AMMA
AMMA
AMMA
J.JAYALALITHAA
KOWSALYA.K B.COM
Among the more memorable lines that flowed from J. Jayalalithaa was this gem
about the media in India: "The people of this country are illiterate. They don't read
newspapers and don't care what the papers write."
Last week, ensconced within the high security walls of her Poes Garden residence,
the chief minister of Tamil Nadu must have quietly eaten her words. Using her brute
majority, she got the Tamil Nadu Assembly to pass a resolution sentencing five sen-
ior editors of The Hindu and the editor of DMK newspaper Murasoli to 15 days in jail.
Their crime: The Hindu in April this year had published an editorial titled "Rising
Intolerance" which had attacked Jayalalitha's authoritarian ways. The editor of the
DMK mouthpiece was sentenced for merely reproducing a translation of The Hindu
editorial in the Tamil newspaper
J. JAYALALITHAA
2 Film career
2.1 Early career
2.2 Later career
3 Political career
3.1 Early political career
3.2 Leader of the Opposition, 1989
3.3 First term as Chief Minister, 1991
3.4 Loss of power, 1996
3.5 Second term as Chief Minister, 2001
3.6 Third term as Chief Minister, 2002
3.7 Fourth term as Chief Minister, 2011
3.8 Disproportionate assets case, 2014
3.9 Returned Fifth term as Chief Minister, 2015
3.10 Consecutively Sixth term as Chief Minister, 2016
5 Legacy
5.1 Biopics
6 Legislative career
6.1 Elections contested
7 Awards and honours
THE IRON LADY OF
INDIA
Jayaram Jayalalithaa[b] (24 February 1948 – 5 December 2016) was an Indian politician
and film actor who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for over fourteen years between 1991 and 2016.
From 1989 she was the general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a Dra-
vidian party whose cadre revered her as their Amma (mother) and Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) . Her
critics in the media and the opposition accused her of fostering a personality cult and of demanding absolute loy-
alty from AIADMK legislators and ministers, who
often publicly prostrated themselves before her.
In 1991 Jayalalithaa became chief minister, Tamil Nadu’s youngest, for the first time. She earned a reputation for centralising
state power among a coterie of bureaucrats; her council of ministers, whom she often shuffled around, were largely ceremonial in
nature. The successful cradle-baby scheme, which enabled mothers to anonymously offer their newborns for adoption, emerged
during this time. Despite an official salary of only a rupee a month, Jayalalithaa indulged in public displays of wealth, culminating
in a lavish wedding for her foster son in 1995. In the 1996 election, the AIADMK was nearly wiped out at the hustings; Jayalalithaa
herself lost her seat. The new Karunanidhi government filed several corruption cases against her, and she had to spend time
in jail. Her fortunes revived in the 1998 general election, as the AIADMK became a key component of Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee’s 1998–99 government; her withdrawal of support toppled it and triggered another general election just a year later.
The AIADMK returned to power in 2001, although Jayalalithaa was personally disbarred from contesting due to the corruption cas-
es. Within a few months of her taking oath as chief minister, in September 2001, she was disqualified from holding office and forced to
cede the chair to loyalist O. Panneerselvam. Upon her acquittal six months later, Jayalalithaa returned as chief minister to complete her
term. Noted for its ruthlessness to political opponents, many of whom were arrested in midnight raids, her government grew unpopu-
lar. Another period (2006–11) in the opposition followed, before Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time after the
AIADMK swept the 2011 assembly election. Her government received attention for its extensive social-welfare agenda, which includ-
ed several subsidised “Amma”-branded goods such as canteens, bottled water and salt. Three years into her tenure, she was con-
victed in a disproportionate-assets case, rendering her disqualified to hold office. She returned as chief minister after being acquitted
in May 2015. In the 2016 assembly election, she became the first Tamil Nadu chief minister since MGR in 1984 to be voted back into
office. That September, she fell severely ill and, following 75 days of hospitalisation, died on 5 December 2016 due to cardiac arrest.
Early career
In Chennai, Jayalalithaa was trained in Carnatic music, western classical piano[27] and various forms of classical dance,
including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Manipuri Kathak.[28] She learnt Bharatnatyam and dance forms under K.
J.Sarasa.[29] She had also learnt Kuchipudi under Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. She became an accom-
plished dancer and gave her debut dance performance at the Rasika Ranjani Sabha in Mylapore in May 1960.[30] The Chief
Guest at the Arangetram was Shivaji Ganesan, who expressed wish that Jayalalitha becomes a film star in future.[31]
While a child, Jayalalithaa acted in the Kannada-language film Sri Shaila Mahathme (1961), which had Rajkumar and Krishna
Kumari in lead roles.[32] She had been taken to the studio by her mother as she was shooting in the same premises for a differ-
ent film. While Jayalalithaa was watching the shooting, a problem arose as the child actress playing the Goddess Parvathy in a
school drama scene in the film failed to show up and the producer Neerlahalli Thalikerappa and director Aroor Pattabhi asked
Sandhya if Jayalalithaa could be asked to act in the dance sequence. Sandhya agreed and Jayalalitha was swiftly dressed up
as Parvathy and the scene was shot in Sri Shaila Mahatme.[33]
She played Krishna in a three-minute dance sequence held on stage in the Hindi film Manmauji (1962) and danced with Kumari
Naaz who played Radha. Y. G. Parthasarathy ran the drama troupe United Amateur Artistes (UAA), which staged English and
Tamil plays. Soon Jayalalithaa while a schoolgirl began acting in some plays of Parthasarathy along with her mother and aunt.
She acted in small roles in plays such as Tea House of the August Moon and Undersecretary between 1960 and 1964.
Shankar Giri, the son of the former Indian President V. V. Giri, saw her small role in the English play Tea Houses of August Moon
and was impressed. Shankar Giri approached her mother Sandhya and told he wanted to cast her daughter in an English film
called The Epistle. Sandhya reluctantly agreed with the condition that shooting should be held only during weekends or school
holidays.[30]
Sandhya had acted in the 1964 Tamil film Karnan, produced and directed by Kannada film-maker B. R. Panthulu. Jayalalithaa
accompanied her mother to a party related to the film and was spotted by Panthulu, who then decided to cast her opposite
Kalyankumar in the Kannada movie Chinnada Gombe. He promised to finish all shooting within two months in order not to
interfere with her education. Since Jayalalithaa would be studying for her PUC in two months’ time, Sandhya had declined
the offer initially.[34] Sandhya agreed when that promise was made and Jayalalithaa started acting and she was paid ₹3,000
(equivalent to ₹120,000 or US$1,700 in 2018). Panthulu kept his promise and completed shooting in six weeks. Jayalalithaa
had forgotten all about films after acting in her Kannada debut film and had got ready to attend classes at Stella Maris as she
had the ambition to be a lawyer. But
Later career
Between 1965 and 1973, Jayalalithaa starred opposite M. G. Ramachandran in a number of successful films, in-
cluding Aayirathil Oruvan, Kavalkaran, Adimai Penn, Engal Thangam, Kudiyirundha Koyil, Ragasiya Police 115 and
Nam Naadu.[38][50] Cho Ramaswamy cast her in the lead role in his directorial venture Yarrukkum Vetkam Illai.[51]
She acted with Ravichandran in ten films — Gowri Kalyanam (1966), Kumari Penn (1966), Naan (1967), Magar-
asi (1967), Maadi Veettu Mappilai (1967), Panakkara Pillai (1968), Moondru Yezhuthu (1968), Andru Kanda
Mugam (1968), Avalukku Aayiram Kangal and Baghdad Perazhagi (1974).[34] In 1972, she acted opposite Siva-
ji Ganesan in Pattikada Pattanama, which went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1973.
She received Special Award from Filmfare for her performances in ‘Chandhrodhayam’, ‘Adimai Penn’ and ‘Engirundho Vandhaal’
in the years 1966, 1969 and 1970 as the Filmfare Award for Best Actress was introduced only in 1972.Her performance in Pattika-
da Pattanama, Suryagandhi were critically acclaimed and won her consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1972 and 1973
respectively.
From 1968–73, Jaya at peak of career took interviews and wrote columns in the magazines like Bommai. She wrote a column-En-
nanga Selar in magazine Tughlaq in the 1970s. She also wrote short story “Oravin Kaidhigal” for the magazine Kalki, Manadhdai
Thotaa Malargal for Thaai magazine in the early 1980s etc.] She wrote about her own life in a serialised memoir in the Tamil weekly
magazine Kumudam
In 1980, she decided to voluntarily decline any new film offers. The journalist Brian Laul wrote an article specifying Jayalalithaa
was trying for a comeback but was not being offered any roles. Jayalalithaa chose to respond to him by writing a letter, in which
she mentioned that she was not struggling to make any comeback and that she turned down the offer from producer Balaji to star
in Billa opposite Rajnikanth. She added she wanted to pursue other interests and was not interested in pursuing her film career
any further
Her closest friends from film industry included Manorama,Cho Ramaswamy,Rajasree, Jamuna, Saroja Devi, Kumari Sachu, Anjali
Devi, Sowcar Janaki, Sukumari,Ravichandran, R.Muthuraman, Nagesh, M.N.Nambiar, Venniradai Nirmala, S.A.Asokan, Jaishankar,
V.K.Ramaswamy, Major Sunnderajan, P.Susheela, Sheela, M.S.Vishwanathan, L.R.Eshwari, R.S.Manohar.
She quoted on M. G. Ramachandran, “He was a very warm and caring kind of a person. And after Mother died, he replaced her
in my life. He was everything to me. He was mother, father, brother, friend, philosopher, guide. Everything. He sort of took over my
life.” In many of her interviews she often said she entered films on being asked by her mother and entered politics on request by
M. G. Ramachandran
Political career
Early political career
MGR wanted her to be a member of the Rajya Sabha because of her fluency in English.Indira Gandhi lauded Jayalalithaa for the
various speeches she made on issues including the one on internal security in Rajya Sabha.Jayalalithaa was elected to that body
in 1984 and retained her seat until 1989 Her success in her role as propaganda secretary caused resentment among high-ranking
members of the party. By engineering a rift between her and MGR, these members influenced MGR to stop her writing about her
personal life in a Tamil magazine. Despite these machinations, she remained admired by the rank and file of the party She was
given key responsibilities, including in the implementation of the landmark noon-meals scheme when M.G.Ramachandran was
the CM and this taught her lessons in welfare politics. Later when MGR fell ill, she campaigned extensively for the party before the
1984 election.
At the age of 41, Jayalalithaa entered the Assembly successfully contesting the subsequent 1989 elections on the basis of being
MGR’s political heir.[85]
Leader of the Opposition, 1989
She was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1989 as a representative of the Bodinayakkanur (State Assembly
Constituency). This election saw the Jayalalithaa-led faction of the AIADMK win 27 seats and Jayalalithaa became the first wom-
an to be elected Leader of the Opposition. In February 1989, the two factions of ADMK merged and they unanimously accepted
Jayalalithaa as their leader and the "Two leaves" symbol of the party was restored.[30]
On 25 March 1989, as claimed by the party and a section of the members present in the assembly, amidst heavy violence inside
the house among the ruling DMK party members and the opposition, Jayalilatha was brutally attacked by the ruling DMK mem-
bers in front of the assembly speaker on the behest of Chief Minister Karunanidhi.Jayalalitha left the Assembly with her torn saree
-drawing a parallel with the shameful disrobing of Draupadi in the epic Mahabharata At the peak of the situation, Jayalalithaa was
about to leave the house, she vowed to not enter the house "until as a Chief Minister In spite of some sections of media terming
it as a theatrics, it received a lot of media coverage and sympathy from the public During the 1989 general elections, the ADMK
allied with the Congress party and was handed a significant victory. The ADMK, under her leadership, also won the by-elections in
Marungapuri, Madurai East and Peranamallur assembly constituencies.[80]
First term as Chief Minister, 1991
Jayalalithaa presenting award in World Tamil Conference,1993
She first invited Ford Motor Company to establish business in Tamil Nadu in 1995.This was followed by numerous companies
setting up factories here especially from automobiles sector which included Hyundai Motor, BMW, Daimler, Renault, Nissan, Mit-
subishi and Wright, Yamaha. Due to this, Chennai began to be called as the Detroit of India under her first term.[102] Royal Enfield
made significant expansion in Tamil Nadu and apart from Ashok Leyland, TAFE and TVS Motors became key players in Tamil
Nadu.
Loss of power, 1996
The Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK lost power in the 1996 elections, when it won 4 of the 168 seats that they contested.[103] Jayala-
lithaa was herself defeated by the DMK candidate in Bargur Constituency.[104] The outcome has been attributed to an Anti-in-
cumbency sentiment and several allegations of corruption and malfeasance against her and her ministers.[98][103] The wedding
event of her foster son Sudhakaran, who married a granddaughter of the Tamil film actor Shivaji Ganesan, was held on 7 Septem-
ber 1995 at Chennai and was viewed on large screens by over 150,000 people. The event holds two Guinness World Records:
one is for the most guests at a wedding and the other is for being the largest wedding banquet.[7][105][106] Subsequently, in
November 2011, Jayalalithaa told a special court than the entire ₹6 crore (equivalent to ₹27 crore or US$3.9 million in 2018) ex-
penses associated with the wedding were paid by the family of the bride.[107]
Her fortunes revived in the 1998 general election, as the AIADMK became a key component of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpay-
ee's 1998–99 government; her withdrawal of support toppled it and triggered another general election just a year later.
There were several corruption cases filed against her by the ruling DMK government headed by Karunanidhi. Jayalalithaa was ar-
rested on 7 December 1996 and was remanded to 30-day judicial custody in connection with the Colour TV scam, which charged
her with receiving kickbacks to the tune of ₹10.13 crore (equivalent to ₹45 crore or US$6.5 million in 2018). The investigation
alleged that the amount through the TV dealers were routed in the form of cheques to a relative of Sasikala, who had quoted Jay-
alalithaa's residence as hers. She earlier filed an anticipatory bail in the trial court, which was rejected on 7 December 1996.[108]
]
She was acquitted in the case on 30 May 2000 by the trial court and the High Court upheld the order of the lower court.[109][110
Though Sudhakaran was adopted by Jayalalithaa as her foster son in 1995, when she became aware that Sudhakaran began to
interfere in her financial affairs and that he took money without intending to repay, she disowned him in 1996 within one year of
adoption.[111]
When questioned on her views on Sasikala, Jayalalithaa quoted in 1996 "Sasikala never functioned as extra constitutional power
centre. Calling her defacto chief minister is nonsense. She is not interested in politics and I have no intention to bring her into poli-
tics." It annoyed her when people said Sasikala was behind many of her political decisions and termed such news as rubbish and
insult to her position as chief minister.[1
Jayalalithaa was barred from standing as a candidate in the 2001 elections because she was found guilty of criminal offences, in-
cluding allegedly obtaining property belonging to a state-operated agency called TANSI. Although she appealed to the Supreme
Court, having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the matter was not resolved at the time of the elections.[113] Despite
this, the AIADMK won a majority and she was installed as Chief Minister as a non-elected member of the state assembly on 14
May 2001.[84] She was also convicted in Pleasant Stay hotel case on 3 February 2000 by a trial court to one-year imprisonment.
Jayalalithaa was acquitted in both the TANSI and Pleasant Stay Hotel cases on 4 December 2001 and the Supreme Court upheld
the order of the High Court on 24 November 2003.[114][115]
The AIADMK returned to power in 2001, although Jayalalithaa was personally disbarred from contesting due to the corruption
cases. Within a few months of her taking oath as chief minister, in September 2001, she was disqualified from holding office, and
forced to cede the chair to loyalist O. Panneerselvam.
Upon her acquittal six months later, Jayalalithaa returned as chief minister to complete her term. Noted for its ruthlessness to
political opponents, many of whom were arrested in midnight raids, her government grew unpopular.Her appointment was legally
voided in September 2001 when the Supreme Court ruled that she could not hold it whilst convicted of criminal acts.[113] O.
Panneerselvam, a minister in her party, was subsequently installed as the Chief Minister. However, his government was purported
to have been puppeted and micro-managed by Jayalalithaa.[84][116]
Subsequently, in March 2003, Jayalalithaa assumed the position of Chief Minister once more, having been acquitted of some
charges by the Madras High Court.[117] This cleared the way for her to contest a mid-term poll to the Andipatti constituency, after
the sitting MLA for the seat, gave up his membership, which she won by a handsome margin.[118
India’s first company of female police commandos was set up in Tamil Nadu in 2003. They underwent the same training as their
male counterparts, covering the handling of weapons, detection and disposal of bombs, driving, horseriding, and adventure
sports.[119] The government led by her in 2003 banned sale of all lotteries, including online, within the territory of the state,
despite the risk of the state losing revenue. She gave orders to a special task force headed by K. Vijaykumar[120] to conduct a
secret operation to capture and kill the bandit Veerappan by entering Karnataka.[121] In 2004 she declared eliminating Veerap-
pan as biggest achievement of her government and quoted “”My only brief to them was capture Veerappan dead or alive. After
that I never interfered. I left them to work out their own strategies and this paid off.”[122] She began to be referred as ‘People’s
CM’ (Makallin Mudhalvar) and Iron Lady of India by end of this term.[123] In this term she launched Rainwater Harvesting (RWH)
scheme in 2001 to rejuvenate water sources and this improved ground water levels in the parched southern state and this idea
was replicated by various
states and even by the
Centre. She also started
the Veeranam project to
deliver water to the dry
metropolis of Chennai.
[124] Doctor Manmohan
Singh fre- quently
praised Jayala- lithaa for her
administra- tive skills,
mid-day meal schemes
and efforts for gender
empowerment. [125]
But, still her party fared poorly in May 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2006 with Her party winning just 61 seats
out of total 234 in the state elections in 2006. She won in Andipatti. Though her main opposition, DMK did not win a single party
majority (96/234), DMK coalition had 162/234 seats and formed the cabinet until 2011 which she referred to as Minority DMK
government
After another period (2006–11) in the opposition, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister for the fourth time after the AIADMK
swept the 2011 assembly election. Her government received attention for its extensive social-welfare agenda, which included sev-
eral subsidised “Amma”-branded goods such as (Amma Unavagam canteens, bottled water, salt and cement).
In April 2011, the AIADMK was part of a 13-party alliance that won the 14th state assembly elections. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as
the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the third time on 16 May 2011, having been elected unanimously as the leader of the AIADMK
party subsequent to those elections.[128]
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets Jayalalithaa in July 2011
On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa expelled her long-time close aide Sasikala Natarajan and 13 others from the AIADMK after
she became aware that Sasikala and her family were working against her.[129] Most of the party members welcomed her deci-
sion,[130] and on 2 February 2012, Tehelka magazine claimed that Natarajan and some of her relatives were conspiring to kill her
by poisoning her food over a period of time.[131] The matter was resolved by 31 March when Sasikala Natarajan was reinstated
as a party member after issuing a written apology.[132] Sasikala in her written apology mentioned that she had no ambitions ei-
ther in the party or in the government and wanted to serve Jayalalithaa and added that she became aware of misdeeds done by
her family members when Jayalalithaa was in power. Only after Sasikala promised to be not in touch with her family members,
Jayalalitha allowed Sasikala back in
her house and party.[133]
She announced in 2012, the Vision 2023 document which embodied a strategic plan for infrastructure development which in-
cluded raising the per capita income of residents to $10,000 per annum, matching Human Development Index to that of devel-
oped countries by 2023, providing high-quality infrastructure all over the State, making Tamil Nadu the knowledge capital and
innovation hub of India. This project had three components — Overall Vision Document, Compilation of Project Profile and Road
Map. The work on this continued under her supervision until her death
Disproportionate assets
case, 2014
Jayalalithaa’s car Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
See also: Disproportionate assets case against Jayala-
lithaa
On 11 May 2015, a special Bench of the Karnataka High Court set aside her conviction on appeal. That court acquitted her and the
alleged associates – Sasikala Natarajan, her niece Ilavarasi, her nephew and Jayalalithaa’s disowned foster son Sudhakaran.[144]
On 14 February 2017 (subsequent to her death) the Supreme Court of India over-ruled the Karnataka High Court. Sasikala and
the other accused were convicted and sentenced to four years of imprisonment, as well as being fined 10 crores each. The case
against Jayalalithaa was abated because she had died and hence can’t defend herself
also regarded as one of her achievements.[155] She increased the freedom fighters monthly pension to Rs 12,000, family pension
and increased special pension to Rs 6,000.[156] On 21 September 2016 she inaugurated two Chennai metro rail lines by way of
video conferencing.[157] This was her last public appearance before being admitted to hospital on 22 September 2016.[citation
needed]
On 22 September 2016, Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, as she was suffering from an infection and
acute dehydration. Her official duties were handed over to her aide O. Panneerselvam on 12 October 2016, though she continued
to remain as the chief minister of the state[158] She was also said to be suffering from a severe pulmonary infection and septicae-
mia, which were cured. On 4 December 2016, she was re-admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering a cardiac arrest around
16:45.[159] The hospital released a press statement stating that her condition was "very critical" and that she was on life support.
[160] On 5 December 2016, the hospital announced her death.[161]
Government of India declared a one-day national mourning with the national flag in all government buildings flying at half-mast.
While a seven-day mourning from 6–12 December 2016 was observed by Government of Tamil Nadu,[162] also three day state
mourning from 6–8 December 2016 were observed by Government of Kerala,[163] and Government of Puducherry.[164] One day
state mourning on 6 December 2016 was observed by Government of Karnataka,[165] Government of Punjab.[166][167] body
was kept in state at her residence in Poes Garden and Rajaji Hall. Her last rites were performed on the evening of 6 December
2016 and she was interred in the northern end of the Marina Beach in Chennai in sandalwood casket, near the grave of her mentor
M. G. Ramachandran in MGR Memorial.[168][169][170]
Legacy
Biopics
In Mani Ratnam’s political drama Iruvar (1997), the character of Kalpana portrayed by Aishwarya Rai, was inspired by Jayalalithaa
and her professional and personal relationship with M. G. Ramachandran.[173][174][175] Faisal Saif completed work on major
portions of a film titled Amma between 2014 and 2016, but was forced to shelve it following threats from members of Jayalalithaa’s
political party. The makers denied that the film was a biopic, but stated that actress Ragini Dwivedi portrayed a role resembling the
politician.[176][177]
Since Jayalalithaa’s death, several filmmakers have announced biopics on the politician, with five currently in production. In Janu-
ary 2017, Telugu filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao registered the title Amma and began preparing for a biopic on the politician. The
film was being planned with Anushka Shetty in the lead role, but Rao’s death in May 2017 effectively ended the project, despite
indications that Mohan Babu may revive it.[178][179] Producer Adithya Bharadwaj announced that his team were over a year into
pre-production work for a proposed biopic of Jayalalithaa, during December 2017. Titled Thaai: Puratchi Thalaivi, he revealed that
it would predominantly be a fictionalised retelling of her story with some real life footage also included. Bharadwaj suggested that
he had briefly touched upon the possibility of a biopic with Jayalalithaa when she was alive, but the script had to be reworked fol-
lowing her death. Despite his suggestions that the film would begin production in January 2018, the project did not take off.[180]
[181] Soon after news emerged about Vijay’s and Priyadarshini’s biopics in August 2018, Adithya reconfirmed that Bharathiraja
had been signed to be the director of the film. He added that the team were considering either Aishwarya Rai or Anushka Shetty
for the role of Jayalalithaa, and either Kamal Haasan or Mohanlal for the role of M. G. Ramachandran.[182]
In August 2018, producer Vishnu Vardhan Induri of Vibri Media announced that he was working on a biopic of Jayalalithaa, and
that A. L. Vijay would direct the project.[183] The team announced that pre-production work and research was ongoing and that
the film would focus on the personal life of the politician, showing her vulnerable side. Actresses including Nayanthara and Vidya
Balan were approached by Vijay to star in the lead role, while Sai Pallavi was considered for the supporting role of V. K. Sasikala.
[184][185][186] Within a day of Induri’s announcement, director Priyadarshini announced that she had also been working for four
months on the pre-production of a biopic, which would be launched in September 2018. Priyadarshini suggested that she had
four scripts ready, with each focusing on different aspects of Jayalalithaa’s life, and that the narration would be balanced by show-
ing both her positive and negative sides.[187][186] Titled The Iron Lady, Nithya Menen was signed on to play the lead role, while
Aishwarya Rajesh and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar were in talks for a supporting role for the character of Sasikala.[188][189][190]
Another biopic to be shot as a web-series by Gautham Menon became the fourth such announcement of a related project in Au-
gust 2018.[191] Production on the series progressed quietly throughout late 2018, with Ramya Krishnan selected to play Jayalali-
thaa, and Indrajith and Vamsi Krishna portraying M. G. Ramchandran and Sobhan Babu respectively.[192][193] In October 2018,
Sasikala’s nephew Jeyanandh Dhivakaran announced a further biopic on Jayalalithaa, which would focus more on her relationship
with Sasikala and M. Natarajan. Director Linguswamy was signed on to the project, and began pre-production work by meeting
close aides and politicians of Jayalalithaa.[194]
Legislative career
Elections contested
Year Constituency Result Vote percentage Opposition Candidate Opposition Party
Opposition vote percentage
1989 Bodinayakkanur Won 54.51 Muthumanokaran DMK 27.27[195]
1991 Bargur Won 69.3 T. Rajendar TMK 29.34[104]
1991 Kangayam Won 63.4 N. S. Rajkumar Mandradiar DMK 32.85[196]
1996 Bargur Lost 43.54 E. G. Sugavanam DMK 50.71[104]
2001 Andipatti, Krishnagiri, Bhuvanagiri, Pudukkottai Nomination rejected[197]
2002 Andipatti Won 58.22 Vaigai Sekar DMK 27.64[118]
2006 Andipatti Won 55.04 Seeman DMK 36.29[198]
2011 Srirangam Won 58.99 N Anand DMK 35.55[199][200]
2015 R.K. Nagar Won 88.43 C Mahendran CPI 5.35[201]
2016 R.K. Nagar Won 55.87 Shimla Muthuchozhan DMK 33.14[202]
Awards and honours
In 1972, Jayalalithaa was awarded the Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu.[203]
She has received several honorary doctorates and other honours, beginning with an award from
the University of Madras in 1991.[203][204