kaithiyin Kathali Tamil 1964 Pooja phalam Telugu Babruvahana Telugu Bobbili Yuddham Telugu Murali Krishna Telugu Ramudu Bheemudu Telugu Shabnam Hindi Bommai Mallika Tamil En Kadamai Tamil 1965 Vijaya Simha Telugu Antastulu Telugu Aakasaramanna Kalavathi Telugu Mangamma Sapatham Telugu Pandava Vanavasamu Sasirekha Telugu Satya Harishchandra Telugu Satya Harishchandra Kannada Enga Veetu Pillai Dancer Tamil "Kangalum Kavadi Sinthagattum" Oru Viral Tamil Aayirathil Oruvan Pirate captain's wife Tamil Panchavarna Kili Dancer Tamil "Azhagan Muruganidam" Kakkum Karangal Vijayalakshmi Tamil 1966 Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha Telugu Zamindar Telugu Palnati Yuddham Subbai Telugu Pidugu Ramudu Telugu Aata Bommalu Telugu Sangeeta Lakshmi Telugu Sri Krishna Tulabharam Telugu Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha Telugu Second adaptation Husn Aur Ishq Hindi Baadal Hindi Alibaba and the Forty Thieves Hindi Vallavan Oruvan Thara Tamil Naam Moovar Tamil Mahakavi Kalidas Tamil Iru Vallavargal Rani Tamil 1967 Ummadi Kutumbam Telugu Bhama Vijayam Telugu Nindu Manasulu Telugu Sri Krishnavataram Telugu Kanchu Kota Telugu Sati Sumathi Telugu Stree Janma Telugu Bhakta Prahlada Telugu Sri Purandara Dasaru Kannada Sabash Thambi Shanthi Tamil Ethirigal Jakkirathai Prabha Tamil Ooty Varai Uravu Vijaya Tamil Bhavani Tamil Uyir Mel Aasai Tamil 1968 Kudiyirundha Koyil Dancer Tamil "Aadaludan Paadalai" Anbu Vazhi Tamil 1969 Sipayi Chinnayya Telugu Noorandu Kalam Vazhga Tamil 1971 Sabatham Draupadi Tamil Dance sequence

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