Before there was an Amma or Puratchi
Thalaivi in the Indian political scenario, there was Jayalalitha in the
country’s cinema industry.
Born on February 24, 1948 in a family that
served Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar of Mysore, she was given her
grandmother’s name at birth: Komalavalli. The personal name Jayalalitha
was adopted at the age of 1 for the purpose of using the same in school and
colleges.
At two, she lost her father, while her
mother became the family’s bread- winner by starting work in films.
It might have been either a circumstantial
decision or a personal choice to embrace the world of cinema, but when young
Jayalalitha followed her mother’s footsteps into the film industry, the world
was definitely impressed. A girl, who perhaps was initially reluctant to work
in films, took the film industry by storm. Only a few years in the cinema and
Jayalalitha had worked in films of almost all southern languages with legends like
M G Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, N T Rama Rao, Krishna and Gemini Ganeshan.
EARLY YEARS
When she was only 13, Jayalalitha worked in
her first English film, Epistle, which released in the year 1961. In 1964, when
still in school, she played the lead in her first Kannada film, Chinnada
Gombe.
Complying with her wish of not wanting to
miss school, the film was shot during her summer vacation. Jayalalitha studied
at the Bishop Cotton Girls High School in Bangalore before moving to Chennai
where she attended the Church Park Presentation Convent.
JAYALALITHA- THE SINGER AND DANCER
An excellent dancer, Jayalalitha was well
versed in the Bharata Natyam dance form besides being equally dexterous
in Mohini Attam, Kathak and Manipuri styles of dancing.
Besides dancing, Jayalalitha was also a
wonderful singer. Having trained in Carnatic music, she sang several songs in
her films – “Amma Endraal Anbu” in Adimai Penn (1969), “Naan
Endral Athu Naanum Avalum” in Suryakanthi (1973) with S P
Balasubramaniam, and “Chithira Mandapathil” in Anbai Thedi (1974)
with T M Soundararajan.
Such dedicated excellence in art, drama and
dance won Jayalalitha the Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu
government in the year 1972.
JAYALALITHA AND MGR- THE MAGICAL DUO
Debuting in Tamil cinema with the film Vennira
Aadai, in which she played a schizophrenic widow, Jayalalitha won excellent
reviews for her performance. However, what really changed her life was the 1965
film Aayirathil Oruvan in which she was casted opposite Tamil superstar
M G Ramachandran. At this point it becomes hard to believe that at just 17
years of age, Jayalaitha was acting oppostite a 48 year- old legendary actor
who had some 80 films to his credit.
And when the duo came on screen, it was
pure magic for all those who beheld it. Their performance turned them into an
overnight sensation. The charm and charisma of a 17 year old Jayalalitha
playing the role of a beautiful princess complemented MGR's grave character in
the film, making it far more appealing. To this day, the film Aayirathil
Oruvan is considered as their best work. Directed and produced by the
legendry B R Panthulu, the film revolves around pirates, slavery, and the
independence of labourers.
HER TIMES IN HINDI CINEMA
Stepping into Hindi cinema in 1968 with Izzat
, co-starring Dharmendra and Tanuja, Jayalalitha played the role of Jhumki,
a spirited Adivasi belle who is in love with Dharmendra, a man who is far above
her according to social norms.
Her energetic performance earned her much
appreciation and also showcased her dancing talent. But that is all there is to
her career in Hindi cinema. She did not make any more Hindi films following Izzat.
IN TELUGU MOVIES
Jayalalitha starred alongside Telugu
superstar Krishna in the first Telugu spy film Goodachari 116. The film
was a huge success and went on to be made into many sequels in the years to
come.
This James Bond style film, in which
Jayalalitha plays a vamp-like character, brought her immense recognition at a
point that was the beginning of her career.
In the Kadiri Venkata Reddy direceted film Sri
Krishna Satya, which won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film from the
Andhra Pradesh government, Jayalalitha played the dual roles of Devi Sathyabhama
and Chandrasena while N T Rama Rao essayed the role of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama.
The film contains about 38 songs and shlokas.
THE LAST WORKS
The 1992 film Neenga Nalla Irukkanum has
a brief sequence in which Jayalalitha, who had already taken up the duties of
the chief minister, makes an appearance. She is seen portraying herself in the
crusade for total prohibition in the state.
Prior to this, the 1980 film Nadhiyai
Thedi Vandha Kadal is considered to be her final work as an actress. With Jayalalitha
and Sarath Babu playing the lead roles, the film was directed by B. Lenin. Although
the film failed to impress the box office much, its music earned glowing
appreciation from the audience. This film also happens to be the only
Jayalalitha film with music by maestro Ilayaraja.
Her political career is widely read and
known across the nation. With the hope that this record served its purpose of
shedding some light on her times in the film industry, I take time to mourn the
demise of not just a political figure, but also an artist who was dedicated
towards her many arts. Rest in peace, Amma.
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