Jaishankar | |
|---|---|
 Jaishankar's still from a movie | |
| Born | Shankar Subramaniyan Iyer (1938-07-12)12 July 1938[1] |
| Died | 3 June 2000(2000-06-03) (aged 61) |
| Other names | Makkal Kalaingnar, Thennagathu James Bond |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–2000 |
| Works | Full list |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Jaishankar (born Shankar Subramaniyan Iyer on 12 July 1938, died 3 June 2000)[1] was an Indian actor known for his work inTamil cinema. He was a notable lead actor in the 1960s and 70s, who was credited onscreen with title ofMakkal Kalaingnar (people's artiste) orMakkal Thamizhan (people'sTamil) in most of the films starring him. He was also referred to asThennakathu James Bond (South IndianJames Bond) because of his roles in films such asVallavan Oruvan andCID Shankar.[2]
Jaishankar, whose real name was Shankar hailed fromKumbakonam, but was born inThirunelveli to parents Subramaniyan Iyer who was the Judge of Thirunelveli court and Yogambal on 12 July 1938.[3][1] Jaishankar did his schooling inP.S. Higher Secondary School,Mylapore, and completed his graduation fromThe New College, Chennai, where he was awarded an honours degree. He studied law but gave it up after a year because of his interests in the theater and other art forms.[3]
He joinedCho Ramaswamy's "Cho's Viveka Fine Arts", which consisted mostly of Mylaporeans where he did insignificantly small roles. He wasn't happy as he was interested in exploring his acting skills. As a result, he moved out of the troupe and eventually joined Koothabiran's "Kalki Fine Arts" where he made a mark by playing one of the lead roles in Kalki's 'Amara Thaara'.
In an era dominated bySivaji Ganesan,M. G. Ramachandran andGemini Ganesan, he created his own niche with portrayals of Westernised characters. He was popularly known asSouth Indian James Bond because of his roles as the investigative detective inVallavan Oruvan andCID Shankar,[4][5] and "Friday star" because he invariably had a release every week. He was also adept at comedy and contemporary portrayals as seen inPattanathil Bhootham,Noottrukku Nooru andKuzhandaiyum Deivamum.Among his more memorable roles was the teacher's role in the K Balachander film,Noothukku Nooru. His first film wasIravum Pagalum, which had also been the title of his debut film song.[6][7] With the emergence ofRajinikanth andKamal Haasan, he began to mostly play villain and father roles in many films, among themMurattu Kaalai,Apoorva Sagodharargal andThalapathi.
Jaishankar made his film debut in 1965, in the filmIravum Pagalum directed byJoseph Thaliath Jr. The film was released on 14 January 1965Thai Pongal day.[3][8] Despite facing competition fromEnga Veettu Pillai andPazhani, released on the same day, the film become a commercial success."[9] Generally starring romance, comedy and action films (especially played in investigative detective). In followed year he actedEnga Veetu Penn (1965), andPanchavarna Kili, where he played in adual role, and both the films become a commercial success. Jaishankar starred inKuzhandaiyum Deivamum (1965), where he played estranged husband. Adaptation ofDisney'sThe Parent Trap directed byKrishnan–Panju produced byAVM Productions. It was commercial success and won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, and inNee, he played college student and also he paired withJayalalithaa for first time and film become a commercial success. In 1966 he acted Psychological thriller filmYaar Nee?, the film produced byP. S. Veerappa, it was remake of Hindi filmWoh Kaun Thi? (1964). The film becomes successful at the box-office. He continued to achieve success at the box-office with films likeNaam Moovar,Kadhal Paduthum Paadu, andGowri Kalyanam (they released in 1966). Jaishankar worked underModern Theatres films includingIru Vallavargal (1966), the film remake of Hindi filmDo Ustad.Vallavan Oruvan (1966), where he played Investigative officerCID Shankar on the death of his colleagues and the film loosely based on 1964 French-Italian filmShadow of Evil. It becomes a major success at the box-office.Kadhalithal Podhuma (1967), the film was hit at the box-office. In 1967 he acted romantic-comic fantasy filmPattanathil Bhootham starred withK. R. Vijaya, the film heavily inspired by the 1964 American filmThe Brass Bottle and the film directed byM. V. Raman, and the film released onTamil Puthandu. Despite facing competition fromMagaraasi, released on same day, it become a major successful at the box-office.Naangu Killadigal, he played escaped prisoner with his inmates, according toIndian Express the film did not well at the box-office.Neelagiri Express (1968), where he played CID investigative officer and the assigned the task of nabbing the criminals behind the murder. The film was remake of Malayalam filmCochin Expressand the film becomes blockbuster hit at the box-office.
In 1968, he acted comedy filmBommalattam, romantic filmMuthu Chippi, and family-drama filmUyira Maanama andJeevanamsam, he starred withC. R. Vijayakumari and actressLakshmi debut on the film, she played shankar's sister role, all films becomes major hit at the box-office. In 1969 he acted in a comedy filmPoova Thalaiya, where he played the role of a successful son-in-law, Who will compete with an arrogant aunt. The film was a box-office success, running for 100 days in many centres of Tamil Nadu and also all over India. In same year he gives another major success films such asAkka Thangai, he played suspected brother and the film directed byM. A. Thirumugam. It becomes huge hit at the box-office and won theTamil Nadu Film Award for Best Film (Second Prize). AndMannippu, where he played artist and falsely charged his finance missing case, it becomes a successful at the box-office and the film was remake of Malayalam filmPadunna Puzha.
InMaanavan (1970), where he played a young man who becomes a district administrator from the poverty level. Maanavan proves commercial success.[10] In 1970's he acted family drama filmPenn Deivam, and a comedy filmVeettuku Veedu, the film based on the playThikku Theriyadha Veettil and later 2001Viswanathan Ramamoorthy based on this film. And he starred inEthirkalam withGemini Ganesan and he acted Western-adventure filmKalam Vellum (1970), all the films becomes successfully hit at the box-office.CID Shankar (1970), where he played to investigate a case of mysterious murder and finds clues leading to group of terrorists, it was an adaptation of 1965 French-Italian filmOSS 117 Mission for a Killer.Nootrukku Nooru (1971), where he played a college professor, who is accused by three college girls of sexual harassment, the film directed byK. Balachander under his production Kalakendra. The film was a milestone of Shankar's career and he won the Film Fans Association Best Actor Award in 1971.[11]Karundhel Kannayiram (1972), where he played when he is falsely accused of a crime and force to prove his innocence. In followed year he acted western-cowboy filmGanga, it becomes a commercial success and his acted comedy-suspense filmNawab Naarkali, in which he played financial stress law college student. The film adaptation ofKomal Swaminathan's stage play of the same name and it becomes successful hit at the box-office.Thedi Vandha Lakshmi (1973), Jakkamma (1973),both was hit at the box-office. He acted in 1973 comedy-melodrama filmPonvandu, where he played wealthy young man, who spends as an expense, who become challenge to his father, will be able not earn money without his father kindness. Jaishankar partially romance withManorama in this film. And his 100th film wasIdhayam Parakindrathu In 1974 he acted thriller filmVairam, the film recorded at the super hit and followed he gives box-office success filmsKaliyuga Kannan andAthaiya Mamiya. His 1977 filmAvar Enakke Sondham is credited with usheringdisco music era in Tamil cinema with the smash-hit singleSurangani composed by newcomer Ilayaraja.
Between 1980 and 1999 Jaishankar emerged with latest actors likeRajinikanth,Kamal Haasan,Vijayakanth,Sathyaraj,Thiagarajan,Mohan,Prabhu,Arjun and played lead villain and in character role. In filmMurattu Kalai (1980), he reprise Villain role and co-starred withRajinikanth. In filmVidhi (1984), he played rich criminal Lawyer and father of playboy Son, the film becomes Commercial Success. In 1984, he acted thriller film24 Mani Neram, where he played investigating officer, the film directed byManivannan and the same year he worked underBalu Mahendra's filmNeengal Kettavai. In 1985 he played actressNadhiya father role inPoove Poochooda Vaa directed byFazil. In followed he acted horror-thriller films asYaar? andPillai Nila (both released in 1985) and he played crime thriller filmSaavi, which he played CID Inspector and solve the murder case. The film based on American filmDial M for Murder. The film commercial hit at the box-office. In a filmOomai Vizhigal (1986), where he played who runs unprofitable Magazine Dhinamurasu, he was an editor of the magazine, the film made by Film college student and run over 100+ days in theatre.[12] In following 1989, he acted science fiction-horror filmNaalai Manithan, which he playedmad scientist invents as drug which gives back life to dead if injected within two hours of dead, it becomes profitable venture.
Jaishankar emerged withRajinikanth in fifteen films –Gaayathri,Murattu Kaalai,Garjanai,Thanikattu Raja,Paayum Puli,Thudikkum Karangal,Thai Veedu,Adutha Varisu,Thanga Magan,Anbulla Rajinikanth,Padikkadavan,Maaveeran,Mappillai,Thalapathi,Arunachalam.
Jaishankar emergence withKamal Haasan in nine films –Cinema Paithiyam,Savaal,Ellam Inba Mayyam,Vazhvey Maayam,Sattam,Naanum Oru Thozhilali,Kadhal Parisu,Apoorva Sagodharargal,Singaravelan.
He has worked with many actresses includingC. R. Vijayakumari,Jamuna,Rajasulochana, C. Vasantha,Jayalalithaa,K. R. Vijaya,Manorama,Lakshmi,Devika,Bharathi,Vanisri,Rajasri,Venniradai Nirmala,L. Vijayalakshmi,Ushanandini,Jayachitra,Shubha,Vijayanirmala of his time. Other actresses include A. Sakunthala,Vijayalalitha,Jayakumari,Srividya,Sridevi,Sripriya andSilk Smitha. He also co-starred with other actors such asSivaji Ganesan,Gemini Ganesan,R. Muthuraman,Ravichandran,A. V. M. Rajan,Srikanth,Sivakumar,Cho,Nagesh,S. V. Ranga Rao,S. A. Ashokan,R. S. Manohar,S. V. Ramadoss,Major Sundarrajan,P. S. Veerappa,O. A. K. Thevar,K. Balaji,Rajinikanth,Kamal Haasan,Vijayakanth,Thiagarajan,Sathyaraj,Nizhalgal Ravi,Arjun,Karthik,Mohan andVijay.
Jaishankar died of heart attack on 3 June 2000, at the age of 61 in Chennai.[13]
He is also remembered for his philanthropy as he helped the needy without any publicity.[14] Each year his son, Dr.Vijay Shankar, conducts 15 free eye surgeries on his father's birthday.[15] He planned to create a trust in his father's memory and conduct these camps on a larger scale and later include some more specialities like cardiac surgeries also.[16]
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