Jayabharathi (Actress)

Some Lesser Known Facts About Jayabharathi (Actress)

• Jayabharathi started studying classical dance form, Bharatanatyam, from the age of five. She did her first public performance at the Ettumannorappan Temple in Kottayam, Kerala.

• She belongs to a Keralite family from the Kollam district settled in Tamil Nadu.

• She won the first prize in a state-level dance competition at the age of 11. The trophy was presented by State Minister Sundara Vadivelu and was published in major newspapers and magazines, which gave her an entry into the film industry.

• Her first lead role was in the Malayalam film Kattukurangu (1969) as a singer named Ambili along with veteran actors such as Sathyan, Sarada, Kaviyoor Ponnamma, and Adoor Bhasi.

  

• Jayabharathi was the actor who featured in the only song that legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar sang in Malayalam which is Kadhali Chengadhali from the film Nellu (1974). She was also featured in a song sequence sung by Lataji’s sister Asha Bhosle. ^[1]The Times of India

• She likes to listen to the bhajans sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

• She was the heroine of the multi-language film Allauddinum Albutha Vilakkum in which Kamal Haasan played the protagonist and Rajinikanth played the negative role.

  

• She was the lead actor in Bharathan’s film Rathinirvedam (1978) as the character Rathi. The film was the subject of debate for its bold theme. The film was remade in 2011 with Shweta Menon playing Jayabharathi’s role.

  

• She played prominent characters in the TV series Peythozhiyathe (2002) aired on Surya TV, Kottaipurathu Veedu (DD Pothigai), and Nimmathi Ungal Choice (Vasanth TV).

• She appeared as the character Parvathy in the film Onnaman (2002) after which she has not acted in the Malayalam film industry.

• Since 2003, she has shifted her focus to learning, teaching, and performing Bharatanatyam. She also started a dance school in Chennai called the Aswathi Arts Academy.

  

• During the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) general body meeting in June 2023, Jayabharathi strongly demanded that the Kerala State government recommend veteran actress Sheela for the Padma Awards. ^[2]Malayala Manorama

• As of February 2024, she has acted in over 350 films from various film industries.