L. Vijayalakshmi

{{Quote box 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. == 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 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 ==

Telugu • Sipayi Kuthuru (1959) • Jagadekaveeruni Katha (1961) • Batasari (1961) • Aradhana (1962) • Mahamantri Thmmarusu (1962) • Gundamma Katha (1962) as Padma • Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha (1962) • Narthanasala (1963) as Uttarā • Irugu Porugu (1963) • Punarjanma (1963) • Pooja phalam (1964) • Babruvahana (1964) • Bobbili Yuddham (1964) • Murali Krishna (1964) • Ramudu Bheemudu (1964) • Vijaya Simha (1965) • Antastulu (1965) • Aakasaramanna (1965) as Kalavathi • Mangamma Sapatham (1965) • Pandava Vanavasamu (1965) as Sasirekha • Satya Harishchandra (1965) • Paramanandayya Sishyula Katha (1966) • Zamindar (1966) • Palnati Yuddham (1966) as Subbai • Pidugu Ramudu (1966) • Aata Bommalu (1966) • Sangeeta Lakshmi (1966) • Sri Krishna Tulabharam (1966) • Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha (1966) • Ummadi Kutumbam (1967) • Bhama Vijayam (1967) • Nindu Manasulu (1967) • Sri Krishnavataram (1967) • Kanchu Kota (1967) • Sati Sumathi (1967) • Stree Janma (1967) • Bhakta Prahlada (1967) • Sipayi Chinnayya (1969) Malayalam • Jnaanasundari (1961) • Laila Majnu (1962) • Snapaka Yohannan (1963) • Sathyabhaama (1963) Tamil Hindi • Husn Aur Ishq (1966) • Baadal (1966) • Alibaba and the Forty Thieves (1966) • Shabnam (1964) Kannada • Satya Harishchandra (1965) • Sri Purandara Dasaru (1967) == References ==