Vijaykumar (8 December 1944 – 24 August 1974) better known by his stage name Sasikumar, was an Indian actor and army officer who worked mainly in Tamil cinema.
Sasikumar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vijaykumar 8 December 1944 |
| Died | 24 August 1974 (aged 29) Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
| Other names | Radha Vijaykumar Radha Vetriselvan |
| Education | B. Sc Chemistry |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, army officer |
| Years active | 1970–1974 |
| Spouse |
Sasikala (died 1974) |
| Children | 2 (including Vijayasarathy) |
| Parents |
|
Early life
editSasikumar was born Vijaykumar on 8 December 1944 to Radhakrishnan and Savithri in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan, a follower of E. V. Ramasamy, worked at the National College, Tiruchirappalli as a Hindi professor. Vijaykumar studied chemistry at the same college, eventually graduating with a B.Sc degree.[1][2][3]
Career
editWhile in his third year at college, Vijaykumar joined the army and became the second lieutenant; he registered under the name "Vetriselvan", previously conferred upon him by E. V. Ramasamy. After completing his college education, he was promoted to lieutenant and went to Patiala. During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, he took over the leadership of the Button Bearing Division and won the President's Medal of Valour for driving out soldiers without using the bearings in the war. He later went to Madras (now Chennai) after being relieved of his military service, married Sasikala and founded a theatre troupe, acting in many of his plays. When filmmaker A. P. Nagarajan saw one of those plays and was impressed with Vijaykumar's performance, he cast him in Thirumalai Thenkumari (1970), making it Vijaykumar's film debut; Vijaykumar adopted the stage name Sasikumar, partly inspired by his wife. He went on to act in numerous successful films, including ...Aval!, Kasethan Kadavulada (both 1972), Arangetram, Bharatha Vilas, Rajapart Rangadurai, Suryagandhi (all in 1973), and Vellikizhamai Viratham (1974).[1][2][3]
Death
editSasikumar was leaving for a Congress public meeting when Sasikala was caught in a fire when she lit cooking gas in the kitchen. When Sasikumar tried to save his wife from the fire, a fire spread on her. Both were taken to Royapettah Hospital. However, both died on 24 August 1974. They had two children at the time, a six-year old daughter and a four-year old son, who were subsequently raised by their grandmother.[1][3][4] His son Vijayasarathy was a Sun TV anchor who hosted many successful programs in the 1990s and 2000s.[5]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Thirudan | Dancer | |
| 1970 | Thirumalai Thenkumari | Mohan | |
| 1971 | Veettukku Oru Pillai | Kalaimani | |
| 1972 | ...Aval! | Chandranath | [6] |
| 1972 | Kasethan Kadavulada | Mani | [7] |
| 1973 | Arangetram | Pasupathy | [8] |
| 1973 | Bharatha Vilas | Ameer | |
| 1973 | Rajapart Rangadurai | Ramu | |
| 1973 | Suryagandhi | Sundaram | |
| 1974 | Panathukkaga | Sundar | |
| 1974 | Paruva Kaalam | Jambhu | |
| 1974 | Vellikizhamai Viratham | Suresh | [9] |
| 1975 | Manidhanum Dheivamagalam | Kannan | |
| 1978 | Ennai Pol Oruvan | Usha's brother |
References
edit- ^ a b c "திரைப்படச்சோலை 22: சசிகுமார் வம்சம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ a b Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about cinema – Sasikumar". Kalyanamalai. p. 1. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Majordasan. "Potpourri of titbits about cinema – Sasikumar". Kalyanamalai. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "சசிகுமார் ஒரு மகிழம்பூ". Navamani (in Tamil). 17 September 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 27 July 2024 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
- ^ "என்னது ! சன் டிவி விஜய சாரதியின் அப்பா இந்த நடிகரா? வெளியான போட்டோ". News18 (in Tamil). 1 April 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., சிவாஜியுடன் நடித்து புகழ் பெற்ற வெண்ணிற ஆடை நிர்மலா". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 10 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ "Kasethan Kadavulada Press Meet Images & news Release". B4U Media. 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ^ Dhananjayan, G. (2011). The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976. Galatta Media. p. 257. OCLC 733724281.
- ^ Guy, Randor (12 November 2016). "Vellikizhamai Viratham (1974) TAMIL". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 February 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2021.