RE-WORKING THE MAGIC-JAYARAM

Re-working the magic
Malayalam cinema’s safe star, Jayaram, is eyeing new projects to give his career graph the much-needed boost, KK Moidu writes

Malayalam actor Jayaram has pinned hopes on Madhuchandralekha, which has his lucky heroine Urvasi and is directed by Rajasenan an old ally, to renew his Midas touch at the box office. Once considered one of the safest heroes at the box office and a hot favourite of the family audience, the actor’s career has witnessed a slump since 2000, for no plausible reason. The split with his winning team-mate, Rajasenan, could be one of the reasons.
The duo have many hits to their credit. These include films like Aniyan Bava Chettan Bava, CID Unnikrishnan BA B.Ed, Swapnalokathe Balabhaskaran, Naadan Pennum Naattu Pramaniyum, Kottaram Veettile Appoottan, Meleparambil Aanveedu, Ayalathe Adheham and Malayalee Maamanu Vanakkan. Such was their teamwork that industry insiders began predicting that the director would not be unable to give a hit without Jayaram or vice versa. However, after an ego clash Jayaram rejected a film offer from Rajasenan, citing an inappropriate title as the reason. Rajasenan cast Suresh Gopi and Kunjacko Boban in his next venture, Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam. Fortunately, for the Jayaram-Rajasenan team and their fans that movie did not click.
Jayaram’s specialisation has been comedy and sentimental roles. He has also been cast as a supporting hero in many films in the past. He has portrayed characters like unemployed youth and the Namboodiri on screen with relative ease and even managed to arouse audience’s sympathy. Not surprising for before his entry into films this talented actor was a mimicry artiste. His most memorable item those days was his masterly imitation of the late Prem Nazir. During an interview he narrated an incident related to this act. Jayaram was on a flight with the late actor’s son, Shahnawaz. Gripped by nostalgia Shahnawaz requested Jayaram to speak to him in his father’s voice and manner. Then Shahnawaz shut his eyes and Jayaram spoke to him in Nazir’s voice. According to Jayaram the joy on Shahnawaz’s face was unexplainable. He thanked the actor and told him that for a moment he felt he was with his father.
With such incredible talent there was no looking back for the actor during the initial decade and half or so, but with Dileep’s entry things began to change. The younger star had the same mimicry background and also specialised in comedy. His popularity proved a setback for Jayaram’s career. Dileep was repeatedly cast in roles, which would have naturally gone to Jayaram. Another Jayaram favourite, director duo Rafi Mecartin, switched loyalties and started writing roles suitable for Dileep. Earlier, the director duo gave memorable hits like Adhyathe Kanmani, Dilliwala Rajakumaran, Puthukkottayile Puthumanavalan and One Man Show with Jayaram as the hero, but after the surprise success of Punjabi House their scripts Thenkasipattanam, Thilakkam and Pandippada were written mainly with Dileep in mind.
At the peak of his career Jayaram received several offers from Tamil film producers to play the supporting hero, but he chose to concentrate on Malayalam films and turned down those offers initially. He realised that with young Tamil actors like Vikram, Vijay, Madhavan, Surya and Ajith around, he didn’t stand much of a chance in that industry. But when his roles were offered to Dileep, he decided to try his luck in Tamil films. His Tamil films with Kamal Haasan, Tenali and Panchathanthiram, were appreciated. He also did a full-fledged comedy role in the Ajith starrer Paramasivam, directed by P Vasu. He also got a meaty role in a Sarath Kumar film. His Tamil fans lovingly bestowed on him the title of “Navarasa Thendral” (one well-versed in all the nine human qualities described in Indian literature).
Jayaram’s recent change in fortunes saw even a director like Kamal, who did more than 10 movies with the actor, refraining from casting him in his new films. Their last hit together was Kaikkudanna Nilavu. Incidentally Dileep is doing a double role in Kamal’s latest release, Pachakuthira.
Sathayan Anthikkad, another talented director with the unique record of not giving a flop, has also done around 15 films with Jayaram. Their last hit Manassinakkare, was Jayaram’s only hit film in the last four years. Even, though Manassinakkare was a runaway hit the director, however, chose to do his new films with other heroes. He cast Sunil as the leading man in Achuvinte Amma and Mohanlal as the male lead in Rasathanthram. He has also announced his next film with Dileep as the hero.
In the last six years, Jayaram’s super hits were Manassinakkare and Yathrakkarude Shradhakkai, whereas his movies like Pauran, Alice in Wonderland, Fingerprint, Amrutham, Ivar, Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum, Sesham, Theerthadanam, Naranathu Thamburan, Sharjah To Sharjah went unnoticed. Mayilattam, Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty, Malayalimamanu Vanakkam, Uthaman and Vakkalathu Narayanankutty did average business.
He is married to former actress Parvathy and they have two children. Kalidasan and Malavika. His son Kalidasan has also acted in two films. Kalidasan’s performance in his first movie Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal along with Jayaram won him the National Award for the Best Child Artiste. Another movie in his credit was Ente Veedu Appoontem in which Jayaram did the lead role.
Jayaram’s interests other than cinema include festivals, elephants and drums. He purchased an elephant and in keeping with his popularity, the elephant was called “Jayaram Kannan.” Kannan became a star at temple festivals in Kerala. He is now known as “Perumbavoor Kannan” after Jayaram chose to be its half owner, handing over its care to the temple management. The new arrangement had to be made because Jayaram and family shifted to Chennai because that was more convenient for his tight shooting schedules and children’s education.
The actor also gave a maiden performance (arangettam) with the drum (chenda) during Kerala Tourism’s Onam week celebrations at Nishagandhi auditorium at a state-level function. He performed the “Sruthimelam Panchari” a unique musical composition by chenda maestro Mattannoor Sankaran Kutty. The multi-faceted actor is also the brand ambassador of Kerala Tourism’s “Vazhiyoram” project.
His career highs include winning of the State Award for Second Best Actor and Special Jury Award for his performance in Swayamvarapandhal and the State Special Jury Award, Cine Best Actor Award, Filmfare Award, and Rottery Club Award for his performance in Thooval Kottaram.
However, his standing as a safe bet at the box office has been dented with distributors shying away from distributing his completed films. Three such films, Seetha Kalyanam, Magic Lamp and Winter, are gathering dust in the studio labs. Even projects announced with Jayaram as the hero went to others at the ninth minute. A case in example was the supporting role in Roshan Andrew’s Udhayananu Tharam, which finally went to Mohanlal. The movie gave Malayalam cinema a fresh lease of life in 2005 and for Jayaram it was a golden opportunity lost.
Given the present difficult circumstances, Jayaram’s only hope is Rajasenan’s Madhuchandralekha, a theme targetting the family audience, particularly children. The story revolves around the lives of Madhavan (Jayaram), a famous music director and singer, and his wife Chandramathi (Urvasi) and their four children in a rural setting in a fun-filled background. The twist comes after a model Indulekha (Mamta) arrives. This changes their lives. The movie draws its title from the names of its three main characters.
Anjali, Vishnu, Riya and Veena play the four children, while Bheeman Raghu, Johnny, Harishree Asokan and Tom Jacob play Chandramathy’s four brothers. The rest of the support cast comprises Babu Kalasaala, Cochin Haneefa, Sukumari, Vijaya Kumari, Liji Thomas and Indrans. The movie is produced by Samad Mankada.
Another upcoming Jayaram film is Bharathan, directed by Anil Das, and another directed by Lohithadas. Now it is for the audience to decide whether they should return this actor his crown of a safe actor on the basis of these three films.