Vijayashanthi’s birthday glimpse from NKR 21: Will Vyjayanthi IPS deliver another ‘Karthavyam’?

The birthday glimpse left everyone in awe and also promised an action entertainer.

Fans remember superhit Karthavyam

The Vijayashanthi’s birthday glimpse from NKR 21 also offered a trip-down-the-memory-lane moment for film enthusiasts. It reminded the fans of the blockbuster flick Karthavyam (1990), where Vijayashanti first appeared as Vyjayanthi, an IPS officer.

She won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Mohan Gandhi directorial. She also bagged the Nandi Award.

Indeed, Vyjayanthi IPS helped the actor earn the monicker “Lady Superstar”. While Vijayashanthi is renowned for her versatility, her character in Karthavyam raised many eyebrows since it involved extensive fight sequences besides emotions.

Until then, the actor made a mark for herself in the industry through intense and glamorous roles in movies like Challenge (1984), Pratighatana (1985), Agni Parvatam (1985), Padamati Sandhya Ragam (1987), Repati Pourulu (1986), Apoorva Sahodarulu (1986), Pasivadi Pranam (1987), Swayam Krushi (1987), Yamudiki Mogudu (1989), and Athaku Yamudu Ammayiki Mogudu (1989), to mention a few.

Nevertheless, the ease with which the actor pulled off the role of a righteous cop, who stands against all odds to seek justice for a rape survivor, left an indelible mark on the Telugu cineastes, including the family audience.

Also Read: Three all-time favourite children’s films in Telugu

The emergence of Lady Superstar

‘Karthavyam’ earned Vijayashanthi the monicker ‘Lady Superstar’. (Wikipedia)

Made with a budget of ₹90 lakh, the Mohan Gandhi film collected a whopping ₹7 crore in those days.

Karthavyam was dubbed into Tamil the same year as Vyjayanthi IPS, which became a huge box-office success and made the actor an overnight sensation in the Tamil industry.

Later, it was remade in Hindi as Tejasvini (1940), with Vijayashanthi reprising her role, and in Tamil as Bhavani (2011), both super hits.

After Karthavyam, Vijayashanthi not only became a household name but also made the industry sit up and notice. She also threw a tough competition to her male counterparts. In fact, she became the most sought-after actor for women-oriented films and was paid the highest remuneration in Telugu.

Vijayashanthi also played a cop, as ACP Vijaya, in Venkatesh’s Sathruvu (1991). The actor was busy working on Karthavyam when she was offered the role in this Kodi Ramakrishna directorial. Sathruvu, released on 2 January 1991, also became a hit and the actor won accolades for her role.

After foraying into politics, Vijayashanthi took a break from films. She made a comeback after 13 long years of hiatus (after director Mahdavi Sai’s Naayudamma in 2006) with Mahesh Babu’s Sarileru Neekevvaru in 2020, where she played a mother.

And now, with NKR 21, the actor is all set to regale the audience again as the famous Vyjayanthi IPS.

As the film’s teaser went viral and is drawing wide appreciation, moviegoers and netizens are discussing whether the actor would deliver another Karthavyam. They are also drawing comparisons between the two movies.

Directed by Pradeep Chilukuri, NKR 21 features Saiee Manjrekar as the leading lady.

The film is produced by Kalyan Ram’s NTR Arts in collaboration with Ashoka Creations. Muppa Venkaiah Chowdary, Ashok Vardhan Muppa, and Sunil Balusu are presenting it.

C Ram Prasad is the cinematographer and Ajaneesh Loknath is the music composer.

(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)

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