Jyothi Lakshmi was a popular south Indian actress who worked in all the four south Indian languages, apart from Hindi. She played parallel lead and supporting roles on screen. She was mostly seen as an item dancer in films. Her sister Jayamalini also worked in movies in the 1970s and 1980s. Her daughter Jyothi Meena is also an actress. Jyothi’s role in roles in Muthu, Sethu and Jaganmohini are popular.
Jyothi Lakshmi marked her film debut with Periya Idathu Penn in 1963
Jyothi Lakshmi was born in Kancheepuram on 2 November 1948. A trained dancer, she started working in Tamil films in year 1963, when two of her films, Periya Idathu Penn and Vanambadi were released. Simultaneously she started working in Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada language films. She was quite busy in the 1960s, mostly playing supporting and parallel lead roles. She worked in more than 300 films during her lifetime.
Murappennu was her first Malayalam film
When it comes to Malayalam films, she mostly did traditional type roles. She impressed Malayalis with her grace and beauty. Her pivot role as Prem Nazir’s sister in Malayalam classic, ‘Nagarame Nanni’ (1967) was well received. Read about her co-star Usha Nandini here. The song from Murappennu – Kadavathu thoniyadukkumbol was filmed on Sharada and Jyothi Lakshmi. Dressed in Kerala’s traditional set mundu, she made a great impact on Malayali audiences of the old generation. But in contrast, she appeared as a titillating dancer with a sculpted body in Telugu and Tamil films.
Her first role in Malayalam films – Murappennu was recommended by none other than MGR. Thus the director A. Vincent have her first break. Later he casted her in three more Malayalam films, including Nagarame Nandi and Kunjali Marakkar. She was featured in Attuvanji kadavil song of Kunjali Marakkar. Jyothi Lakshmi worked in 10 Malayalam films.
She was frequent on-screen doing item numbers
Jyothi was a frequent choice of directors in the 1970s to do item numbers. Years later her daughter Jyothi Meena also became popular through item numbers. Her younger sister Jayamalini entered the scene, when she took a sabbatical for her delivery. Jyothi Lakshmi shared screen space with all major stars across the industry. During her peak years, she appeared in a few Bollywood films like Jawab (1970), Hifazat, Payal Ki Jhankar (1968), Nai Roshni (1967), Pistolwali (1972) and Naag Mani (1987).
Throughout her career, she has been a part of many iconic songs and she exhibited her skills as a trainer dancer. She also appeared in many women-centric and content-oriented films. Jyothi Lakshmi is best remembered for the movies – Thedi Vandha Mapillai and Periya Edathu Penn. She got the distinction of acting with three Chief Ministers namely MGR, Jayalalithaa and NTR.
Fully active in the industry until later years
She shared screen space with Rajinikanth in a dance sequence for Muthu – Kokku Saiva Kokku, which brought her to spotlight after a long time. Jyothi was fully active in the industry until her last years, mostly associated with television playing mother roles. She has been a part of Tamil television shows such as Velan, Vasantham, Annamalai and finally Valli. She acted in Trisha Illana Nayanthara in 2015, which was one among her last releases. Kavalai Vendam in 2016 was her last release in Tamil. It was released posthumously.
She was married to cameraman Sai Prasad and they had one son and one daughter. She passed away on 9 August 2016 in Chennai, aged 67, suffering from blood cancer. Puri Jagannath did a film titled ‘Jyothi Lakshmi’, which had Charmme Kaur in the lead. Though it was rumoured to be based on actress’ life, it was not so. That was her popularity during her ruling years. Her dance numbers were mandatory until late 1980s.
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