Jameela Malik – South Indian film actress of yesterdays, best known for ‘Pandavapuram’

Jameela Malik (1946 – 2020) was a south Indian actress & dubbing artist who worked in Malayalam and Tamil films. She has also done a few Tv shows since 2016. As an actress she is best remembered for her role as Devi Teacher in 1986 Malayalam movie, Pandavapuram. Interestingly during her last days she spent her life as a teacher. Her last days were spent in miseries, and she passed away on 28^th January 2020 at the age of 74. She will always be remembered as the first woman graduate from Kerala to complete the studies at FTII, Pune. She worked in many movies in 1970s and 1980s, playing lead and supporting roles.

Jameela Malik was born as the daughter of Malik Mohammed into a Muslim political family in Kollam. Her mom Thankamma belonged to a Christian family. Her family was affiliated to INC, and both her parents have served as municipal councillors. She had three siblings. Since Jameela’s school days at Mohammedan Memorial School, she was quite active in plays and cultural events. The turning point occurred to her life when she was selected for a play Oru Muri Thenga” for the youth festival competitions, which won second prize later. She shinned as a stage actress and became the star of her school. As she was interested in acting and had dreams in cinema, she enrolled at FTII.

Her first credited role is ‘Aadyathe Katha’ in 1972, and her lead role in ‘Ragging’ (1973) established her as an actress. She later appeared in several Malayalam and Tamil films throughout 1970s and 1980s. Though she was talented, luck didn’t favour her, and she moved to character roles. Her supporting role as Jayabharathi’s younger sister in Sati got noticed. As an actress her role as sad and depressed Devi in Pandavapuram, who waits for someone at an old railway station, is her most memorable one. She played powerful lead role in this movie released in the 1980s. Yet the movie couldn’t give an impact at box office.

She was seen in Malayalam movies – Boy Friend, Chottanikkara Amma, Niramala, Swarna Medal, Kazhukan etc. Her noted role in Tamil films is Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal, for which she shared screen space with Jayalalithaa. She appeared in around 30 films and around 20 TV shows. Her last release was ‘Unnikrishnanu Joli Kitti’. She has also worked as a teacher in schools. She took tuitions in Hindi during her last days to financially support her single son and herself.

Jameela Malik – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. While her father was serving as municipal councillor, he passed away. Later her mother got elected for the same post.

2. She is the first woman from Kerala to graduate from India’s prestigious FTII, Pune. It was a time when higher education was a taboo for Muslim women from Kerala. Both her parents were progressive who supported her in her education and pursuing her passion. After the death of her father, her mother fully supported her.

3. In the 1960s she was only 16 when she joined the film institute. Jaya Badhuri (Bachchan) was her senior at FTII, who used to rag her often and made her sing Hindi songs. Jaya watched her with curiosity as Jameela used to sing Hindi songs in Malayalam dialect. As there were only a few students those days, Jameela and Jaya were star students those days.

4. She has been active in television in the 1990s mostly associated with Doordarshan serials, and later returned to mini screen in 2016.

5. She had a brief marriage and has one mentally challenged son. Throughout her life she nursed her son, and lived in solitude without approaching anyone for help. Son’s illness was one of the reasons which forced her to leave acting and dubbing field. Yet she continued with television soaps playing small roles.

6. Though she had a glorious filmy era, her last days were spent in miseries and poverty. She earned a living through Hindi tuition during her last days.

7. While at school, filmmakers of iconic film, Chemmeen approached her to play Sheela’s younger sibling role for the movie. She was so scared that she didn’t get the role.

8. She has worked as a dubbing artist in Hindi film industry. She has dubbed for artists like Manjula and Jayamalini.

9. She was a playwright too, who wrote more than 12 radio plays for Akashvani. Dastani Rouf, Tauba and Karinizhal, written in Hindi and Malayalam got noticed.

10. She was a part of Doordarshan TV serials such as Kayar, Sagarika etc.