Jayasudha

Jayasudha Kapoor (born Sujatha Nidudavolu) is an Indian actress and politician known for her works predominantly in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She has also worked in few Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Known as natural actress, in a career spanning over 5 decades she received nine state Nandi Awards for her acting in works such as Jyothi (1976), Idi Katha Kaadu (1979), Premabhishekam (1981), Meghasandesam (1982), and Dharmaatmudu (1983).
She has garnered five Filmfare Awards South, for her performances in Jyothi (1976), Aame Katha (1977), Gruha Pravesam (1982), Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2004), and Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008). In 2008, she received the ANR National Award, and in 2010, she won the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South for her contributions to Indian cinema. Jayasudha served as Member, Legislative Assembly, from Secunderabad constituency during 2009–2014 in the erstwhile combined Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Early and personal life
Jayasudha was born as Sujatha Nidudavolu in Madras, Tamil Nadu on 17 December 1958, to a Telugu-speaking family of Nidudavolu Rameshwara Rao, and actress Joga Bai known for films such as Balanandam (1954), and Kalahasti Mahatyam (1954). Telugu film actress and director Vijaya Nirmala is the first cousin of her father. Jayasudha's paternal grandfather is eminent scholar and literary historian, Nidudavolu Venkatarao. Her first marriage was to film producer Vadde Ramesh's brother-in-law, Kakarlapudi Rajendra Prasad. However, the marriage ended in divorce. She then married Nitin Kapoor, cousin to actor Jeetendra, in 1985 and they have two children, sons Nihar (born in 1986) and Shreayan (born in 1990). She then married 3rd time to a Foreigner
She was elected as MLA from the Secunderabad constituency in 2009 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections from Indian National Congress. She later joined the Telugu Desam Party in 2016. Later in 2019 she quit the Telugu Desam Party and joined YSR Congress Party.
Career
Jayasudha made her film debut when she was thirteen years old with the Telugu film Pandanti Kapuram (1972). Director K. Balachander gave her a small role in the Tamil film Arangetram where she shared space with Kamal Haasan. She acted in a number of films in Telugu and Tamil mostly under Balachander's direction—Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (1973), Naan Avanillai (1974) and Apoorva Raagangal and in Idi Katha Kaadu with Chiranjeevi. She also changed her name to Jayasudha, since there was already another actress named Sujatha. Her fame quickly spread, where Telugu film producers were offering her good film roles.
While her debut role as a heroine in the Telugu film Lakshmana Rekha (1975) got her attention, it was really the title role in Jyothi (remake of the Hindi film Mili starring Jaya Bhaduri) that made her a big star in Telugu films. She was now called a successor to the great Telugu actress Savitri and performed many strong roles and showed excellent range.
She is given the title "Sahaja Nati" which means "natural/realistic actress."
Her roles varied from the cute-looking teeny-bopper who wore minis in Nomu (1974), to that of a tortured wife of a sadist husband in K. Balachander's film Idi Katha Kaadu (1979) to that of a comedian who discovers that her husband wants to murder her for her wealth in Money (1993). She performed showy roles in Telugu remakes of Hindi films, such as Yugandhar (1979) (the fighter role that Zeenat Aman originated in Don), Illalu (Reena Roy's dark-shaded role from Apnapan (1977)).
In commercial cinema, she received a huge break when she starred in Adavi Ramudu (1977), which broke box office records. She also showed innovativeness and lack of vanity in original Telugu films like Premabhishekam (1981) where she played a supporting role as a deglamorized prostitute, while Sridevi played the female lead.
She has acted in 300-plus feature films in a variety of roles, and in one year, she had 24 film releases.
She has made her unique space in the Telugu cinema industry amidst a huge competition between her contemporary actresses Sridevi and Jayaprada. She considers Jayaprada as her closest friend amongst her friends in the industry.
Awards
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) – Jyothi (1976)
Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) – Aame Katha (1977)
Filmfare Best Actress Award (Telugu) – Grihapravesam (1982)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award (Telugu) – Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2004)
Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award (Telugu) – Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008)
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South (2010)
Nandi Awards
Nandi Award for Best Actress – Jyothi (1976)
Nandi Award for Best Actress – Idi Katha Kaadu (1979)
Nandi Award for Best Actress – Premabhishekam (1981)
Nandi Award for Best Actress – Meghasandesam (1982)
Nandi Award for Best Actress – Dharmaatmudu (1983)
Other Awards
Kalasagar Award for Best Actress – Meghasandesam (1982)
Pride of Indian Cinema Award (2007)
Andhra Pradesh Cinegoer's Association – Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
ANR National Award (2008)
Legacy
In the 2019 biopic film NTR: Kathanayakudu, actress Payal Rajput portrayed Jayasudha onscreen.
Selected filmography
Telugu
Pandanti Kapuram (1972)
Tirapathi (1974)
Jeevitha Rangam (1974)
Soggadu (1975)
Raju Vedale (1976)
Monagadu (1976)....Radha
Mangalyaniki Maromudi (1976)
Alludochhadu (1976)
Jyothi (1976)
Raaja (1976)....Rani
Premalekhalu (1977)
Gadusu Ammayi (1977)
Gadasu Pillodu (1977)
Amaradeepam (1977)
Adavi Ramudu (1977)
Aame Katha (1977)
MallePuvvu (1978)
Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi (1978)
Sivaranjani (1978)
Lawyer Vishwanath (1978)
KD No. 1 (1978)
Katakatala Rudraiah (1978)
Kalanthakulu (1978)....Asha
Pranam Kareedu (1978)
Vichitra Jeevitham (1978)
Yugandhar (1979)
Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam (1979) .... Goddess Lakshmi
Shivamettina Satyam (1979)
Seethe Ramudaithe (1979)....Seetha
Muddula Koduku (1979)
Mande Gundelu (1979)
Kalyani (1979)
Judagadu (1979)
Intinti Ramayanam (1979)
Driver Ramudu (1979)
Andamaina Anubhavam (1979)
Idi Katha Kaadu (1979)
Sivamethina Satyam (1980)....Geetha
Sreevari Muchatlu (1980)
Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi (1980)
Gopala Krishnudu (1980)
Gajadonga (1980)
Edantastulameda (1980)
Prema Tarangalu (1980)
Premabhishekam (1981)
Swargam (1981)....Suma
Illalu (1981)
Agni Poolu (1981)
Aadavallu Meeku Joharulu (1981)
Yuvaraju (1982)
Raga Deepam (1982)
Nipputho Chelagatam (1982)
Naa Desam (1982)
Trisulam (1982)
Madhura Swapnam (1982)
Anuraga Devatha (1982)
Gruha Pravesam (1982)
Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu (1983)
Raj Kumar (1983)
Poratham (1983)
Meghasandesam (1983)
Lanke Bindelu (1983)....Rama
Iddaru Kiladilu (1983)
Amayakudu Kadhu Asadhyudu (1983)
Zakhmi Sher (1984)
Yuddham (1984)
Jagan (1984)....Lalitha
Iddaru Dongalu (1984)
Bangaru Kapuram (1984)....Sarada
Dandayatra (1984)....Durga
Danavudu (1984)....Latha
Bobbili Brahmanna (1984)
Bharyamani (1984)
Bharatamlo Sankharavam (1984)
Thirugubatu (1985)
Palnati Simham (1985)....Sujatha
Mangalya Balam (1985)
Maha Sangramam (1985)
Edadugula Bandham (1985)
Andarikante Monagadu (1985)
Tandra Paparayudu (1986)
Muddula Manavaraalu (1986)
Dharma Peetam Daddarillindi (1986)
Aadi Dampathulu (1986)
Vijrumbhana (1986)....Bharathi
Magadheerudu (1986)
Aatma Bandhuvulu (1987)
Paga Saadhista (1987)....Annapurna Devi
Sardar Dharmanna (1987)
Kanchana Seeta (1988)
Prithviraj (1988)....Ashwini
Bharyabhartala Bandam (1988)
Raogari Illu (1988)
Ontari Poratam (1989)
Naa Mogudu Naake Sontham (1989)
Vijay (1989)....Yamuna Devi
Kalikalam (1991)
Doragaariki Donga pellam (Guest Appearance)
Chillara Mogudu Allari Koduku (1992)
Repati Koduku (1992)
Thodi Kodallu (1992)
Money (1993)
Akka Pettanam Chelleli Kapuram (1993)
Vinta Kodallu (1993)
Inspector Jhansi (1993)
Kalachakram (1993)
Shrinatha Kavi Sarvabhowma(1993)
Bangaru Kutumbam(1994)
Jeevitha Khaidi (1994)
Rikshavodu (1995)
Aasthi Mooredu Aasa Baredu (1995)
Street Fighter (1995)....Krishnaveni
Aunty (1995)
Money Money (1995)
Deyyam (1996)
Akka Bagunnava (1996)
Pellala Rajyam (1996)
Daddy Daddy (1998)
English Pellam East Godavari Mogudu(1999)
Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary (2000)
Yuvakudu (2000)
Kante Koothurne Kanu (2000)
Chinna (2001)
Ammaye Navvithe (2001)
Hai (2002)
Fools (2003)
Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi (2003)
Vishnu (2003)
Balu ABCDEFG (2005)
Style (2006)
Valliddari Vayasu Padahare (2006)
Bommarillu (2006)
Photo (2006)
Vijaya Dasami (2007)
Parugu (2008)
Raksha (2008)
Kalidasu (2008)
Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008)
Kalavaramaye Madilo (2010)
Solo (2011)
Daruvu (2012)
Devudu Chesina Manushulu (2012)
Adhinayakudu (2012)
Sarocharu (2012)
Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu (2013)
Yevadu (2014)
Rowdy (2014)
Govindudu Andarivadele (2014)
Oopiri (2016)
Brahmotsavam (2016)
Ruler (2019)
Maharshi (2019)
Kuruvi (2022)
Malli Pelli (2023)
Custody (2023)
Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty (2023)
Tamil
Kula Gouravam (1972)
Sollathaan Ninaikkiren (1973)
Petha Manam Pithu (1973)
Bharatha Vilas (1973)
Arangetram (1973)
Baghdad Perazhagi (1973)
Vellikhizhamai Viratham (1974)
Prayachittham (1974)
Dheerga Sumangali (1974)
Pandhattam (1974)
Naan Avanillai (1974)
Sisubalan (1974)
Aayirathil Oruthi (1975)
Apoorva Raagangal (1975)
Mannavan Vanthaanadi (1975)
Thangathile Vairam (1975)
Melnaattu Marumagal (1975)
Pattikkaattu Raja (1975)
Maharasi Vazhga (1976)
Athirshtam Azhaikirathu (1976)
Vaazhkai Alaigal (1978)
Pattakkathi Bhairavan (1979)
Ninaithale Inikkum (1979)
Pandiyan (1992)
Rajadurai (1993)
Anthimanthaarai (1996)
Alaipayuthey (2000)
Thavasi (2001)
1977 (2009)
Thozha (2016)
Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018)
Varisu (2023)
Custody (2023)
Malayalam
Rasaleela (1975)
Thiruvonam (1975)
Romeo (1976)
Mohiniyattam (1976)
Shivathandavam (1977)
Sivaranjani (1978)
Priyadarshini (1978)
Jeevikkan Padikkanam (1981)
Sarovaram (1993)
Ishtam (2001)
Hindi
Aaina (1977)
Shabhash Daddy (1979)
Sooryavansham (1999) (as Jaya Kapoor)
KannadaNee Thanda Kanike (1985)Thayiya Madilu (2007)Janani (2010)Vajrakaya (2015)
As producer
Kanchana Sita (1987)
Kalikalam (1990)
Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai (1990)
Adrustam (1992)
Vinta Kodallu (1993)
Hands Up (1999)
TelevisionJanani'' (2002–03) (Sun TV)
References
External links
Living people
1958 births
Telugu people
Indian film actresses
Telugu actresses
Politicians from Hyderabad, India
Indian actor-politicians
Actresses in Tamil cinema
Actresses in Kannada cinema
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Actresses in Malayalam cinema
Filmfare Awards South winners
Nandi Award winners
Indian Christians
Converts to Christianity from Hinduism
Indian former Hindus
Indian National Congress politicians from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh MLAs 2009–2014
Indian child actresses
Actresses from Chennai
People from Secunderabad