Mysore to Madras: Jayalalithaa earned fans in two states

MYSURU: Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa had fond memories of her childhood in Mysuru, where her grandfather was the doctor to Mysore king Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. Years later, she recalled playing in her grandfather's house in Mysuru.

After Jayalalithaa's father, Jayaram, died her mother Sandhya moved to Bengaluru. Sandhya's sister, Vidya, meanwhile, had got a break in the Tamil film industry and invited Sandhya to join her there.

After selling her three houses in Mysuru -Lalitha Vilas and Rama Vilas in Lakshmipuram and a third house in Saraswathipuram - Sandhya left for Madras with her children. With Vidya's support, Sandhya established her career and en rolled her daughter in school and Bharatanatyam classes.

At the age of 14, Jayalalithaa gave her first stage performance, watched by famous yesteryear actor Sivaji Ganesan and former Vice President of India B D Jatti. Sandhya, who was close to director B R Panthulu, convinced her daughter to join films when she was 16. Jayalalithaa often played bold characters and won fans, who continued to watch her films even after she crossed over to the Tamil industry.

She visited the Chamundeswari temple in Mysuru to mark her 63rd birthday a few years ago, and her supporters offered offering prayers at the temple all through October when she was unwell. Recently her fans from Tamil Nadu donated gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 1.6 crore, praying for her recovery.