K.Vijayan alias K.Sathyanathan was previously an employee of the Railway workshop at Golden rock. His interest in movies first took him to acting. His first film 'Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar'won the national award along with the other film 'Kalathur Kannamma'produced by the AVM banner. Though Vijayan later did a pivotal role in K.Balachander's much credited film'Naanal'by giving an excellent twist to the climax (of course based on the ace directorial skills of K.Balachander)K.Vijayan became a film maker in 1969 and his very first film 'Kaval Dheivam' had Sivaji Ganesan in a cameo role and the film had fairly good reviews.
Later teaming up with the illustrious film producer K.Balaji Vijayan had the opportunity to make a few successful films like Deepam, Thiyagam,Bhandham and Viduthalai,with the chevalier as the protagonist. His other successful Sivaji Ganesan films were Rojaavin Raja, Annan Oru Koil, Nalladhoru Kudumbam, Punniya Bhoomi,Thambathyam,Ratha Pasam,Ananda Kanneer,Krishnan Vandhaan and the silver jubilee block buster film Thirisoolam produced under the banner of Sivaji Ganesan's home production house.
Most of these films focused on core family values with family misunderstanding and villainy engineered by outsiders.Thirisoolam became an extraordinary film only because of the dynamic action segment and the triple roles played by Sivaji Ganesan with the most passionate role play of K.R.Vijaya.But credit goes to K.Vijayan for his impressive narration of the course of events in many of his films.
Besides Sivaji Ganesan,K.Vijayan had worked with Sivakumar {Puthu Vellam,Aani Ver, &Vandi Chakkaram need a special mention,Jai Shankar {Eduppaar Kai Pillai},Kamalahasan { Sattam & Mangamma Sabadham}Rajinikanth {Vidhuthalai}Vijayakanth{Dhoorathu Idi Muzhakkam & Auto Raja}Mohan {Nirabaradhi and Vidhi,another mega hit movie,both produced by K.Balaji}, Vijayakumar{Rudhra Thandavam}Rajesh{Aval Potta Kolam} and K.Bhagyaraj{Rathathin Rathame another K.Balaji's film based on Mr.India,half done by K,Vijayan and completed by his son Sundar K.Vijayan.
A majority of films directed by K.Vijayan were remakes of Hindi, Bengali and Kannada films. Besides making Tamil films,K,Vijayan had also directed about half a dozen Malayalam films, a couple of Hindi and Kannada films.He had also appeared in character roles in some of his films. Remembering K.Vijayan is a heartwarming experience because he was a voluminous film maker in the line of other directors like A.C.Thirulokchander, C.V.Rajendran P.Madhavan and A.Bhimsingh who were all special film makers with Sivaji Ganesan as hero.
Conjugal glory, parental aspirations coupled with filial love formed the central theme of many of his films.Vijayan's films also focused on conflict of friendship {Sattam is special in this regard} family revenge {as seen in Mangamma Sabadham}feminine power as cleanly represented by Sujatha and Poornima Bhagyaraj in Vidhi, struggle against feudalism and bonded labour with left wing ideologies, (Puthuvellam and Vandi Chakkaram would belong to this category) and straight action thrillers like Thirisoolam and Viduthalai.
A majority of the films made by K.Vijayan were worthy of a family watch,on account of their sentimental core and entertainment quotient. Vijayan made commercially viable movies and saved the production houses from undue losses.It is really a pity that time cut short the life span of a vigorous film maker like K.Vijayan even before he could see his fiftieth year. But making a humble beginning in life, he grew by leaps and bounds in Tamil cinema, as a major name to be cherished in audience memory,as well as in the archives of the cinema gallery.
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