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I. M. Vijayan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 April 1969

Age56 Years (as of 2025)

BirthplaceThrissur, Kerala, India

ProfessionFormer Footballer, Actor, Assistant Commandant in Kerala Police

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRaji Vijayan

FamilySon: Aromal Vijayan; Daughters: Abhirami (Ally) Vijayan, Archana Vijayan; Parents deceased; Brother Biju Vijayan (deceased)

I. M. Vijayan Biography

I. M. Vijayan is a former Indian international footballer from Thrissur, Kerala, who became one of the country’s most celebrated forwards. After a lengthy,

Early life and background

Inivalappil Mani Vijayan was born on 25 April 1969 in Thrissur, Kerala. He grew up in modest circumstances and left formal schooling after the eighth grade. As a boy he spent much of his time at the local municipal stadium, where early displays of talent set the course for a career in football. He lost his father at a young age and helped his mother support the family.

Vijayan began playing organized football during his school years and joined the Kerala Police football club as a teenager after impressing coach A. M. Sreedharan. His performances at state and national level competitions quickly brought him to wider attention.

Career

Vijayan made his club football debut in 1987 and earned his first call-up to the Indian national team in 1989. A forward who wore the number 10 shirt for much of his career, he became one of India’s most prolific scorers, finishing his international career with 32 goals in 77 appearances and serving as captain of the national side.

At club level, Vijayan had multiple spells with some of India’s leading teams. He left Kerala Police in 1991 to join Mohun Bagan and later played for JCT Mills Phagwara, where he was part of the squad that won the inaugural National Football League title in 1996–97. He also had successful stints with FC Kochin, winning the Durand Cup with the side, and later returned to Mohun Bagan for further seasons. Across his time at Mohun Bagan he scored 51 goals.

Vijayan’s career included a reputation for quick scoring — one notable moment came in 1999 when he scored within the first dozen seconds of a match at the South Asian Federation Games. He became the first player to receive the All India Football Federation Player of the Year award on three occasions: 1993, 1997 and 1999. In 2003 he was awarded the Arjuna Award in recognition of his contribution to Indian football.

He retired from international football on 31 October 2003 and ended his club career on 1 July 2006 after spells with Churchill Brothers and East Bengal, among others. After retiring as a player, Vijayan remained involved in the game: in 2010 he took up a coaching role with Southern Samity, he later served as national observer for football for the Government of India, and in 2022 he was appointed to the technical committee of the All India Football Federation.

Acting and media

Alongside football, Vijayan developed a parallel career in acting. His Malayalam film debut came in 2001, and he went on to appear in several South Indian films over the following decades. He played the lead in the Malayalam film Mmmmm, which won the Best Film (feature) award at the 2021 Paris Film Festival. He has also featured in titles including Quotation (2004), Asuravithu (2012), Abrahaminte Santhathikal (2018) and Muddy (2021). His Tamil debut was in Thimiru (2006).

Public profile

Vijayan is widely known by his nickname “Kalo Harin” (Black Buck). His personal story — rising from hardship to national recognition — has been the subject of public interest and a documentary film about his life was released under the same moniker. He has been photographed and profiled extensively in Indian media and appeared on the cover of magazines with his wife.

Vijayan has long been a visible presence in Kerala’s sevens football scene; he owns Usha FC Thrissur, a club named in honour of his mother. He has a well-known admiration for Diego Maradona and has a tattoo of Maradona’s name and number on his leg. He has also followed every FIFA World Cup from 2002 through 2022 and witnessed Argentina’s title triumph in 2022.

Personal life

Vijayan married Raji Vijayan on 18 August 1994. The couple have three children: a son, Aromal, who works as a performance analyst at Gokulam Kerala FC, and two daughters, Abhirami (Ally) and Archana. His parents, Ayinivalappil Mani and Kochammu Vijayan, both worked as daily-wage labourers and are deceased. He had one brother, Biju, who died in 2018 after an accident.

Latest updates

In recent years Vijayan received an honorary doctorate from a university in Russia in June 2021 and was promoted within the police to the rank of assistant commandant the same year. The All India Football Federation put forward his name for the Padma Shri in 2020, and in 2025 he was conferred the Padma Shri. He continues to be active in football administration and grassroots initiatives in Kerala.
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Recent Work

Mmmmm

Lead role in Malayalam feature that won Best Film (feature) at the 2021 Paris Film Festival.

2021
Muddy

Acted in the film released in 2021.

2021
Abrahaminte Santhathikal

Acted in the 2018 Malayalam film.

2018
Thimiru

Tamil film in which he debuted in 2006, playing Chinna Karuppu.

2006
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Career Highlights

  1. Made international debut for India in 1989 and scored 32 goals in 77 matches
  2. First player to win AIFF Player of the Year three times (1993, 1997, 1999)
  3. Won the Arjuna Award in 2003
  4. Part of JCT Mills side that won the inaugural National Football League (1996–97)
  5. Won the Durand Cup with FC Kochin
  6. Lead actor in Mmmmm, which won Best Film (feature) at the 2021 Paris Film Festival
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was I. M. Vijayan born?

25 April 1969

What is I. M. Vijayan known for?

Former Footballer, Actor, Assistant Commandant in Kerala Police

What is I. M. Vijayan’s marital status?

Married

Who is I. M. Vijayan married to?

Raji Vijayan