Vikram

John Kennedy, better known by his stage name Vikram, is a Tamil and Malayalam Actor. Besides acting, he is also a film producer, playback singer and dubbing artist. He made his debut in the 1990 film En Kadhal Kanmani, which was followed by a series of low-budget Tamil and Telugu films throughout the early decade. Following the failure of his early films, Vikram appeared as a dubbing artiste to prominent actors, whilst trying to find a breakthrough in terms of his acting career. However during this early decade, he got prominent side roles in high-budget Malayalam films; mostly with Megastar Mammootty, and Suresh Gopi. After the critical and commercial success of Sethu (1999) he has been part of numerous other commercially successful films and has earned major critical acclaim for many of his performances. During his years in the Indian film industry, he has won three Filmfare Awards, as well as securing India's most prestigious film award, by achieving the National Film Award for Best Actor.He started a film production venture "Real Life Entertainment".

While some of Vikram's best-known films, Dhill (2001), Gemini (2002), Dhool (2003), Saamy (2003) and Bheema (2008) remain some of Tamil cinema's biggest hits, performances in films like Sethu (1999), Kasi (2002), Pithamagan (2003) and Anniyan (2005) and Kanthaswamy (2009) have won him critical acclaims and awards, making Vikram one of the more successful actors of Tamil cinema, both critically and commercially.

Vikram did his schooling at Montfort School, Yercaud. The school which emphasises extra curriculum honed multiple skills in sports, music and theatre, where his love of drama and pursuit of a dream was nurtured. His parents wanting him to do his graduation after finishing his final high school year, he completed his graduation in English from Loyola College, Chennai and followed with an MBA degree.

Vikram's father, Vinod Raj, is also a film actor. The two had starred in the same film for the first time in Kanthaswamy. Vikram's mother, Rajeshwari who worked in Government service, is a retired sub-collector. Vikram married Shylaja, a psychologist, in 1992. They have two children, a daughter named Akshitha and a son named Druv.

Vikram started his career in 1990 with En Kadhal Kanmani which did not do well.Then went on to do more than a dozen movies which did not do well in box office. He starred in Ullasam along Ajith Kumar.This film was produced by Amitabh Bachchan. Still to taste success he acted in 1999 movie Sethu directed by first time director Bala which turned out to be a hit and his acting won him critical acclaims. After few films not making much impact. He then acted in 2001 movie Dhill directed by his friend Dharani which did well commercially. In 2002 he started with a Malayalam remake Kasi,which won him Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award and did well at box office. He then acted Gemini produced by AVM Productions which became a blockbuster.Later that year he acted in Samurai and King. Both did not do well at box office.

In 2003 Vikram acted in Dhool again with Dharani which was a blockbuster. He then acted in a family drama Kadhal Sadugudu which did not do well followed by Saamy directed by Hari where he palyed a cop turned another blockbuster for him.This film was produced by K. Balachander. Later that year he starred in Pithamagan directed by Bala which won him both Filmfare Best Tamil Actor Award and National Film Award for Best Actor. This film did well at the box office. In 2004 he acted in Arul directed by Hari who gave saami. This movie did not do well at box office.

In 2004 it was announced that Vikram act in Anniyan directed by S. Shankar which released in 2005 was the most expensive then. In this film he played a person suffering from dissociative identity disorder as he plays three different personalities. This film was both critical and commercial success. He then did a family drama Majaa which did not do well. In later that year he announce his next film Bheema which was started on April 2006 but due to lack of funds the movie postponed and released in January 2008. Bheema became a commercial hit at the box office.

In 2008 he started acting in Kanthaswamy directed by Susi Ganesan and produced by Kalaipuli Thanu. This movie was released on 21 August 2009. This movie was one of the highest grossers of the year.

Prepared by: Dr. Susie Pazhavarical