Remembering Vijaya Rangaraju: Villain of ‘Vietnam Colony,’ the honest 'Rowther' in real life

Alappuzha: Vijaya Rangaraju, who portrayed the menacing villain 'Rowther' in the Malayalam film Vietnam Colony, was known for his honesty and kindness off-screen. The film, a collaboration between directors Siddique and Lal, left a lasting impact on Malayalam movie lovers. It was also the first film directed by Siddique-Lal starring Mohanlal.

Vietnam Colony, released in 1992, was a major hit and became the highest-grossing film of the year. The film, shot on a one-acre plot near Gujarati Street in Alappuzha, featured Rangaraju as Rowther, a powerful and ruthless villain. Despite his fierce on-screen persona, Rangaraju's real-life character was anything but villainous.

Production Controller A Kabir, who worked on the film, recalled that the shooting took place over 40 days in Alappuzha. He was a Production Executive at that time. The Hanuman Trading Company building, owned by Babu Seth and his sons Bensy and Jugil, was transformed into the setting of Vietnam Colony. Kabir also fondly remembered his daughter, Sherin (now a makeup artist), who was a toddler at the time and appeared in the film as well.

A gentle giant off-screen

Standing at over six feet tall, Rangaraju's imposing physical presence would often intimidate people when he arrived in an Ambassador car for filming. However, once he started interacting with the crew, he quickly became friends with everyone. His calm and composed nature made him well-liked on set as well.

Directors Siddique and Lal first met Rangaraju at actor Fazil's house in Chennai, where Fazil was renting the house from actor Sukumaran. Impressed by Rangaraju’s stature, the filmmakers decided to cast him as the villain in their film. 

Voice of Rowther

Although Vijaya Rangaraju played Rowther on-screen, it was actor N F Varghese who provided the character's distinctive voice, adding another layer to the villain's terrifying presence.

Vijaya Rangaraju, though remembered for his villainous role in Vietnam Colony, will always be celebrated for his honesty and kind nature in real life.