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JAISHANKAR
Jai, the consummate charmer!
JAISHANKAR was a law graduate. He joined the celluloid world in 1960. He came from a Brahmin Iyer family. His marriage was an arranged one.

Jai, as he was fondly called, had no inhibitions, no "nakhras", no temper-tantrums, no starry-airs, no put-ons, no hang-ups, no bursting egos. He was modest and courteous even during his heydays. His good manners spoke of his good breeding.

Meandering down memory lane, I lost myself in a reverie. It was circa 1975, that I first met him in the lounge at the Meenambakkam airport, now called Kamraj airport. He was about to emplane for Mumbai, in connection with the plays that he was to stage for the Mumbai Tamil Sangam. He was famous for staging even three plays on a single day.

That apart, I wasn’t very sure it was Jaishankar. When I enquired of an air-hostess who passed by, to clear my doubt, she assured me my hunch was right, but threw me a look that was reserved for an ignoramus. Till then, I hadn’t met any celebrity in my life. I observed him at a reverential distance, with starry eyes. Jai waved towards me. Strengthened by his gesture, I nervously walked towards him. He was surrounded by a bevy of autograph-hunters. He instantly autographed the tenner that I extended towards him. I was mesmerised, dizzy with joy.

Already, I was his fan but after this incident, I became a Jai addict, devouring every word written about him and his family. It took a long time for the euphoria to die down. Now, with misty, moist eyes, I hold in my hand, that moth-eaten tenner note.
His tryst with films began in the year 1960. He made his debut in Iravum Paghalum (Day and Night). None could ever say that Iravum Paghalum was his first film. He totally merged with the character and was not at all camera-conscious. To date, he has acted in more than 200 films.

Jai was one amongst the BIG THREE. His contemporaries were AVM Rajan and Ravichandran. He often emerged as the best. He teamed with Rajan in Mannipu and with Ravichandran in Kaadal Jyothi.

After films like Gauri Kalyanam, Raja Veetu Pillai, Penne Nee Vazhgka, Panchavarnakilli and Teacheramma, Jaishankar was all set to conquer the illusory world of filmdom, the glittering galaxy of showbiz.

He stormed the celluloid citadel with action thrillers like CID Shankar (that gave him a James Bond image), Karunthel Kannairam, Nilgiri Express, Nil Gavani Kathali and the like. Melodramatic family films like Teacheramma, Kulama Gunama, Uira Manama, and Soodhattam; suspense thrillers like Mannipu, Akka Thangai, Yaar Nee and Nee; family dramas like Jeevanamsam, Sondhangal Vazhka, Bhavani and Paalaabhishekam; and comedy films like Aayiram Poii, Ponn Vandu, Bommalattum and Aathaiya Mamiya
Jai has left behind a rich gallery of histrionic screen portrayals.

When Jeevanamsam was released, his fans felt that he has scored once more. In Nootriku Nooru, he surpassed himself. He was an actor to watch. His Kannan Varuvan was a must see film. He was an actor of exceptional calibre. In Poova Thalaiya, he eclipsed all others. His performance in Poova Thalaiya was the best in his own eventful career. In Ethirkalam, teamed with Gemini Ganesan, Jai played his part to perfection. He gave a magnificent performance in ‘Karundel Kannaiyaram. In Bhavani he held the audiences enthralled. Even films that had wafer-thin story-contents like Thunive Thunai, Ponn Vandu, Kadal Padathum Paadu and Enga Pattan Sotthu, Jai salvaged them to a certain extent. Even in a film that Jai appeared in a brief role like Gayatri, one cannot take eyes off him, even for a split second. That small role alone is the price of a ticket. He was effortlessly effortless in Cinema Paithiyam (a re-make of the Hindi film Guddi). His films did bonanza business. Whoever saw Muthuchippi, came out completely enamoured by him.

Jai elevated the stereo-type lover-boy image to a strongly-etched characterisation. He infused vigour and vitality in the roles that he played. His was a traffic-stopping face. He was every inch a debonair. He had a charismatic persona, the epitome of grace and dignity, poised, confident and exuding charm. A consummate actor, Jai was the saving grace of many pot-boilers. One gets fascinated by the incredible performer in him. He donned his roles like the proverbial second skin. Jai deserves full paeans of praise and cloying epithets. There was something very electrifying in his performance, that everything else seemed grey in comparison. Riding high on a heady crest, a darling of adoring multitudes, he proved his prowess beyond question. His starrers were always discussed and praised by the film-obsessed fraternity. He was an actor non-pareil. He was the fountain-head of inspiration. His films were appreciated by the critics as well as the masses, by the cognoscente as well as the lay viewers. In fact, he was a journalist’s delight. He was an odd man out, in this cruel, grim, unreal world of films. He was down-to-earth. Unlike others, who couldn’t stand criticism, Jai would take it not with a pinch but a dollop of salt. Even when his credibility in the market skyrocketed, success did not sweep him off his feet. He wore his many successes lightly. He never got dizzy with success. Unlike others, he didn’t turn arrogant. Never did he change, never did he go berserk, never did the heady bubbles of success intoxicate him. When he made friends, his friendship was for life-time. He was full of infectious bonhomie.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry, every Jane, Jennifer and Janice had a crush on him. He was the heart-throb of all teeny-boppers. His shooting always drew hundreds of people. His cool, suave nature towards his fans and onlookers drew a thousand more. Never did Jai ignore an autograph-hunter, never did he refuse a flustered teenager a genuine smile, never did he disappear from the sets, to avoid fans.

Jai was so very dedicated in his work. He often used to say that work without faith and sincerity are like artificial flowers without fragrance. He lived his life according to the dictates of his mind. Professionally, he was a very disciplined actor.

Jai moulded himself according to times. None can fight father time. Not even Jai. With age catching him fast, he began to play character roles. AVM’s Muratu Kalai was his first film in a character role. Later on, scores of films got released, wherein he donned the role of an elder brother as in Asthivaram, a worthy police officer as in Kadamai, a doting father as in I love you saar and a loving brother who sets out to avenge his sister’s death as in Keezhvaanam Sivakkum.

Jai has contributed so richly to histrionic legacy. He could carry off some of the toughest scenes with great ease and elan. With his inimitable style and rich dialogue-delivery, he would often make his fans jump from their seats. His career graph chalks up more hits than flops. From pioneer point to pinnacle peak, was a long distance he covered.

Acknowledged as one of the very best, he deserved quality assignments consistently but to our utter dismay, he was isolated during the last decade of his career. He was rarely seen in films or TV serials.

The new generation of stars used him as a ladder. In their films, when Jai tried to overshadow them (as in Thani Kattu Raja, Solvathellam Unmai and Annai En Theivam), he was dumped. For, who wants a scene-stealer around?

In later years, Jai was wasted in inconsequential roles. He was even seen in villainous roles as a baddie for quite some time, in a number of films. I definitely thought that Jai would make a come-back. I was always optimistic and I surely felt that there always would be a silver lining, at the other end of the rainbow. I fervently thought the bitter winter is on the way out and a new spring of joy will visit his career. I thought that if not to-day, at least to-morrow, there will be some glad tidings.

But, the other end of the rain clouds had no silver lining. But the tomorrow never came. Spring failed to visit. At least I expected the last flicker of hope, before the flame finally extinguishes. But, here, the flame extinguished without the last flicker.
His death reminds me of the statement made by George Eastman --"My work is done. Why wait?" The face that entertained, wooed and cajoled millions of viewers is no more. He has left his fans to sob and cry and to spend the rest of their lives in dreams of distress.

Jai is dead. But long live his memory.

R Vijayalakshmi