Vyjayanthimala, often regarded as the best dancer of Indian cinema, was the legendary actress who is known for her films like “Nagin,” “devdas,” “MadhuMati,” “Naya Daur,” “Sangam,” “Gunga Jumna,” “Amrapali,” “Jewel Thief,” “Sunghursh,” and many more.
Early Life and Career
Vyjayanthimala Raman was born on August 13, 1933, in Triplicane, Madras (now Chennai), into a Tamil-speaking family. His father was Mandyam Dhati Raman, while her mother was Vasundhara Devi, an actress. Her grandfather, Mandyam Dhati Gopalacharya, was known for founding a nursing home in Mysore in 1938. Yadugiri Devi, her grandmother, raised her and shaped her early years. Famous playwright and actor Y. G. Parthasarathy, her maternal uncle.
From childhood, Vyjayanthimala immersed herself in the arts. She trained in Bharatanatyam under Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. She also studied Carnatic music with mentors like D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi. At age 7, she danced for Pope Pius XII in Vatican City. Her arangetram occurred at 13, leading to performances across Tamil Nadu. She attended Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School at Presentation Convent, Church Park, Chennai.
Breakthrough
Director M. V. Raman spotted her during a Bharatanatyam performance and cast her in Vaazhkai in 1949 at age 16. She portrayed Mohana Shivashankaralingam, a college girl. The Tamil film succeeded at the box office. It was remade as Jeevitham in Telugu in 1950, where she dubbed her lines with her father’s help. This marked her Telugu debut. She appeared briefly in Vijayakumari in 1950, dancing in Western style.
Vaazhkai was later remade in Hindi as Bahar in 1951, where she acted with Karan Dewan, Om Prakash and Pandari Bai. The film’s success established her as a promising talent.
Vyjayanthimala delivered standout performances in several films. Nagin, directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal in 1954, topped the year’s earnings. She played Mala, the daughter of a tribal chief who falls in love with the man (Pradeep Kumar) of an opposing clan blending dance and drama.
In 1955 she starred in Bimal Roy‘s classic Devdas as Chandramukhi opposite Dilip Kumar. Critics praised her emotive portrayal. For the film, she won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, which she declined. As she thought that Chandramukhi was not a supporting character and should be nominated in the Best Actress category. Bimal Roy again cast her opposite Dilip Kumar in “Madhumati (1958),” a reincarnation drama about the ill feted lovers.
Vyjayanthimala The Star
In 1957 she starred opposite Dilip Kumar in BR Chopra’s Naya Daur, a role that was first offered to Madhubala. The film’s success established her as the top herion of her time. highlighted her as Rajni in a rural tale. She again collaborated with Chopra for Sadhna (1958) with Sunil Dutt in a story of the rehabilitation of prostitutes. The same year she starred in S.S. Wasan’s “Raj Tilak (1958),” with Gemini Ganeshan, Padmini, and Pran. The film was the remake of Gemini’s own Tamil hit Vanji Kottai Valipan. The film is famous for the dance face off of Vyjayanthimala and Padmini.
Some of her notable films “Yasmin (1955),” “Kathputli (1957),” “Amar Deep (1958),” “Paigham (1959),” “Nazrana (1961),” “Aas Ka Panchhi (1961),” “Jhoola (1962),” and “Zindagi (1964).” In 1961 she again paired with Dilip Kumar for Nitin Bose’s blockbuster “Gunga Jamuna.” She played a village belle Dhanno, and gets immense acclaim for her comand over Awadhi dialect.
In 1964 she starred in the love triangle “Sangam (1964),” with Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar. The film was big hit and Mala became the number one choice of producers. The same year she teams up with Dilip Kumar for musical road movie “Leader (1964).” The film directed by Ram Mukherjee has political undertones and gets widespread praise for it music and performances. She then starred in K Amarnath’s “Ishaara (1964),” with Joy Mukherjee, RC Talwar’s “Naya Kanoon (1965),” with Ashok Kumar and Bharat Bhushan, and Alo Sarkar’s “Chhoti Si Mulaqat (1967),” with Uttam Kumar.
Later Work
One of her most memorable performances came in Lekh Tandan’s “Amrapali (1966),” a historical tale opposite Sunil Dutt. Vyjayanthimala stars as Amrapali, the chief courtesan of Vaishali (Nagar Vadhu). The film shows her transitions from dancer to devotee. In 1967 she starred in Vijay Anand’s “Jewel Thief (1967),” opposite Dev Anand. She also starred in “Suraj (1966),” and “Ganwaar (1970),” with Rajendra Kumar.
She was cast by HS Rawail as a replacement of Sadhana in “Sunghursh (1968),” opposite Dilip Kumar. Some of her last films were “Saathi (1967),” “Duniya (1968),” “Pyar Hi Pyar (1969),” and “Prince (1969).” After completing these films she retired from films at the peak of her career.
Not just content with being in front of the camera, Vyjayanthimala’s passion for dance saw her excel as a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, earning her the title of ‘Twinkle Toes’. Her performances on screen and stage brought the nuances of classical Indian dance to the masses, influencing generations to come.
Her accolades are numerous, including five Filmfare Awards (Devdas, Madhumati, Sadhna, Gunga Jumna, Sangam) and the prestigious Padma Shri in 1968. In 2024, she was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, reflecting her status as a cultural icon. Vyjayanthimala’s impact extended beyond the arts, as she served as a Member of Parliament, first in the Lok Sabha and later in the Rajya Sabha, showcasing her commitment to public service.
Personal Life
In personal matters, Vyjayanthimala followed Vaishnava Hinduism and vegetarianism. She married Dr. Chamanlal Bali in 1968 after his divorce. He worked as Raj Kapoor’s physician. They relocated to Chennai. Their son, Suchindra Bali, pursued acting and law. She stepped away from films post-marriage to focus on family.
Later, she entered politics. In 1984, she won the South Chennai Lok Sabha seat for Congress, defeating Era Sezhiyan by 48,000 votes. She served until 1991, then joined the BJP in 1999 before resigning. She continued dancing and public appearances.
In personal matters, Vyjayanthimala followed Vaishnava Hinduism and vegetarianism. She married Dr. Chamanlal Bali in 1968 after his divorce. He worked as Raj Kapoor’s physician. They relocated to Chennai. Their son, Suchindra Bali, pursued acting and law. She stepped away from films post-marriage to focus on family.
Vyjayanthimala’s life is a testament to her multifaceted talent and her ability to break barriers. Her legacy continues to inspire artists and audiences alike, proving that true artistry knows no bounds.
Vyjayanthimala on IMDB
