Jayachitra (Telugu: జయచిత్ర) was an acting star in South Indian films of the 1970s and 1980s, consisting mostly of Tamil and Telugu films.

Childhood[link]

Jayachitra was born in 1957. Her family was originally from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Her father Mahendra was a veterinary doctor, who had earlier worked as a lawyer. Her mother Ammaji (aka 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 10 in the Telugu film "Bhakta Potana".^[1]

Career as heroine[link]

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," (1973). 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 "BharataVilas" 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 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" (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 Hassan. She memorably played the title role in the Telugu film "Kalpana" (1977), a remake of the Hindi hit film Anamika(1973).

Personal life[link]

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 Matured actress[link]

Later, she became a character actress in K. Balachander's film "Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal" (1989).^[3] 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).^[4] 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.^[5] She has won numerous awards, including Tamil Nadu's Kalaimamani Award.

Career as Director[link]

She cast herself as the heroine in the Tamil film "Puthiya Ragam" (1991), which marked her debut as a director and producer. Unfortunately, the film flopped. In 2010, she cast her son Amresh as the hero in the Tamil film "Naane Ennul Illai" (2010), which she wrote, produced, and directed.^[6]

Partial filmography[link]

Tamil films[link]

• 1972 Kurathi Magan - Gemini Ganesan, Kamal Haasan
• 1973 Arangetram - Sivakumar, Kamal Haasan
• 1973 Bharath Vilas - Sivaji Ganesan
• 1973 Sollathan Ninaikkiren - Sivakumar, Kamal Haasan
• 1974 Ponnuku Thanga Manasu - Sivakumar
• 1974 Engamma Sapatham - Muthuraman, Sivakumar
• 1974 Panathukkaga - Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar
• 1974 Vellikizhamai Viratham - Sivakumar, Jayasudha
• 1975 Pattikkaattu Raja - Sivakumar, Kamal Haasan
• 1975 Pattampoochi - Kamal Haasan
• 1975 Cinema Paithiyam - Kamal Haasan
• 1975 Then Sindhudhe Vaanam - Kamal Haasan, Sivakumar
• 1976 Inspector Manaivi - Jaishankar
• 1976 Panakkara Penn - Jaishankar
• 1976 Payanam
• 1976 Thayilla Kuzhandai - Muthuraman
• 1976 Sathiyam - Sivaji Ganesan, Kamal Haasan
• 1976 Kumara Vijayam - Kamal Haasan
• 1977 Aalukkoru Aasai - Jaishankar
• 1977 Navarathna - M.G.R
• 1978 Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu - Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan
• 1978 Sadurangam - Rajinikanth
• 1978 Sakkaipodu Podu Raja - Jaishankar, Kamal Haasan
• 1978 Vandikkaran Magal - Jaishankar
• 1979 Mayandi
• 1980 Pennukku Yaaru Kaaval
• 1982 Nayakarin Magal - 100th film - Sathyaraj
• 1985 Thandanai - Vijayakumar
• 1986 Lakshmi Vanthachu - Sivaji Ganesan
• 1988 Agni Nakshatram (dubbed into Telugu as Gharshana)
• 1989 Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal
• 1991 Pudhiya Raagam (Director and producer)
• 1993 Ponnukku Thanga Manasu
• 2000 Shanmuga Paandian
• 2010 Rettaisuzhi

Telugu films[link]

• 1975 Soggadu - 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 - Akkineni 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

Malayalam films[link]

• 1976 Nee Enta Lahari - Kamal Hasan

Kannada films[link]

• 1979 Huliya Haalina Mevu- Dr.Rajkumar, Jayaprada
• 1981 Mane Mane Kathe - Dr.Vishnuvardhan
• 1999 - Kannada serial 'Mr.& Mrs.Gundanna' with Dwarkeesh.

References[link]

1. ^ CineSouth.com Now and Then Jayachitra
2. ^ The Hindu : Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Another son rises
3. ^ http://www.telugucinema.com/c/publish/stars/interview_Jayachitra_3.php
4. ^ The Hindu : As charming as ever
5. ^ The Hindu : Metro Plus Tiruchirapalli / Cinema : Small screen, big role
6. ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/54486.html

External links[link]

• Jayachitra's profile at IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0419655/)