From the legendary silk smitha and national award-winning actor shoba to bollywood stars Sushant singh Rajput and Jiah khanThe list of Indian celebrities who are allegly died by suicide is, unfortunately, long. The price many have paid for the fame and fortune that show business offers are their mental health, And, at times, even their lives. While conspiracy theories and Investigation Reports Continue to Speculate on What Drove To Take The Extreme Step, We May Never Know The Real Reason. Only they have reveles what trrundle pushed them to the edge. Vijayasree, known as the “Marilyn Monroe of Malayalam“, Was one such actor who ended her life at the peak of her career.

In a short span of just five years, she appeared in over 60 films, winning audiences over with her breathtaking beauty and acting skills, though the latter was largly underutilised as she was typecast as a “sex symbol” early on. Half a Century after her tragic death, the world still dos‘T Know What Dove The Young Actor to End Her Life At Just 21.

Born on January 8, 1953, in Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, to Vasu Pillai and Vijayamma, Vijayasree Made Her aCting Debut at the age of 13 in the Tamil Film Chitthi (1966), Starring Padmini and Gemini Ganesan. She soon began receiving offers from Telugu and Kannada cinema as well. As she was slowly carving her space, vijayasree got her first offer from Malayalam, to play a small roll in thikkursissy sukumaran nair’s Prem nazir and Shela-starrr Poojapushpam (1969). It didn‘T Take long for the industry to notice her striking beauty and steellar potential, and she quickly began landing lead roles. In 1970, She Starred Opposite so-superstar prem nazir in rakthapushpam, directed by “Hitmaker“ Sasikumar. The Nazir -Vijayasree Pairing Became an Instant Favorite, Opening The Floodgates to Numerous Opportunities.

“She is the most beautiful woman I have ever met,” Legendary Filmmaker Bharathan Once Told His Associate Jayaraj, WHAT HIMSELF LATER CARECAME A RENOWNED DIRECTOR AND PAID TRIBUTE TO VIJAYASE. Naayika (2011). “People go to the theater to see her, and that is something that is not happy before (her time). The hindu In 2016.

Vijayasree in prema kanuka. (Credit: 20cmoviestars.weebly.com)

The prem Nazir-vijayasree magic

Despite successful screen pairings like nazir -shehela and nazir -jayabharathi dominating this era, vijayasree‘S chemistry with prem nazir became a hit. In Most of Her Malayalam Films, She was paired opposite nazir, and almost all of them. From Othente Makan (1970), Marunnattil Oru Malayali (1971), Lankadahanam (1971), Taxi Car (1972), Aadhyathe Katha (1972), Pushapanjali (1972), Postmane Kanilla (1972), Maravil). Thirivu sookshikkkuka (1972), Mantrakodi (1972), Aromalunni (1972) and Thaniniram (1973) to Pacha nottukal (1973), Thiruvharanam (1973), thiruvabharanam (1973), Ponnaapuram (1973), Pavangal Pennungal (1973), Veendum Prabhatham (1973), Padmavyooham (1973), Ankathattu (1973) and Ajnathavasam (1973), all their films earned massive maycment. She also appeared Alongside Other Stars Like Madhu and Raghavan, Achieving Immnse Stardom at a Young Age.

Tragically, She was found dead at her residence in madras (now chennai), reportedly after consuming poison. On the day of her death, a producer had visited her to finalise her next film. She was reportedly cheerful not just on that day, but for several months. No one suspected she was struggling with anything grave Enough to prompt such an act.

Prem nazir and vijayasree in sambhavami yage yage. (Credit: 20cmoviestars.weebly.com)

What happened to Vijayasree?

After the producer left, vijayasree went to her bedroom. When she didn‘T come out for a long time, her mother went in and found her lying on the bed, with blood and froth at her mouth. Though rushed to Madras General Hospital, She was declared dead on Arrival. The post-Mortem Reveled that a large amount of poison had been ingested. A container with the poison was later found in the family‘S Prayer Room.

HER FINAL HOURS PUZZLED MANY. She had spent time chatting with neighbours‘ children – She loves loves – In the garden and semed genuinely happy. Could someone so visibly joyful take their own life All of a Sudden? That was the haunting question.

According to Manorama onlineVijayasree appeared mostly happy during that eraParticularly because her Marriage had been arranged with a doctor settled abroad. For someone eager to leave the Dark World of cinema, this was a hopyful turn. But Behind her glowing smile, she had been hiding a bleeding heart, deeply scarred by exploitation with the industry.

Her Beauty Had Becom a commodity. Producers and directors saw her body as a ticket to boost their films‘ Sales. In one movie, a molestation scene involves an actor nearly tearing off her clothes. A still from that very scene was prominently displayed in the film‘s poster as well. This had caused her significant distress.

Vijayasree in sambhavami yage yage. (Credit: 20cmoviestars.weebly.com)

Did ponnapuram kotta ruin her life?

But the incident that reportedly broke her Heart the most Occurred during the filming of ponnapuram kotta, directed and produced by kunchacko, then a major figure in malaylam cinema. In the Period Drama, there was a scene where vijayasree was shown in a stream. Since set in a bygone era, she was portrayed wearing only a white, transparent mundu With no undergarments. The makers allegly encased the scene was shot in a tasteless Way that gratuitously highlighted her body.

In the middle of the shoot, her garment accidentally came undone and fell into the water. Instad of helping her dignity, the makers take advantage of the oportunity and captured her complete nudity on Camera. Upon realizing this, vijayasree sobbed her heart out, started the director not to use those shots. Although he agreed, she was extramely stressed, knowing well the industry’s dark side. No Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) came to her rescue, and the visuals were approved. The film was released with the shots that she had cleared not to use. This became a good selling device, and people thronged to see Vijayasree’s nudity, contributing to ponnaapuram kotta’s massive success. MeanWhile, after it gets a controversy, the filmmaker slowly withdrew those shots. But the damage had already be done.

Vijayasree in Mantrakodi. (Credit: 20cmoviestars.weebly.com)

#Metoo

The scar that it is left on a 20-not-ald vijayasree must not have been small. Although she kenew very well how powerful those who wronged her way, vijayasree was not ready to let things slip by like that. Later that year, She reportedly Gave an explosive interview to a major film magazine, detailing the exploitations she faced. She is named people And spoke of her trauma in what could be seen as a #metoo moments before the movement actually happened. The interview is the industry like a storm.

The producer responsnded by filing a defamation case against the magazine, painting himself as the Victim. Vijayasree, aware that she has‘T match his power and resources in court, chose not to file a counter-case. Was this incident that shattered her complete and drove her to suicide? Nobody knows.

The ‘Vijayasree’s curse ‘that haunted the one who wronged her

At the time of her death, she was at the height of her stardom. Her two unfinished films, Youvanam and vandikkari, Were Later Merged and Released as one movie posthumously. STarring raghavan As the Male Lead, tHat Film Too Became A Success.

But vijayasree‘S story didn’t end there. Kunchacko‘S Production Empire Soon Collapsed, with his films failing one after another. His family allegedly incurred debs amounting to crres. The only-thou banner slowly Disappeared. Many referred to this downfall as “Vijayasree’s curse“. Some even believed her spirit haunted the studio, according to filmmaker alleppy ashraf. Even After his death, the debts lingered, haunting subsent generations too. Though his successors Tried to Sell The Studio to Repay the Debts, No One Came Forward. Even Five Decades Later, The Building Lay Abandoned, Consmeded by Wild Vegetation, like a ghost house.