Chennai
My memory of J Jayalalithaa goes back to the time when she was just a five-year-old child. Her mother, Sandhya, was a very good friend of mine as we were colleagues in the film industry. Both of us did movies in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada languages. We also shared a great rapport and discussed our respective lives with each other. When Jayalalithaa moved to Chennai from Bangalore in the late 1950s to stay with her mother, who was already working as an actress here, she would often stay at our house in T Nagar when Sandhya was shooting. She was a beautiful child, sharp and focussed in her academics.
In Chennai, Jayalalithaa went to school at the Sacred Heart Matriculation School of Presentation Convent. My eldest daughter, Yagna Prabha, was her junior in school and completely idolised her. I remember so many times she would come back home and narrate tales about how Jaya was such a strong personality. She was good in studies, sports and had great leadership qualities even as a student pupil leader in school. In fact, Yagna and Jaya spent a lot of time together, chatting, cycling and reading books. I used to involve her and my children in a variety of games, when they were at home, to let them indulge in constructive activities. Jaya always emerged as the winner in these games. Even back then, I recollect how she had no tolerance for incompetency and mediocrity as a student leader. She would always aim for perfection and expect nothing less from others. I guess, that particular trait remains intact till date. I personally feel that probably is the reason she keeps making changes in her administration, despite severe criticism.
I witnessed her growing into a charming lady, who was well-read and groomed. At the age of 15, she entered the film industry and went on to become a powerful heroine. I have worked with her in four films, namely Motor Sundaram Pillai, Needhi, Oli Vilakku and Thaikku Thalaimagan. She had an impeccable memory. After reading the script, she would memorise her dialogues so quickly. And she wouldn’t stop at that. She would ensure her dialogue delivery was perfect. She was also a talented dancer and when she would perform in front of the camera, everybody would be spellbound. Another thing I remember distinctly is her habit of bringing books to the sets. In between shots, she would just sit in a corner and read those books. Although she was a strong personality, she was of a reserved nature. She did not engage in gossip or loose talk in her free time, unlike her peers from the industry.
After working in films together, we somehow lost touch with each other. We had certain issues between us. I wouldn’t like to go into the details of those simply because they would not exactly be relevant now. Just like at all workplaces, film industry also has difference of opinion among colleagues. But that never meant I lost admiration for her. I love and respect her for what she has achieved despite facing criticism and few setbacks. She has only emerged stronger from every adversity that she has faced till date.
Coming back to more recent times, I have done various shows for Jaya TV over a period of time and in one of these shows in 2009, I praised Jayalalithaa and said she is cut out for politics and that I would like to see her as a PM or President of the country. She saw that on television and sent me a warm and affectionate letter, acknowledging what I had said on television. I still have that letter with me and time and again, take it out and read it. It is one of my treasured possessions.
The last time I met her was for a lunch gathering of friends from the industry in 2012 at her residence. We bonded over films, books, music and food. We sat down for a traditional Tamil meal — sambhar, rasam, sevai, poriyal, etc all — served on a banana leaf. Knowing well about my culinary prowess, she enquired if I had liked the food that she served at her residence. I realised that her memory continues to be her strong point. I had a great time reminiscing over the good old days with her.
As she gets ready for her second consecutive term as the CM of Tamil Nadu, I want to wish her all the best, want to bless her as a mother and hope she can deliver to the best of her abilities, stays strong and healthy.
— As told to Papia Lahiri Saini
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