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Vijayaraghavan Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 16, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth20 December 1951

Age73 Years

BirthplaceKuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)

ProfessionActor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseAnitha Vijayaraghavan (Suma)

FamilyFather: N. N. Pillai; Mother: Chinnamma (Kalyanikutti Amma); Sons: Jinadevan, Devadevan

Vijayaraghavan Biography

Vijayaraghavan is an Indian actor known for his long career in Malayalam cinema, notable supporting roles, and stage and television work. Born in 1951, heʼ

Early life and background

Narayanapillai Vijayaraghavan was born on 20 December 1951 in Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia). He is the son of N. N. Pillai, a multi‑faceted theatre personality, and Chinnamma (also known as Kalyanikutti Amma). Vijayaraghavan attended Government Higher Secondary School Kudamaloor in Kerala. He belongs to an Indian family with two sisters, Sulochana and Renuka.

Career

Vijayaraghavan made his film debut in Malayalam cinema with Kaapalika (1973), a film based on his father’s play, appearing as the character Babu. Over the decades he built a reputation as a character and supporting actor in Mollywood, moving between stage, television and film roles.

A career milestone came with his performance in New Delhi (1987) as Ananthan, which brought broader recognition. He became especially well known for playing the antagonist Ramji Rao in Ramji Rao Speaking (1989), a role that proved defining for his screen persona and contributed to the film’s lasting influence.

Across the 2010s and beyond he continued to be visible in memorable supporting parts. Among the films cited as notable are Venicile Vyapari (2011), Ramaleela (2017), Punyalan Private Limited (2017), and Kammara Sambhavam (2018). In 2023 he appeared as a centenarian named Ittoop in Pookkaalam and also featured in the comedy Neymar.

Vijayaraghavan has worked in Tamil cinema as well, making his Tamil debut in Arangetra Velai (1990) as Pakki Ram. His screen work is complemented by performances on television in serials such as Crime Branch (Kairali TV), Kavyanjali and Snehatheeram (both on Surya TV), and by stage appearances that reflect his theatrical roots.

Awards and recognition

Vijayaraghavan’s work has been recognized with several awards. He received an Asianet Film Award Special Jury Honour in 2015 and the Asianet Film Award for Best Character Actor in 2019 for Porinju Mariam Jose. In 2022 he won a film award from the Valikunnam Nattupacha Kala Cultural Forum. In 2025 he was honored with Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Malayalam at the 13th South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) for Kishkindha Kaandam and received the Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal) for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Pookkaalam at the 71st National Film Awards.

Public profile

Vijayaraghavan has spoken in interviews about his approach to acting and the influences he respects. He has expressed a preference for maintaining his own style rather than imitating others, and has named admiration for actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Mammootty, Om Puri and Nedumudi Venu. He has also acknowledged challenges with dubbing, noting the physical strain it can cause.

Personal life

Vijayaraghavan is married to Anitha Vijayaraghavan (also known as Suma). The couple have two sons: Jinadevan, who is a businessman, and Devadevan, who works in the South Indian film industry. He has described a fondness for automobiles and has mentioned a preference for the comfort of a Toyota Fortuner among his vehicles.

Latest updates

In recent years Vijayaraghavan continued to take on diverse roles, including a celebrated performance as the 100‑year‑old Ittoop in Pookkaalam (2023). He has remained active across film and television and has received significant awards for supporting performances as recently as 2025.

He has also experienced the effects of misinformation: in 2017 a false report of his death circulated on social media using an image from a film shoot; he publicly refuted the claim and filed a complaint with police at the time.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Vijayaraghavan, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Pookkaalam

Played Ittoop, a 100-year-old man (2023)

2023
Neymar

Appeared in the comedy film (2023)

2023
Porinju Mariam Jose

Role recognized with Asianet Film Award for Best Character Actor (2019)

2019
Kaapalika

Debut Malayalam film (1973) as Babu

1973
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Career Highlights

  1. Debuted in Malayalam cinema with Kaapalika (1973)
  2. Breakthrough performances in New Delhi (1987) and Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
  3. Noted supporting roles in Venicile Vyapari, Ramaleela, Punyalan Private Limited and Kammara Sambhavam
  4. Active across film, television and theatre
  5. Multiple awards including Asianet Film Awards and national recognition in 2025
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vijayaraghavan born?

Vijayaraghavan was born on 20 December 1951.

What is Vijayaraghavan known for?

Vijayaraghavan is known for actor.

What is Vijayaraghavan’s marital status?

Vijayaraghavan's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Vijayaraghavan married to?

Vijayaraghavan is publicly listed as married to Anitha Vijayaraghavan (Suma).