Iron lady of Tamil Nadu
A lifetime of stardom, power, struggles and controversy, Jayalalithaa Jayaram lived through it all with poise. From the silver screen to state politics, her journey in the male-dominated setup wasn't easy at all.
Born on February 24, 1948, in Mysore, Jayalalithaa's early years were marked by a passion for arts. Her acting career — beginning in the 1960s — catapulted her to stardom in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi cinema. Jayalalithaa’s grace, screen presence and ability to captivate audiences made her one of the leading actresses of her time. Though her family was initially affluent, a tragedy early on forced her to work from a young age and support her family.
Her journey in the film industry began in 1961, and she went on to become a prominent film star in the South industry. Over the span of two decades — from 1961 to 1980 — she worked in over 100 films in several languages and then turned her hand to politics in the early 1980s.
She entered the realm of politics in 1982 at the behest of legendary movie star and then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MG Ramachandran, better known as MGR — with whom she frequently shared screen space. She joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party and her political aspirations reached their pinnacle when she became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She held the post six times throughout her career, becoming the youngest and first-ever female CM of Tamil Nadu.
She ascended through the ranks quickly; within a few years, she became AIADMK propaganda secretary and was elected to the Rajya Sabha. After MGR's death in 1987, Jayalalithaa emerged as the sole leader of the AIADMK. Over the next two decades, she surpassed her mentor, MGR, in terms of popularity as well as achievements.
Political scheming, contentious decisions and populist welfare programmes characterised Jayalalithaa's time as CM. Several policies and schemes launched by Jayalalithaa made her a revered leader. Her drive to support those in need and the initiatives she boldly took to fulfil her promises, stamped her authority and an everlasting legacy among the masses. Her government put in place several programmes for the welfare of the masses such as free laptops for students, AMMA TNFDC fish stall Chennai, Chennai Small Bus, Amma seeds, Amma micro loans scheme, Amma Arogya Thittam, Cradle baby scheme etc.
She was known for her strong leadership style, often taking bold actions to assert her authority within her party and the state. However, her rule was also characterised by allegations of corruption and legal battles. Jayalalithaa was forced to step down as CM twice, being disqualified after getting convicted in pending cases by the court, but her comeback was always strong and dramatic. With multiple comebacks, her political career was far from linear. Even after being sentenced to prison in one high-profile corruption case, Jayalalithaa’s resilience and ability to rally support from the masses demonstrated her political mastery.
On March 25, 1989, violence erupted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly between members of her party and MLAs of Karunanidhi’s DMK and Jayalalithaa was assaulted for her remarks. She left the Assembly and vowed to return only as the CM. Two years later, she won the seat and swept to power, defeating Karunanidhi.
She soon became a phenomenon in the state politics of Tamil Nadu, leaving an indelible mark on Indian politics as well. People affectionately called her "Amma", but she was also known as "Puratchi Thalaivi" (revolutionary leader) and the iron lady.
Her legacy is multifaceted: Jayalalithaa was not only a political leader but also a cultural icon. Her contributions to both cinematic and political spheres have solidified her as one of the most iconic figures in Indian history. Her acting prowess and fiery oration had the power to pull crowds in cinemas and political rallies, respectively. Her enigmatic personality, coupled with her desire to serve people, made her one of the most-loved leaders of the country.
She died of cardiac arrest in Chennai at the age of 68. Her untimely death left a void in the political landscape of the state, and the hearts of millions of her fans and followers, marking the end of an era. Her passing sparked massive outpourings of grief and tributes, highlighting the deep emotional bond she shared with the people. Even in death, Jayalalithaa's legacy continues to shape Tamil Nadu’s politics — with her political party, the AIADMK, striving to uphold her vision of governance.
