Jayaram: Back with more comedy

Jayaram has been acting in films for nearly 20 years, in the top bracket along with Mammootty, Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi. Unlike the others, he came from a mimicry background, where comedy was his forte. And though he has acted in several serious films, he was loved by the people of Kerala [Images] for his portrayal of simple, middle class men with a great sense of humour.
His last big hit in Malayalam was the Satyan Anthikad-directed Manassinakkare, in which Nayanthara debuted and Sheela made a comeback. The film was a super hit. But, for the last six months, Jayaram has been on a self imposed break, as he hasn't been getting good offers. He has used this time to hone his ability to play the chenda (a drum-like instrument) though, playing at various temples and festivals as well as with the country's finest chenda player, Mattannoor Sankaran Kutty
Now, Jayaram is back, with a film releasing this week -- Madhuchandralekha, directed by Rajasenan, with whom he has had several blockbusters. It is the story of a singer called Madhu (Jayaram), his illiterate rich wife Chandramathi (Urvashi) and a third young woman, Lekha (Mamta Mohandas). The Jayaram-Urvashi combination is expected to create fireworks, as is the reputation of Mamta as that of a sizzler after her film Lanka, with Suresh Gopi.
In this interview, managed after a long wait at his residence in Chennai, Jayaram speaks about Madhuchandralekha, his love for chenda and his son Kalidas, a National Award-winner.
Is Madhuchandralekha like the earlier entertainers you acted in, along with Urvashi?I always did family entertainers depicting the middle class, whether they were made by Satyan Anthikad, Rajasenan or anybody else. In the last two years, I tried doing films that were different, but they weren't successful.
When I go to a public function, people ask me why i'm not doing light, family comedies. They like me acting in such films, which is why I decided to stick to what I am strong in. The result is Madhuchandralekha with Rajasenan. Our combination had yielded many huge hits in the past, so I believe this will also work.
Is Urvashi portraying a humorous character in the film?
She is a woman full of life and humour. I feel there is no other actress who could do justice to Chandramathi. Only she can give life to such a character. I have done several family dramas involving a husband, wife and another woman, but this one's different. I feel that is the strength of the film.
There are very few actresses who can do humour effectively, and Urvashi is one such rare artist. You have done many films together. How was it doing humorous scenes with her after a long gap?
I think Urvashi has done more movies with me than with any other actor. I don't see any other actress of today who can come anywhere near her, when it comes to humour. Not many actresses can do humour because they are more worried about looking good. On the other hand, an actress like Urvashi will do anything with her face for humour. She is not worried about glamour or looks. She was like that even when she was very young.
Have you acted with any other actress who could do comedy as effortlessly?
Shobhana used to do humour very well, as did Manju Warrier. I have done so many comedies with them. It was fun because such artistes have wonderful timing. I must say that Urvashi was the best as far as comedies go though. Many actors say they fight or dance very well, nut not all can do humour and make people laugh. That is the toughest act. If the humour misses the target, people may boo.
Do you think the kind of comedies being made in Malayalam today are very crass?
I feel that those who are making films should take an initiative to make good, classy movies. That is why none of those crass comedies are working at the box office. On the other hand, a classy comedy like Manassinakkare by Satyan Anthikad worked magic at the box office. That is why I say the audience in Kerala is very aware. If you give them good films, they accept them.
This trend of churning out crass comedies has been started by a group of people in Malayalam. I do not want to name them. But there is a group of writers for them, and what they do is watch English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu DVDs, then pick up scenes from all of them. People belonging to a region have their own culture, and they like only what they are used to. The dances you see in Telugu or the bullock cart from Kannada won't work in Kerala.
Did anyone come to you with such offers?
Many did, but I preferred sitting at home to acting in such films.
Were you worried in the last six months, or were you relaxing?
I enjoyed being with my children. And I enjoyed learning an art form. I was not at all worried. After all, I had been working continuously for the last 19 years!
What made you learn the chenda?
Mattannoor Sankara Marar is the greatest player. Similarly, none can match Thirumana Kuttan Kutty in panchari melam. He has been drumming at Thrissur Pooram for the last 40 years. It had been my dream to perform with them somewhere. It is not easy to go along with them; your hands have to be really fast. With that dream in mind, I practised along with a student of Mattannoor Sankara Kutty. I used to get up at 4.30 am daily and practice. I know my neighbours must have felt terrible. Luckily, nobody complained.
Was it because you are a popular actor that they agreed to perform with you?
I don't think so. When I invited them, they agreed and said that it was, after all, their job. We performed together at a temple recently, and I am happy to say I could play with them properly.
You have yet to win a National Award, but your son Kalidas won it for Best Child Artiste in his second film. Were you filled with pride, or did you feel as if your son had beat you in your own field?
Will any father feel that way? I am very, very proud of my son's achievement. I can't express my happiness. The kind of happiness his award gave me would not be compensated by anything, not even five National Awards for me. I am sure every parent will feel that way.
Why has he not been acting since?
He is 12, and this is the age to study. Education is very important, let him concentrate on that now. Every field is very competitive today.

FILMS

2008
Samastha Keralam P.O.
Prabhakaran
Serah, Salim Kumar
To Be Released in January 2009
2008
Panchamirtham
Mareesan
Prakash Raj, Aravind Akash, Saranya Mohan, Samiksha

2008
Multistarrer:Twenty: 20
Doctor Vinodbhaskar
Mohanlal, Mammootty, Suresh Gopi
Super Duper HIT/BLOCKBUSTER
2008
Aegan
College Principal Albert Adiya Patham
Ajith Kumar
Above average
2008
Parthan Kanda Paralokam
Parthan
Sreedevika
Above average
2008
Saroja
ACP Ravichandran
Shiva, Vega Tamotia, Vaibhav, Kajal Aggarwal
Super Hit
2008
Dhaam Dhoom
Raghavan Nambiar
Jayam Ravi, Lakshmi Rai
Super Hit
2008
Veruthe Oru Bharya
Sugunan
Gopika
Mega Hit
2008
Novel
Sethunath
Sada
Average
2007
Sooryan
Suryan
Vimala Raman
Flop
2007
Anchil Oral Arjunan
Sudheendran
Samvrutha Sunil, Padmapriya
Flop
2006
Kanaka Simhasanam
Kasargode Kanakambaran
Karthika, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Flop
2006
Moonnamathoral
Chandra
Samvrutha Sunil, Jyothirmayi, Sherin, Vineeth
Flop
2006
Aanachandam
Krishnaprasad
Remya Nabeeshan
Below Average
2006
Madhuchandralekha
Madhavan
Urvashi, Mamta Mohandas
Above Average
2006
Paramasivan
Nair
Ajithkumar, Laila, Prakash Raj
Above Average
2005
Sarkar Dada
Mukundan Menon
Navya Nair
Flop
2005
Pauran
Divakaran
Geethu Mohandas, Riyas Khan
Below Average
2005
Alice in Wonderland
Alby
Laya, Sandhya
Average
2005
Finger Print
Vivek Varma
Gopika, Indrajith
Flop
2004
Amrutham
Gopinathan Nair
Padmapriya, Bhavana Balachandran
Average
2004
Mayilattam
Devan, Pazhani
Rambha, Indraja
Hit
2004
Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty
Ramankutty
Gayatri Jayaram, Karthika
Flop
2003
Manassinakkare
Reji
Nayantara,Sheela
Mega Hit
2003
Ivar
Ragahva Menon
Bhavana Balachandran
Flop
2003
Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum
Vishwanathan
Jyothirmayi
Super Hit
2003
Julie Ganapathi
Balamurugan
Ramya Krishnan
Flop
2002
Yathrakarude Sradhakku
Ramanujan
Soundarya
Super Hit
2002
Malayalimamanu Vanakkam
Anandakuttan
Roja, Prabhu Ganesan
Average
2002
Panchathanthiram
Nair
Kamal Hassan, Simran Bagga, Ramya Krishnan
Super Hit
2002
Sesham
Kaliyappan
Geethu Mohandas
Below Average
2001
One Man Show
Jayakrishnan
Samyuktha Varma
Hit
2001
Theerthadanam
Karunakaran

Flop
2001
Uthaman
Uthaman
Sangeetha
Flop
2001
Naranathu Thamburan
Thamburan
Nandini
Hit
2001
Sharja To Sharja
Nandagopalan Vishwanathan
Aishwarya
FLOP
2001
Vakkalathu Narayanankutty
Narayanankutty
Mukesh, Manya
Hit
2000
Thenali
Dr. Kailash
Jyothika, Devayani, Kamal Hassan
Super Hit
2000
Daivathinte Makan
Sunny
Pooja Batra
Average
2000
Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal
Gopan
Kavya Madhavan, Lakshmi Gopalaswamy
Super Hit
2000
Millennium Stars
Sunny
Abhirami
FLOP
2000
Nadan Pennum Natupramaniyum

Samyuktha Varma
Average
2000
Swayamvarapandhal
Deepu
Samyuktha Varma
Average
1999
Friends
Aravindan
Mukesh, Meena, Divya Unni
Mega Hit. Remade into Tamil under same title
1999
Njangal Santhushtaranu
Sanjeevan I.P.S
Abhirami
Hit
1999
Pattabishekom
Mukundan
Mohini
Super Hit
1999
Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal
Roy K Thomas
Samyuktha Varma
Mega Hit
1998
Ayushman Bhava
Sunny
Divya Unni
Average
1998
Chitrashalabham
Devan
Jomol
Average
1998
Kaikudunna Nilavu
Vasudevan
Dileep, Ranjitha, Shalini Kumar
Average
1998
Kottaram Veettile Apputtan
Apputtan
Indu
Hit
1998
Kusruthi Kuruppu

Meena
Average
1998
Sneham

Jomol
Average. Won Critical Accolades
1998
Summer in Bethlahem
Dennis
Suresh Gopi, Manju Warrier, Sangeetha, Mayoori
Mega Hit
1997
The Car
Sunil
Sree Lekshmi
Average
1997
Irattakuttikalude Achan

Manju Warrier
Hit
1997
Kadhanayakan
Ramanathan
Divya Unni
Hit
1997
Karunyam
Satheeshan
Divya Unni, Rahna Navas
Hit
1997
Kilukil Pambaram

Vani Vishwanathan
Hit
1997
Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu
Giri Menon
Biju Menon, Manju Warrier
Super Hit
1997
Superman
Hareendran
Shobana
Hit
1996
Aramana Veedum Anjoorekkarum

Shobana
Super Hit
1996
Dilliwala Rajakumaran
Appu
Manju Warrier
Hit
1996
Kaliveedu
Mahesh Sivan
Manju Warrier, Vani Vishwanathan
Hit
1996
Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran
Balabhaskaran
Dileep, Annie
Hit
1996
Thooval Kottaram
Mohanachandran Pothuval
Suganya, Manju Warrier
Super Hit
1995
Aadyathe Kanmani
Balachandran Unnithan
Sudharani
Super Hit
1995
Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava
Premachandran
Kasthuri, Sangeetha
Mega Hit
1995
Kusruthikaatu
Nandagopal
Kanaka
Average
1995
Mangalam Veettil Manaseswari Gupta
Jayadevan
Vani Vishwanath
Average
1995
Minnaminuginum Minnukettu
Hari
Shobana, Heera Rajgopal
Hit
1995
Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan
Ganabhooshanam Girish Cochin
Annie
Super Hit
1995
Sreeragam
Venkiteswaran
Geetha

1995
Thumboli Kadappuram

Priya Raman

1995
Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka
Vijay Krishnan
Dileep, Khusbhoo

1994
CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed.
Unnikrishnan
Chippy, Rohini
Hit
1994
Sudhinam

Madhavi

1994
Vadhu Doctoranu
Sidharthan
Nadiya Moidu
Hit
1993
Dhruvam
Veerasimha Mannadiyar
Mammootty
Mega Hit
1993
Aagneyam
Madhavan Kutty
Gouthami
Flop
1993
Bandhukkal Sathrukkal
Sajeevan
Mukesh, Rohini
Hit
1993
Customs Diary
Ananthakrishnan
Renjini
Hit
1993
Kavadiyattam
Unni
Suchitra
Flop
1993
Meleparambil Aanveedu
Harikrishen
Shobhana
Mega Hit
1993
Oru Kadankatha Pole
Ravindran
Geetha
Hit
1993
Paithrukam

Suresh Gopi
Hit
1993
Samagamam
Johnson
Rohini
below Average
1993
Vakkeel Vasudev
Venu
Sunitha
hit
1992
Aayushkalam
Aby Mathew
Madhoo
Hit
1992
Ayalathe Addeham
Premachandran
Gouthami
Super Hit
1992
Ezhara Ponnana
Balan/Vikraman

Hit
1992
First Bell
Pirappankodu Prahakaran

Super Hit
1992
Malootty
Unnikrishnan
Urvashi
Hit
1992
My Dear Muthachan
Parthasarathi
Thilakan
Hit
1992
Ootty Pattanam
Pavithran

Hit
1991
Kanalkkattu


Hit
1991
Advaitham
Vasu
Mohanlal
Super Hit
1991
Bhoomika


Hit
1991
Chanchattam
Mohan

Hit
1991
Ennum Nanmakal


Hit
1991
Ezhunnallathu

Mukesh
Hit
1991
Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty
Georgekutty
Thilakan
Super Hit
1991
Kadinjool Kalyanam
Sudhakaran

Super Hit
1991
Kankettu
Raju

Hit
1991
Keli
Narayanankutty
Charmila
Hit
1991
Kilukkampetti
Prakash Menon
Suchitra Krishna Murthy

1991
Koodikazhca
Sunny

Hit
1991
Mukha Chithram
Mathukutty/Sethumadhavan/Vareechan

Hit
1991
Pookkalam Varavayi
Nandan


1991
Sandesham
Prakash
Sreenivasan
Hit
1990
Kuruppinte Kanakku Pustakom
Shanthan

Average
1990
Maala Yogam
Rameshan

Super Hit
1990
Marupuram



1990
Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam
Ramachandran
Sreenivasan
Hit
1990
Nanma Niranjavan Srinivasan
Srinivasan
Urvashi, Mukesh
Hit
1990
Pavakkoothu



1990
Radha Madhavam

Geetha, Thilakan

1990
Randam Varavu
Jayakumar


1990
Shubha Yathra

Parvathy
Hit
1990
Thalayanamanthram
Mohanan
Sreenivasan, Urvashi, Parvathy
Super Hit
1990
Thooval Sparsam


Hit
1990
Varthamana Kalam
Brahmadattan


1989
Ardham
Janardanan

Hit
1989
Chakkikotha Chankaran
Pradeep Thampi


1989
Innale
Sarath Menon
Shobhana, Suresh Gopi
Super Hit
1989
Jaathakam
Madhavanunni


1989
Kaalal Pada


Hit
1989
Mazhavil Kavadi
Velayudhankutty
Sithara, Urvashi
Super Hit
1989
Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal
Sivasankaran
Parvathy
Super Hit
1989
Puthiya Karukkal
Vinod


1989
Swagatham


Hit
1989
Ulsavapittennu
Rajan
Mohanlal, Parvathy
Hit
1989
Unnikrishnante Adyathe Christmas
Unnikrishnan


1989
Vachanam



1989
Chanakyan
as Jayaram
Kamal Hassan
Super Hit
1989
Varnam
Haridas
Renjini, Suresh Gopi
Average
1988
Ponn Muttyidunna Tharavu

Sreenivasan, Urvashi
Super Hit
1988
Witness
Balagopalan


1988
Oothikachiya Ponnu



1988
Dhwani
Sabari
Prem Nazir, Shobhana
Super Hit
1988
Moonnam Pakkam
Bhasi
Thilakan, Ashokan
Super Hit
1988
Aparan
Vishwanathan/Uthaman
Shobhana, Mukesh
Super Hit

Trivia

Jayaram is a well known aficionado of elephants. It is said that he can recognize an elephant if he had seen it anytime before.
Jayaram is an able chenda percussionist. Jayaram reportedly said that he used to wake up at 4:30 AM and practice the instrument.[1]
Jayaram, who did nearly 200 films has never won a state or national award for best actor, but his son Kalidas won both for best child artist with only two films to his credit.[2]
Him being a mimicry artist, he is well known for playing Prem Nazir

Awards

Shortlisted for the National Film Award for Best Actor for his role as Lonappan in Sesham (2002)
V. Shantaram Award for his performance in Shesham in 2002
Kerala State Film Awards for Second Best Actor & Special Jury Award for his performance in Swayamvarapandhal (2000)
Kerala State Film Awards Special Jury Award for Thooval Kottaram in 1996
Sini Best Actor Award for Thooval Kottaram (1996)
Film Fair Award for Thooval Kottaram (1996)
Rotary Club Award for Thooval Kottaram (1996)
Asianet Film Awards 2009 Popular Actor award

Personal life

He is married to actress Parvathy who is no longer active in films. Their son Kalidasan is a child film artist who has won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist in 2003 for his second movie Ente Veedu Appontem. He also has a daughter Malavika. The family lives in Chennai.

Career Slump (2004 to 2008)

For the most part of the 2000s decade Jayaram's films weren't commercially successful, he only had a few films that clicked at the box-office. Manassinakkare (2003) performed very well, but since that film to 2008, approximately five years, Jayaram had a difficult time at the box-office. Most films around this time, Njaan Salperu Raman Kutty (2004), Finger Print (2005), Alice in Wonderland (2005), Madhuchandralekha (2006), Moonnamathoral (2006), and Anchil Oral Arjunan (2007), performed poorly both critically and commercially. It was in mid-2008, he made a come back playing Sugunan in Akku Akbar's Veruthe Oru Bharya (2008

Career

After college, he joined Kalabhavan, a well known professional mimicry troupe. He was introduced into the cinema field by script writer and filmmaker Padmarajan who gave Jayaram his launching pad with the 1988 film Aparan. Padmarajan became his mentor in his film career till the former's death in January, 1991. Jayaram subsequently acted in Padmarajan's Moonnam Pakkam (1988) and Innale (1989). All three of them are considered to be among Padmarajan's masterpieces.
He is noted for playing in Kamal's films during the late 80s and early 90s, in films such as Pradeshika Vaarthakal (1989), Peruvannapurathe Visheshangal (1989), and Shubha Yathra (1990) (all of them scripted by Renjith), where he co-starred with his wife Parvathy. During the early 90s he acted in Bharathan's critically acclaimed Keli (1991) and Malootty (1992) (co-starring with Urvashi).
He is most popular for acting in Sathyan Anthikkad's films. Their first film was Mazhavil Kavadi (1989) where Jayaram played Velayudhankutty. Around that time Jayaram played a supporting role in Anthikkad's Mammootty starred Ardham (1989). Thalayanamanthram (1990) and Sandesham (1991), both co-starring and scripted by Sreenivasan, were commercially and critically acclaimed. They later went on to make Thooval Kottaram (1996), Irattakuttikalude Achan (1997), Veendum Chila Veettukaryangal (1999), Kochu Kochu Santhoshangal (2000), Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), and Manassinakkare (2003).
He co-starred with Mammootty and Suresh Gopi in Joshi's Dhruvam (1993). Other noted films with Suresh Gopi include Viji Thampi's Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam (1990) (he co-stars with Sreenivasan), Thooval Sparsam (1990) (co-stars with Mukesh and Saikumar), Jayaraj's Paithrukam (1993), and Sibi Malayil's Summer in Bethlehem (1998). He co-starred with Mohanlal in Bharath Gopi's Ulsavapittennu (1989). Jagathy Sreekumar and Jayaram along have created one of the most funniest sequences in Malayalam cinema through a variety of films.
His association with director Rajasenan created many commercially successful movies such as Kadinjool Kalyanam (1991) (co-starring with Urvashi), Ayalathe Addeham (1992), Meleparambil Aanveedu (1993) (along with Shobana), CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed. (1994), Aniyan Bava Chetan Bava (1995), Aadyathe Kanmani (1995), Swapna Lokathe Balabhaskaran(1996), and Kadhanayakan (1997). Another commercial success during the late 90s is his role of Aravindan in Siddique's Freinds (1999), he co-starred with Sreenivasan and Mukesh. In the 2000s decade his more popular films include Yathrakarude Sradhakku (2002), Manassinakkare (2003), Veruthe Oru Bharya (2008), and Twenty:20 (2008).
His most critically acclaimed roles include his role of Karunakaran in B Kannan's Theerthadanam (2001) (written by M. T.), and Lonappan in Rajeev Kumar's Sesham (2002). He also forayed into Tamil cinema, and became moderately successful. Some of his impressive Tamil films are Gokulam, Purushalakshanam, Priyanka, Kolangal, Murai Mamman and Pathini . His friendship with Kamal Haasan is also famous. His roles as Dr. Kailash and as Mr. Ayyappan Nair in Kamal Haasan starred Thenali and Panchathanthiram are well-appreciated. They first came together on screen in Chanakyan (1989).

Early life

Jayaram Subramaniyam was born into a family of Kerala Iyers in Perumbavoor, Kerala. He completed his bachelor's degree from Sri Sankara College, Kaladi. When he was studying there, he won several awards in the state level for mimicry. He is the nephew of Malayatoor Ramakrishnan, a famous Malayali writer

BIRTH DETAILS

Jayaram Subramaniyam

December 10, 1964

Perumbavoor, Kerala, India

ABOUT JAYARAM

Jayaram Subramaniyam (Malayalam: ജയറാം), commonly known as Jayaram, is an Indian film actor in Malayalam and Tamil language films. He is also a mimicry artist. He is quite widely appreciated for his easiness in handling comedy. There was some criticism towards him being typecast in comic roles in family melodramas. Jayaram despite the criticism has managed to hold on to the top list of Malayalam film actors. He acted in many commercially successful comedy entertainers. It was highly appreciated by family audiences and made him a family hero since the 1990s