A script that made history

Much before she won over people in her political avatar, Jayalalithaa was the uncrowned queen of Tamil cinema during the 1960s and 1970s. For all her reluctance to be an actor, her journey as one of the leading luminaries of South Indian cinema is more dramatic than any film script.

Jayalalithaa, 68, breathed her last on Monday after a bitter 74-day battle for life.

Though born in the lap of luxury, bad times fell upon the family when Jayalalithaa was very young, forcing her to follow her mother’s footsteps into acting in order to support the family.

As an individual, Jayalalithaa hated limelight. In an interview to Simi Garewal, she had said, “I have been propelled by fate into two high-profiled careers (second being her stint as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu).” In 1961, when she was barely 12, her first association with celluloid came in the form of English film, Epistle, directed by Shankar Giri.

Big screen

Ace director BR Panthulu introduced her in a leading role in 1964 Kannada film, Chinnada Gombe and her performance garnered a lot of attention.

In 1965, she made her acting debut in Tamil and Telugu industries with films Vennira Adaia and Manshulu Mamathalu, respectively.

Her role as a girl with a mental disorder falling for her psychiatrist in Sridhar-directed Vennira Adai was well-received.

In 1965, when Panthulu cast her opposite the charismatic MG Ramachandran (MGR) in Ayirathil Oruvan, little did he predict that the pair would go on to create history. They worked together in 28 films. Many of her movies with MGR — Adimai Penn, Kavalkaran, Raman Thediya Seethai and Thedi Vanda Mappillai — are timeless. A little less known fact is that Jayalalithaa replaced Saroja Devi in Adimai Penn as the latter was married by then. MGR reshot the whole movie with her.

The song Amma Endral Anbu from Adimai Penn also marked her singing debut.

Praise worthy

Jayalalithaa was reportedly the first leading lady of Tamil filmdom to wear Western clothes. She had also paired with Sivaji Ganeshan on several occasions, and they’re popular for working together in Tamil films such as Motor Sundaram Pillai, the full-length comedy Galatta Kalyanam and Engirundho Vandhal, among others.

Her performance as a prostitute-turned-wife in Engirundho Vandhal propelled her to the forefront of filmdom. For the 1972 Tamil film Pattikada Pattanama, Jayalalithaa won the best actress Filmfare award. The film also won a National award.

She’s also known for her collaboration with actors such as Muthuraman, Jaishankar, Nagesh and Ravichandran.

In 1973, she won her second Filmfare award for the Tamil film Suryakanthi, in which she also crooned two songs Oh meri diruba and Naan andral adhua.

She also thrived in mythological roles in movies such as Kandan Karunai, Annai Velangani, Sri Krishna Vijayam and Saraswathi Sabadham.

In Telugu, Jayalalithaa had starred in a total of 28 films.

Undying spirit

Undeterred by the presence of thespians such as Savitri and Jamuna, she proved her mettle in Telugu filmdom. Opposite veteran actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), she starred in well-known films such as Chikkadu Dorakkadu, Thikka Shankaraiya, Baghdad Gajadonga and Katha Nayakudu.

In her solo Hindi film, Izzat, she played a tribal belle while her association with Malayalam industry ended with just two films, Jesus and Uppu.

In about a decade during 1960s and mid 1970s, Jayalalithaa had starred in over 100 Tamil films and at one point was tipped to be the highest paid actress of the industry. She also worked in few Kannada movies. — IANS

Fondly remembered

Here are a few Bollywood celebrities paying rich tributes to Jayalalithaa on twitter:

Amitabh Bachchan: Deeply grieved... a strong woman.

Shah Rukh Khan: Sad to hear of the passing away. May her soul rest in peace.

A.R. Rahman: Respect and condolences to the people who love Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa... We will miss her forever.

Randeep Hooda: An actor who did so many real things that affected so many people. A real woman in the time of feminism.

Hema Malini: Tamil Nadu admired and adored her as did people all over India. She was a much respected leader who held her own in a world of men. 

Prabhudheva: You are our inspiration, greatest Chief Minister in many ways. You will always be remembered.

Shankar Mahadevan: A great leader of the masses has left us! She will be remembered forever. Heartfelt condolences.

Raveena Tandon: What a remarkable woman. 

A true fighter.