In pictures | From child artist to lead actress: Some facts about Jayalalithaa's filmy career

Jayalalithaa in movies

As a child actress: Her real name was Komalavalli. She became Jayalalithaa after she joined the film industry, where she began her career as a child artist in 1961. As a child actress, she worked in English, Kannada and Hindi films. She made her debut with an English film titled The Epistle.

Jayalalithaa in movies

Debut as a lead actress: At the age of 15, she appeared in her first film as a lead actress in the Kannada movie - 'Chinnada Gombe' (golden doll). Jayalalithaa worked in 300-odd films in various languages. Her first Tamil film (in 1965) was 'Vennira Aadai' (white dress), which turned out to be a major blockbuster. In 1965, she worked opposite former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR), who turned out to be her future political mentor. The two worked together for over two decades, both in films and political arenas. Ramachandran passed away in 1987.

Jayalalithaa in movies

Jayalalithaa made her debut in Telugu films as lead actress in Manushulu Mamathalu. She was the first heroine to appear in skirts in Tamil films. Jaya also acted in one Hindi film called Izzat opposite Dharmendra in 1968. Jaya starred in 28 box-office hit films with MG Ramachandran between 1965 and 1973.

Jayalalithaa in movies

Her last film: Jayalalithaa bid adieu to the film industry in 1980, when she acted in her last film Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal (Where ocean seeks a river). She left films to join politics.

Jayalalithaa in movies

Awards: Jayalalithaa's Pattikada Pattanama won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1973. It fetched her Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She won a Special Award from Filmfare and Tamil Nadu government in 1966, 1969 and 1970 for her performances in Chandhrodhayam, Adimai Penn, Engirundho Vandhaal. She won Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in Pattikada Pattanama, Suryagandhi in 1972 and 1973 respectively. Her 1973 Telugu Sri Krishna Satya won her Filmfare Award for Best Actress in Telugu.