Jayachitra is an Indian actress films who works mostly in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films.

Jayachitra
Born
Lakshmi Rohini Devi

OccupationActress
Years active1968-present
SpouseGanesh (m.1983-2020)
ChildrenAmresh Ganesh (b.1988)

Early life

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Her father Mahea was a veterinary doctor, who had earlier worked as a lawyer. Her mother Ammaji (a.k.a. Jayasree) was an actress who had acted in films such as the Tamil film Mahaveeran (1955) and Telugu films Rojulu Marai and Daiva Balam (1959). They moved to Chennai for work, which was where Jayachitra was born and raised as Rohini. 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 six in the Telugu film Bhakta Potana..[1]

Lead actress

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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. However, he did recommend her to K.S. Gopalakrishnan, who was looking for a young, spirited heroine, for the Tamil film Korathi Magan, (1972). He immediately cast her, 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 Bharata Vilas and was one of the 9 heroines in MGR's Navaratnam. She worked for big-name directors, such as K. Balachander in Sollathaan Ninaikiren and Arangetram. She was Kamal Haasan'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 (1974), and then a tiger in the Telugu film Cheppindi Chesta (1978). She made other unforgettable films: Ponnukku Thanga Manasu, Sathyam, Kalyanamam Kalyanam, Vandikaran Magan, Cinema Paithiyam (remake of the Hindi hit film Guddi (1971)). Most of her Tamil films are with Kamal Haasan. She memorably played the title role in the Telugu film Kalpana (1977), a remake of the Hindi hit film Anamika (1973)...

Later roles

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Later, she became a character actress in K. Balachander's film Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal (1989).[2] 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 Kalaimamani Award.

As director

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She cast herself as the heroine in the Tamil film Pudhiya Raagam (1991), which marked her debut as a director and producer. Unfortunately, the film flopped. In 2010, she cast her son Amresh Ganesh as the hero in the Tamil film Naane Ennul Illai (2010), which she wrote, produced, and directed.[citation needed]

Personal life

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After more than a decade as a heroine, Jayachitra decided to concentrate on her personal life by marrying 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.[5] Despite giving him a debut through Naane Ennul Illai (2010), the film's failure made it difficult for Amresh to succeed as an actor. In 2011, it was announced that he would work on projects titled Kaliyuga Kadhalan and Machan Ava En Aalu Da, with the former being set in three different eras, but neither film was completed.[citation needed] Later in the year, Jayachitra announced that she was working on three more films with Amresh in the lead role, Mundru Mugangal, Nedunchalai and Scene Podathey, but again neither film materialised.[6] In 2013, he briefly worked on the making of another incomplete film Thaaru Maaru, which had a grand launch event.[7] In 2015, he was signed on by Raghava Lawrence to work on the music for his forthcoming film Motta Siva Ketta Shiva. Her husband Ganesh died on 3 December 2020.[8]

Partial filmography

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Tamil films

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Year Movie Role Notes
1972 Kurathi Magan
Vazhaiyadi Vazhai
1973 Arangetram
School Master
Bharatha Vilas
Ponnukku Thanga Manasu
Pennai Nambungal
Ponvandu
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren
Pookkari Dhanam
1974 Engamma Sapatham
Panathukkaga
Akkarai Pachai
Ungal Viruppam
Idhayam Parkirathu
Onne Onnu Kanne Kannu
Patha Poojai
Unnaithan Thambi
Kadavul Mama
Thaai Paasam
Vellikizhamai Viratham
Kalyanamam Kalyanam
Dheerga Sumangali Special appearance
Engal Kula Deivam
Kaliyuga Kannan
1975 Pattikkaattu Raja
Pattampoochi
Cinema Paithiyam
Yarukku Maappillai Yaro
Sonthangal Vazhga
Pinju Manam
Then Sindhudhe Vaanam
1976 Inspector Manaivi
1976 Panakkara Penn
Dasavatharam
Thottathellam Pon Aagum
Asai 60 Naal
Payanam
Thayilla Kuzhandai
Satyam
Kumara Vijayam
Varaprasadham
Nee Indri Naan Illai
1977 Aalukkoru Aasai
Navarathinam
1978 Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
Sadhurangam
Vanakkatukuriya Kathaliye
Sakka Podu Podu Raja
Vandikkaran Magan
Pilot Premnath
Varuvan Vadivelan
1979 Mayandi
Gnana Kuzhandhai
1980 Pennukku Yaaru Kaaval
Ratha Paasam
1981 Sorgathin Thirappu Vizha
Srinivasa Kalyanam
1982 Nandri, Meendum Varuga Cameo appearance
Mamiyara Marumagala
Nayakarin Magal 100th film
1983 Kaman Pandigai
1985 Thandanai
Engal Kural
Yaar?
1986 Lakshmi Vanthachu
1987 Paruva Ragam
Ivargal Varungala Thoongal
1988 Agni Nakshatram
1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal
1991 Pudhiya Raagam Also director, producer and writer
1995 Maaman Magal
1996 Selva
1997 Raasi
Kaadhali
Vasuki
2008 Nadigai Herself uncredited
2010 Rettaisuzhi
Naane Ennul Illai
2019 100% Kadhal
2022 Ponniyin Selvan: I Sembiyan Madevi
2023 Ponniyin Selvan: II

Telugu films

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Malayalam films

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  • Nee Ente Lahari (1976)
  • Pappu (1980)

Kannada films

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Television

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Awards

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References

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  1. ^ "CineSouth.com Now and Then Jayachitra". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  2. ^ "Stars : Star Interviews : Exclusive : Interview with Jayachitra". Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  3. ^ "The Hindu : As charming as ever". Archived from the original on 22 March 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Small screen, big role". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 November 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Another son rises". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  6. ^ Raghavan, Nikhil (29 October 2011). "Itsy bitsy". The Hindu.
  7. ^ "Thaaru Maaru Movie Launch Photos | New Movie Posters". 23 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Celebrities, News, Tips. - baghdadlife.info".[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Love Marriage | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  10. ^ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
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