R. Vijaykumar (1949 – 15 January 2025), known by the

stage name A stage name or professional name is a pseudonym used by performers, authors, and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. The equivalent concept among writers is called a ''nom de plume'' (pen name). Some performers ...

Sarigama Viji, was an Indian actor, writer and television personality known for his work in

Kannada cinema Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. Kannada cinema is based in Gandhi Nagar ...

. He was also a theatre artist, and was based in

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

Background

Sarigama Viji was married and had a son. He died from multiple organ failure in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 15 January 2025, at the age of 76.

Career

Before pursuing his acting career, he worked in NGEF.

Films

Viji's debut as an actor came in the Kannada film '' Beluvalada Madilalli'' (1975). By 2018, he had acted in around 269 films in Kannada. On 80 films, he worked as an

Assistant director The role of an assistant director (AD) on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have ...

Theatre works

''Samsaradalli Sarigama'', a theatre play which he directed and acted, was played more than 1390 times, in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. His theatre group, ''Yashasvi'' was the creator of the play.

Television

Viji directed around 2,400 episodes of television soap operas. He was a part of many television soap operas/series including as a jury member in reality soaps, ''Comedy Khiladigalu Championship'', which aired in

Zee Kannada Zee Kannada is an Indian Kannada pay television general entertainment channel that was launched in the year 2006 and owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. It is also being as the first mainstream satellite channel in Kannada. History Zee Kan ...

Selected filmography

* Maduve Madi Nodu (1965) *'' Beluvalada Madilalli'' (1975) *''Kappu Kola'' (1980) – Bheema (credited as R. Vijaykumar) *'' Prathap'' (1990) – Suri *'' Mana Mecchida Sose'' (1992) *'' Kempaiah IPS'' (1993) *'' Alimayya'' (1993) *''Gold Medal'' (1994) – Viji *''

Jagath Kiladi ''Jagath Kiladi'' () is a 1998 Indian Kannada language action comedy film starring Jaggesh, Charulatha and Pavithra Lokesh in the lead roles. The film produced by Sudha Srinivasan for S&S Cinemas was directed by Chikkanna. The film was based ...

'' (1998) *'' Yamalokadalli Veerappan'' (1998)' *'' Durgi'' (2004) *''Swartharatna'' (2018)

References

External links

* 1948 births 2025 deaths Male actors in Kannada cinema Indian male film actors Male actors from Karnataka 20th-century Indian male actors 21st-century Indian male actors Male actors in Kannada theatre Kannada people Male actors in Kannada television {{India-stage-actor-stub