Jayachitra

Jayachitra was a star in South Indian films of the 1970s and 1980s, consisting mostly of Tamil and Telugu films.

Childhood

Jayachitra's family is from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father Mahendra was a veterinary doctor, who had earlier worked as a lawyer. Her mother Jayasree was an actress. They moved to Chennai for work, which was where Jayachitra was born and raised as Lakshmi. Her grandmother looked after her, when her parents were busy with work. With her mother's encouragement, she made her debut in the Tamil film "Mahaveeran" (1955). Then, she became a child star at the age of 5 in the Telugu film "Bhaktapothana" [ [http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/appo/06072006.shtml CineSouth.com Now and Then Jayachitra ] ] .

Career as heroine

When Jayachitra was in her early teens, she screen-tested for a Telugu film titled "Beedala Paatlu," but the director felt she was too young and rejected her for the role. Almost immediately, K.S. Gopalakrishnan cast her as the heroine in the Tamil film "Korathi Magan," because he loved the way she delivered her lines. He signed her for three films under his banner and gave her the name Jayachitra. She continued in heroine roles in "Ponnukku Thanga Manasu" (1973) and played Sivaji's daughter in "Bharat Ratna" and was one of the 9 heroines in MGR's "Navaratnam." She was Kamal Hassan's heroine in "Ilamai Oonjalaadukiradhu." As an actress, she was known for her courage and spontaneity as she continued to star in Tamil and Telugu films. She faced a snake up close in "Vellikizhamai Viratham," and then a tiger in a Telugu film. She made other unforgettable films: "Ponnukku Thanga Manasu", "Sathyam", "Kalyanamam Kalyanam", "Vandikaran Magan", Cinema Paithiyam (remake of the Hindi hit film Guddi (1971)). She memorably played the title role in the Telugu film "Kalpana" (1977), a remake of the Hindi hit film "Anamika"(1973).

Personal life

After more than a decade as a heroine, Jayachitra decided to concentrate on her personal life by getting married to an industrialist named Ganesh in 1983. She has a son with him named Amresh, whom she is trying to promote in show business, just as her mother had done with her. [ [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/12/23/stories/2006122300290300.htm The Hindu : Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Another son rises ] ]

Career as mature actress

Later, she became a character actress and worked for big-name directors such as K. Balachander in "Arangetram" and "Sollathaan Ninaikiren." After completing 200 films, she turned to television with the serial "Sumangali," which she produced, directed and acted in. It became a hit, and she was soon acting and producing other serials, "Alaigal," and "Sivaranjini" (2005) [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/18/stories/2002121800190200.htm The Hindu : As charming as ever ] ] . She was unanimously elected chairperson of the action committee of the TV Serial Producers' Guild of South India, which in turn led to her involvement in politics. She joined the Congress party and has remained fairly active [ [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2005/07/23/stories/2005072301780300.htm The Hindu : Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Small screen, big role ] ] . She has won numerous awards, including Tamil Nadu's Kakameini Award.

Partial Filmography

"Tamil films"

1972 Korathi Magan Tamil - K.S. Gopalakrishnan (director)1973 Bharath Vilas - Sivaji GanesanPonnuku Thanga Magan - K. BalachanderSolluta Engamma Sapatha - Sivakumar1974 Panathukkaga - Kamal Hasan, Sivakumar1975 Pattampoochi - Kamal Hasan1975 Cinema Paithiyam - Kamal Hasan1975 Then Sindhudhe Vaanam - Kamal Hasan, Sivakumar1976 Inspector Manaivi1976 Panakkara Penn1976 Payanam1976 Thayilla Kuzhandai1976 Sathiyam1976 Kumara Vijayam - Kamal Hasan1977 Aalukkoru Aasai1978 Sadurangam - Rajinikant1978 Sakkaipodu Podu Raja1978 Vandikkaran Magal1979 Ponnukku Thanga Manasu1979 Mayandi1980 Pennukku Yaaru Kaaval1982 Nayakarin Magal - 100th film - Satya Raj1985 Dandanai - Vijayakumar1986 Lakshmi Vandhachu1987 Paruva Raagam1988 Agni Natchattiram (dubbed into Telugu as Gharshana)1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal1991 Pudhiya Raagam (Director and producer)1993 Ponnukku Thanga Manasu2000 Shanmuga PaandianVellikizhamai VirathamKalyanamam KalyanamVandikaran MaganSollathan NinaikirenLakshmi

"Telugu films"

975 Soggaadu - Sobhan Babu, Jayasudha1975 Bharatamlo Oka Ammaayi - Muralimohan1976 Yavvanam Kaatesindi - Muralimohan1976 Maa Daivam - NTR1977 Chillara Kottu Chittemma - Muralimohan1977 Saavaasagaallu - Krishna1977 Tholireyi Gadichindi - Muralimohan, Rajinikant1977 Kalpana - Muralimohan1978 Manchi Babai - Sobhan Babu1978 Nindu Manishi - Sobhan Babu1978 Cheppindi Chesta...! - Krishna1978 Katakatala Rudrayya - Ramakrishna1978 Mugguru Muggure - Krishna1978 Vayasu Pilichindi - Rajinikant, Kamal Hasan, Sripriya1978 Annadammula Saval - Rajinikant1979 Muttaiduva - Krishna1979 Tirupathi Sree Venkateswara Kalyanam - NTR, Jayasudha1979 Raavanude Ramudaithe... - ANR, Muralimohan1980 Kaksha1982 Bobbili Puli - NTR1987 muvva gopaludu 1990 Mama-Alludu - Dasari Narayana Rao, Rajendra Prasad, Vani Viswanath1993 Rajeswari Kalyanam - ANR, Vanisree, Suresh, Meena1995 Gharana Bullodu - Nagarjuna, Aamani, Rambha1997 Atthaa... Nee Koduku Jaagrattha!2001 samara simha reddy2002 Kondaveeti Simhasanam2002 Adrustam - Tarun2005 Narasimhudu- NTR Jr.2005 Abbaayigaaru - Venkatesh2005 Prema Lokam2005 Kashmora2005 Rickshaw Raaji "Malayalam films"

1976 Nee Enta Lahari - Kamal Hasan1977 Navarathna

References