Jayaram completes thirty years in cinema on May 12, 2018Actor Jayaram's tryst with Malayali audience began back in 1988, when he breathed life into Vishwanathan, the hero of epic director P Padmarajan's movie 'Aparan' (Lookalike). Even as Jayaram's debut film title resonated, the actor, since then has only become the popular family man to movie audience.
Starting then, there has been no looking back. A loving husband, a guy next door, an amputee, a CID, a barber, a jobless youth and even a departed soul, the range of characters played by the actor was versatile. Thirty years after the release of 'Aparan', actor Jayaram has neatly painted a space for himself in the industry. Not just Mollywood, Jayaram also has in his kitty memorable characters in both Tamil and Telugu industries.
A multifaceted persona Jayaram has also proved his mettle in mimicry and percussion. While the actor celebrates 30 years of his career on May 12 - 30 years since the release of 'Aparan' - here is a recap of the most popular roles essayed by the actor.
Aparan, 1988
P Padmarajan's 'Aparan' saw Jayaram donning the role of Vishwanathan, an aspiring youth in his 20s. As Vishwanathan finds himself in trouble owing to his doppelganger in town, it was with incomparable precision that Jayaram enacted the role. Even though chances were high that a beginner like him could have easily given it away, it was literally a cake walk for him.
Moonampakkam, 1988
For anyone who has watched 'Moonampakkam', it essentially would leave a painful void in heart. A gripping emotional tale told by Padmarajan, 'Moonampakkam' revolves around the longing of a grandfather (essayed by Thilakan) for his grandson as he awaits his return after 6 years. Jayaram plays his grandson Pachu. The tale intensifies as Pachu and his gang reach out to the violent sea for a dip and Pachu goes missing. Even though the film was largely carried by Thilakan, Jayaram's screen presence was an added value, and is worth mentioning.
Mazhavil Kavadi, 1989
Jayaram's Velayudhankutty hopes of a well-paid job, but has a surprise in store for him in the pilgrim town of Palani. He unexpectedly finds his childhood friend there and hopes he will land him a job. As the friend, who turns out to be a pickpocket, can't help him with a good job, a desperate Velayudhankutty becomes a barber. It was with much grace that he effortlessly slipped into the role of a simple youth meandering to make both the ends meet.
Chanakyan, 1989
Chanakyan directed by T K Rajeevkumar saw Jayaram as Jayaram, a mimicry artist. A revenge thriller, Jayaram's performance alongside acting legend Kamal Haasan was epic. Plotting a revenge against a reigning chief minister, to tarnish his reputation, both the characters enhanced the movie to a different level.
Malooty, 1990
Bharathan's 'Malooty' was about the bid to rescue a five-year-old girl who had slipped into a deep bore well. While the second half of the movie largely portrayed tension-laced sequences of rescue efforts and the deep trauma that Malooty's parents endure, Jayaram's character as her father Unnikrishnan does a decent job that was expected of him.
Keli, 1991
Another Bharathan classic, Keli saw Jayaram literally living as a differently abled man Narayanankutty. An innocent Narayanankutty desperately trying hard to come out of a murder case alleged on him won hearts instantly. Jayaram's ease of donning a family man was stamped yet again in this flick. Narayanankutty's interactions with his grandmothers and his lady love played by Charmila rendered some powerful scenes laced with ample emotions.
Sandesham, 1991
Sathyan Anthikkad's flick 'Sandesham' is one of the best political satires that Malayalam industry can count on. Jayaram as Prakashan, a secular political activist, defending his party ideology with his own brother Prabhakaran, who is a committed left-wing activist, paved way for ample laughter and thought. A plot that brilliantly weaved in the element of jobless youth delving blindly into politics and the consequences that follow it, 'Sandesham' is still a valid message to the present world.
Ayalathe Addeham, 1992
Rajasenan's 'Ayalathe Addeham' has as its hero Premachandran (essayed by Jayaram), a strict husband, a college lecturer and a honest citizen. Premachandran is someone who pays no heed to his wife Sulochana's (Gouthami) desires and lofty dreams. It is not intentionally that he hurts his wife often, but that his extra-decent nature and principles about life that makes him so. A 'forcefully' changed Premachandran and the deeds he does to please his wife forms the crux of the plot. As simple as it can be, a nagging wife and a very matured husband and dialogues mostly confined to the interiors of a middle-class home, Jayaram proved yet again that he was the master of the family audience.
Melepparampil Aanveedu, 1993
'Melepparambil Aanveedu' has Jayaram as the lead. Harikrishnan, the youngest son of Thrivikraman Muthalali (Narendra Prasad), falls head over heals for Pavizham (Shobhana), the daughter of a Tamil Nadu landlord. Jayaram's effort to bring Pavizham to his very orthodox family as a maid and his own brothers' bid to woo her, give rise for some laugh-out loud sequences. 'Meleparambil Aanveedu' is a family-drama that is worth watching even today.
Irattakuttikalude Achan, 1997
Sathyan Anthikkad's flick revolves around the life of Rajeevan (Jayaram) who elopes with Anupama, a rich girl. At a critical juncture, he is forced to give one of his twin babies to a stranger who has lost all his children at birth. Later when Anupama realises this, she is in no mind to forgive her husband for what he did. Jayaram, now someone who has lost everyone dear to him, tries desperately to get back his baby, but in vain. The deeply emotional sequences in the movie was played by Jayaram with brilliance, of course, with ample support from his co-actor Manju Warrier.
Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal, 1999
Another Sathyan Anthikad flick 'Veendum Chila Veettukaaryangal' shows Jayaram as Roy Thomas, an automobile engineer by profession but passionate about theatre. When Roy meets Bhavana (Samyuktha Varma), a sales girl from a very poor family who struggles to keep her family, he is impressed. But only when he is placed out of his comfort zone, does he realize the hard realities of life. Jayaram as Roy is surely one of the best in his career.
Theerthaadanam, 2001
B Kannan's 'Theerthadanam' narrates the tale of an old man Karunakaran (Jayaram) and his student Vinodini (Suhaasini) united after 35 years. The story is set against the backdrop of the famed Kollur Mookambika temple. Jayaram's physical appearance as well as the portrayal of a very old man was beyond comparison.
Sesham, 2002
T K Rajeev Kumar's 'Sesham' has Jayaram as Lonappan, a complacent inmate of a lunatic asylum. His life becomes the subject of the graduation film of a movie-school student. As the plot progresses, she along with her fiance releases Lonappan from the asylum and tries to provide him a normal life. The story takes a serious turn as Lonappan becomes an integral part of Meera's life and she finds whole things upside down because of his presence at home. Sesham saw him in a role that he has not commonly enacted, yet he pulled it off with perfection.
Veruthe Oru Bharya, 2008
The 2008 flick, directed by Akku Akbar, was a huge hit. Bringing Sugunan, an engineer with electricity board, into life, Jayaram literally showed a typical father-husband in a middle-class family, who has conventional notions of what a wife is meant for in a family and what her place is in the society. Though the film tried to communicate a much-cliched subject at a time when Malayalam film turned its course to a new wave, the fine performance of Jayaram and Gopika, as Bindhu (Sugunan's wife), brought huge crowd to the theatres. The movie and the characters once again brought the society's popular convictions about an 'ideal' couple and family to discussions. Arguably, there is none other than Jayaram suitable to play the role.
Swapaanam, 2014
Shaji N Karun's 'Swapaanam' was Jayaram at his best. A perfect art movie, Jayaram essayed Unni. His rhythm of life, just like his art is simultaneously affected and harmonised by various emotions like passion, jealousy, love and spite for people around him. Unni (Jayaram) and Nalini (Kadambari), a Mohiniyattam artist, are drawn to each other by an affection that transcends their respect for art and mutual love. Myriad complexities of life - a wife who loathes his drumming, a brother whose love turns to hatred and a mother's revelation on his birth -- push him to the darkest end that he embraces.
Panchavarnathatha, 2018
In Ramesh Pisharody's directorial debut Jayaram plays the lead character – a nameless pet dealer who loves everything about life and animals. The film is all about this man's life and struggle with pet animals. The actor's makeover as the character is something amazing about the movie. The tonsured head, pot belly and a peculiar way of speaking gives him a unique appearance. He sells and rents every kind of animals – from dogs to macaws, donkeys, camels and what not! He has no family, no religion nor any of such 'identification' which society wants to tag him to. His world is full of love and animals. When the world around him vies for power and money, he only thinks of making lives better – of people around him and the animals. Jayaram in 'Panchavarnathatha' surely is another feather in his cap.
