Bengaluru:Veteran south Indian actress, Jayanthi who had won the hearts of millions of fans by portraying different roles over the last several decades, breathed her last on Monday. She was 76.
Jayanthi was one of the leading actresses of Kannada film industry during the 70s and 80s and her attractive features and acting skills had created a huge fan base for her. She entered sandalwood film industrywith the film, 'Jenugoodu' directed by Y R Swamy in 1968. Her actual name was Kamala Kumari. Earlier, she had played a minor role in the film, 'Jagadeka Veerana Kathe'.
Jayanthi acted in films made in six languages including in Telugu and Hindi languages. She acted in 190 movies in total. She also happened to be a producer and director. She had won the national award for her role in the film, 'Miss Leelavathi'. She donned several roles which then were treated as bold. She won state level awards for five of her films, Yeradu Mukha (1969), Manassinanthe Mangalya (1976), Dharma Daari Tappitu (1981), Masanada Hoovu (1985) and Anand (1986). She was seen in a unique role in the film, 'Yedakallu Guddada Mele' in which she was seen as a sex-starved woman driven by the thirst for male companionship.
Out of over 500 movies she has worked in, Jayanthi had appeared as the female lead in over 300 films. Best known for movies like Miss Leelavathi, Sri Krishnadevaraya and Edakallu Guddada Mele, the 76-year-old actress worked not just in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam movies, but in some Hindi and Marathi films as well.
Honored with the title "Abhinaye Sharadhe" by the Kannada film industry, Jayanthi also won two Karnataka State Film Awards for best actress, the President's Medal for best actress and two Filmfare Awards for best actress. She was also known as the most bold and beautiful actress of Kannada film industry.
Chief Minister Yeddiyurappa expresses his condolences on the death of actress Jayanthi
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday joined a host of other politicians, celebrities, and ordinary people to express his condolences over the death of sandalwood actress Jayanthi.
Mr Yediyurappa tweeted, "I am extremely pained on the news of the death of Popular Kannada actress 'Abhinaya Sharade' Jayanthi. Her contribution to Kannada film industry has been immense and the void is impossible to fill. May her soul rest in peace, give strength to his family and fans to overcome the loss".
Ms Jayanthi had acted in over 500 movies predominantly in Kannada. She had shared screen space with several legends of South Indian cinema like Dr Rajkumar, NTR and MGR among others.
The multilingual actress had acted as the main female lead in over 300 movies. The 75-year old had won four Karnataka State Film Awards for Best Actress, the President's Medal for Best Actress, and two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress in her life among many other honours.(UNI)