Jayalalithaa, the Puratchi Thalaivi of Tamil Nadu politics, had a dream run in tinseltown after she made her debut in Chinnada Gombe -- a Kannada film. Her on-screen chemistry with the late M G Ramachandran in films such as Ayiratthil Oruvan, Puthiya Bhoomi, Thedi Vandha Mappilai, Kumari Kottam really enhanced her image across Tamil Nadu, where movie stars are worshipped and adored.
She also starred in some memorable films with the late Shivaji Ganesan -- in Neethi, Galatta Kalyanam and Motor Sundaram Pillai.
When MGR died, Jayalalithaa was pushed to a corner for a brief period. But much like her filmy career -- she shot into Tamil Nadu politics with a steely resolve and formed a strong alternative to the Karunandhi-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
In 1981, she joined the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Popularly called Amma, she has been the chief minister of Tamil Nadu three times till now.
Image: A file photograph of Jayalalithaa at a function organised by the Special Task Force in Chennai.
Photographs: Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: J Jayalalithaa: The Iron Lady
Advertisement
