P. Jayadevi

P. Jayadevi (died 4 October 2023) was an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who worked on Tamil films. Regarded as one of the first female directors in the Tamil film industry, Jayadevi was predominantly active in the 1980s and 1990s.[1][2][3]

Career

Having begun her career as a theatre artist, Jayadevi began acting in films aged 20 and initially nursed ambitions of becoming a director. She appeared as an actress in over 20 films, before working as a producer and making over 15 films, and introducing technicians such as P. C. Sreeram and Velu Prabhakaran through her ventures.[4]

Jayadevi first worked as a director in Nalam Nalamariya Aaval (1984), and subsequently went on to make more films throughout the 1980s and 1990s.[4]

In 2000, she worked as a writer on Puratchikkaaran, a script based on the teachings of Periyar and his book entitled Kadavul. The film's controversial theme prompted publicity prior to release, with Jayadevi's work on the film's dialogues being praised.[5][4] She started making Power of Women (2005) in 2001 but the film had a delayed release following production trouble.[6] The film starred Hariharan and Khushbu in the lead roles, with a reviewer from the AllIndianSite labelling the film as "below average", noting that "Jayadevi's story is initially strong", but "the last few scenes are unpardonably slow and didactic" and that the "screenplay meanders through undulating terrain".[7]

In 2010, Jayadevi began work on Aananda Leelai, a film about fake godmen and their women devotees. She approached Khushbu and Suhasini to play the key roles, but the project did not develop into production.[8][9] She announced her intentions of directing a film during 2018.[10]

Personal life and death

Jayadevi was previously married to film director Velu Prabhakaran.[11] She died on 4 October 2023.[12]

Partial filmography
Year Film Credited for Notes Ref.
Writer Director Actor
1976 Idhaya Malar Yes
1977 Sainthadamma Sainthadu Yes
1978 Vaazha Ninaithaal Vaazhalam Yes
1980 Matravai Neril Yes
1984 Nalam Nalamariya Aaval Yes Yes
1985 Vilangu Meen Yes Yes
1987 Vilangu Yes Yes
1987 Paasam Oru Vesham Yes Yes
1989 Sariyana Jodi Yes
2000 Puratchikkaaran Yes
2005 Power of Women Yes Yes

References
  1. "Director Jayadevi's new film – 'Power of Women'". 24 August 2004. Archived from the original on 24 August 2004.
  2. "பெண் இயக்குனர் ஜெயதேவிக்கு பிரான்ஸ் அரசு கவுரவம் | France govt., honoured director jeyadevi". தினமலர் – சினிமா. 17 December 2012.
  3. "Paper – 10, Module −19 Women Directors" (PDF). epgp.inflibnet.ac.in.
  4. "www.cinesouth.com – Tamil Cinema Interview with 'Puratchikkaran' Jeyadevi". 19 July 2003. Archived from the original on 19 July 2003.
  5. "www.cinesouth.com – Tamil Cinema Reviews Puratchikkaran". 24 June 2001. Archived from the original on 24 June 2001.
  6. "Director's Jayadevi's new film – Power of Women". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 24 August 2004. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. "Power of Women - Tamil movie - It's All About movie - AllIndianSite.com". allindiansite.com.
  8. "Kushboo - Tamil Movie News - Will Kushboo and Suhasini accept? - Kushboo | Suhasini | Nalam Nalamariya Aaval | Vilangu Meen - Behindwoods.com". www.behindwoods.com.
  9. "Nityananda's sexploits on big screen soon | Bengaluru News – Times of India". The Times of India. 7 January 2011.
  10. "பல வருடங்கள் கழித்து மீண்டும் வருகிறார் பெண் இயக்குனர் ஜெயதேவி!". Samayam Tamil.
  11. "இயக்குனர் வேலு பிரபாகரன், தன்னை விட 30 வயது குறைவான நடிகையுடன் திடீர் திருமணம் | Director Velu Prabakaran married 30 years actress infront of Medai people". தினமலர் – சினிமா. 3 June 2017.
  12. விலாங்குமீன் படத்தை இயக்கிய நடிகை ஜெயதேவி காலமானார் (in Tamil)
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