Latest news with #JyothiLakshmi
India.com
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actress has worked with 3 Chief Ministers, acted in over 100 films, died 20 days after she was diagnosed with..., her name is...
Many famous stars of South cinema entered politics after earning fame in the glamour world, and some actors even became Chief Ministers. The love of fans in the world of South cinema made many actors respected by the public, and they were also chosen as their leader. There was also an actress who rocked the silver screen with her dance and style and shared the screen with more than three Chief Ministers. After reaching a special place of fame, the actress had to live a lonely life and died of a fatal disease, like cancer. She came to know about cancer just 20 days ago and passed away. Shared screen with three CMs We are talking about the famous South cinema actress Jyothi Lakshmi. The South Indian actress and amazing dancer Jyothi Lakshmi worked with Chief Ministers including MGR, Jayalalithaa, and NTR. She was known for her dance and became popular for her roles and songs in films in the early 1970s. She also acted in women-oriented films, and one of her sisters, Jayamalini, and one of her daughters, Jyothi Meena, were also actresses. Notably, Jyothi Lakshmi appeared in MGR's film Adimai Penn with Jayalalithaa, and this particular dance scene was the highlight of the film. Jyothi Lakshmi's dance became so famous that it influenced filmmakers to include her for dance scenes in their films. She also acted with her sister and daughter in the Ajith-starrer Nesam. For the unversed, Jyothi Lakshmi worked in more than 100 films in her career and received a lot of praise. Known for her captivating dance throughout her career, Jyothi Lakshmi's life came to a sad end. Jyothi died while battling cancer. Jyothi She came to know about the cancer just 20 days before her death. After this, her treatment started and just 20 days later, Jyothi Lakshmi bid farewell to this world. Jyothi Lakshmi died on 9 August 2016 at the age of 63. She had a long career in the film industry, in which she left her mark in more than 100 films. Even though Jyothi Lakshmi is not among us, her films and dance continue to make us feel her presence.
News18
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
7 Heroines In One Family: The Forgotten Queens Of Tamil Cinema
1/9 In India, the influence of family legacies can be seen across sectors, from business to politics, and cinema is no exception. Film families, where generations follow one another into the industry, exist in every regional language cinema. But few can rival the sheer scale of one remarkable family in Tamil cinema. Would you believe that seven heroines, a director, and a cameraman, all from a single family, once held sway over the Tamil film industry? This is indeed true, and at the heart of it lies Tamil cinema's very first 'dream girl': Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee, better known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari. To understand this legacy, we must begin with her grandmother, Kujalambal, a celebrated Carnatic singer of her time. The family hailed from Thanjavur, a cultural hub of Tamil Nadu. The cinematic journey began with S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi, the first-generation actress in the 1930s. In 1935, the production house National Movie Tone launched its debut film Parvathy Kalyanam. Producer Manickam, in search of talent, discovered S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi performing in Thanjavur and cast her as the lead. Her sister, Damayanthi, also appeared in a handful of films during that era. The family's rise reached new heights with Rajayee, who caught the attention of director K. Subramaniam during a visit to S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi's home. Struck by her beauty, he renamed her T.R. Rajakumari and cast her in Kacha Devayani (1941). She went on to become one of the most iconic actresses of her generation. Supporting this growing legacy was D.R. Ramanna, a producer and director, and notably the only filmmaker to produce a film featuring both MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, two titans of Tamil cinema. The next torchbearer was Kusalakumari, T. R. Rajakumari's niece, who starred in films during the 1970s. From the next generation came Jyothi Lakshmi and Jayamalini, daughters of S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi. The sisters dominated Tamil and Telugu cinema in the 1980s with their bold performances and dance sequences. Notably, Jyothi Lakshmi was adopted by S.P.L. Dhanalakshmi's sister, who had no children of her own. 7/9 Jyothi Lakshmi rose to fame with her performance in Periya Idathu Penn (1963) alongside MGR, particularly with the song Kattodu Kuzhalada Aada. She also contributed to iconic dance numbers such as Kana Karunguilile in Sethu (1999). Jayamalini, meanwhile, gained cult status for her role in the classic film Jaganmohini (1978). Between them, they acted in over 800 films. 8/9 The final known heir to this cinematic dynasty was Jyothi Meena, daughter of Jyothi Lakshmi. She appeared in several films during the 1990s, including Ullathai Allitha (1996), where she was paired with comedian Goundamani. Jyothi Meena also performed with leading stars like Vijay and Ajith, and took on occasional character roles. Her father was a cameraman, yet another film profession represented in this remarkable lineage.
