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, who had acted in films such as the Tamil film "Mahaveeran" (1955). 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 became a child star at the age of 5 in the Telugu film "Bhaktapothana"[1].
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," (1973) 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 the Tamil film Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu (1978) and its Telugu remake Vayasu Pilichindi (1978). 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.[2]
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)[3]. 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[4]. 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 Ganesan Ponnuku Thanga Magan - K. Balachander Solluta Engamma Sapatha - Sivakumar 1974 Panathukkaga - Kamal Hasan, Sivakumar 1975 Pattampoochi - Kamal Hasan 1975 Cinema Paithiyam - Kamal Hasan 1975 Then Sindhudhe Vaanam - Kamal Hasan, Sivakumar 1976 Inspector Manaivi 1976 Panakkara Penn 1976 Payanam 1976 Thayilla Kuzhandai 1976 Sathiyam 1976 Kumara Vijayam - Kamal Hasan 1977 Aalukkoru Aasai 1978 Sadurangam - Rajinikant 1978 Sakkaipodu Podu Raja 1978 Vandikkaran Magal 1979 Ponnukku Thanga Manasu 1979 Mayandi 1980 Pennukku Yaaru Kaaval 1982 Nayakarin Magal - 100th film - Satya Raj 1985 Dandanai - Vijayakumar 1986 Lakshmi Vandhachu 1987 Paruva Raagam 1988 Agni Natchattiram (dubbed into Telugu as Gharshana) 1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal 1991 Pudhiya Raagam (Director and producer) 1993 Ponnukku Thanga Manasu 2000 Shanmuga Paandian Vellikizhamai Viratham Kalyanamam Kalyanam Vandikaran Magan Sollathan Ninaikiren Lakshmi
Telugu films
975 Soggaadu - Sobhan Babu, Jayasudha 1975 Bharatamlo Oka Ammaayi - Muralimohan 1976 Yavvanam Kaatesindi - Muralimohan 1976 Maa Daivam - NTR 1977 Chillara Kottu Chittemma - Muralimohan 1977 Saavaasagaallu - Krishna 1977 Tholireyi Gadichindi - Muralimohan, Rajinikant 1977 Kalpana - Muralimohan 1978 Manchi Babai - Sobhan Babu 1978 Nindu Manishi - Sobhan Babu 1978 Cheppindi Chesta...! - Krishna 1978 Katakatala Rudrayya - Ramakrishna 1978 Mugguru Muggure - Krishna 1978 Vayasu Pilichindi - Rajinikant, Kamal Hasan, Sripriya 1978 Annadammula Saval - Rajinikant 1979 Muttaiduva - Krishna 1979 Tirupathi Sree Venkateswara Kalyanam - NTR, Jayasudha 1979 Raavanude Ramudaithe... - ANR, Muralimohan 1980 Kaksha 1982 Bobbili Puli - NTR 1987 muvva gopaludu 1990 Mama-Alludu - Dasari Narayana Rao, Rajendra Prasad, Vani Viswanath 1993 Rajeswari Kalyanam - ANR, Vanisree, Suresh, Meena 1995 Gharana Bullodu - Nagarjuna, Aamani, Rambha 1997 Atthaa... Nee Koduku Jaagrattha! 2001 samara simha reddy 2002 Kondaveeti Simhasanam 2002 Adrustam - Tarun 2005 Narasimhudu- NTR Jr. 2005 Abbaayigaaru - Venkatesh 2005 Prema Lokam 2005 Kashmora 2005 Rickshaw Raaji
1976 Nee Enta Lahari - Kamal Hasan 1977 Navarathna
Posts
