Jayasudha

Jayasudha Kapoor (born as Sujatha Samarthi; 17 December 1958), known mononymously as Jayasudha is an Indian actress and politician known for her works predominantly in Telugu cinema. She has also worked in some Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Known as a natural actress, in a career spanning over 5 decades she has received nine state Nandi Awards for her acting in works such as Jyothi, Idhi Katha Kadhu (1979), Premabhishekam (1981), Meghasandesam (1982), and Dharmaatmudu (1983).

Early and personal life Jayasudha was born as Sujatha Samarthi in Madras, Tamil Nadu on 17 December 1958, to a Telugu speaking family. Her father Samarthi Ramesh Chander was a Brahmo Samaj believer, and her mother Joga Bai is the daughter of eminent scholar and literary historian Nidudavolu Venkatarao. Joga Bai was known for films such as Balanandam (1954), and Kalahasti Mahatyam (1954). Jayasudha's paternal grandfather, and director Vijaya Nirmala's father Samarthi Rammohan Rao are brothers.

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 Idhi Katha Kadhu 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 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. Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award (Telugu) – Kotha Bangaru Lokam (2008) Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South (2010)

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.

Filmography

Films

Telugu + List of performances in Telugu films Year Title Role Notes and 1972 Pandanti Kapuram Santhi Telugu Debut 1974 Tirapathi Jeevitha Rangam Nomu Lata Mugguru Ammalu Aadapillala Thandri 1975 Soggadu Saroja Bhagasthulu Vijaya Lakshmana Rekha Samsaram 1976 Raju Vedale Monagadu Radha Mangalyaniki Maromudi Alludochadu Saroja Kotalo Paga Latha Jyothi Jyothi Raaja Rani O Manishi Tirigi Choodu Devudu Chesina Bommalu Amma Nanna Mahakavi Kshetreyya Secretary Prameela 1977 Premalekhalu Gadusu Ammayi Gadasu Pillodu Amara Deepam Parvati Adavi Ramudu Chilakamma Aame Katha Ardhangi Jeevitha Nouka Edureeta Manga Jeevana Theeralu Moratudu Idekkadi Nyayam 1978 Mallepuvvu Sivaranjani Sivaranjani Nayudu Bava Deepa Lawyer Vishwanath Geetha KD No:1 Lilly Ratnam / Sarada and Sundari (dual role) Katakatala Rudraiah Kalanthakulu Asha Pranam Kareedu Sita Vichitra Jeevitham Ganga Rama Krishnulu Lakshmi Kaliyuga Sthri Sri Rama Raksha Manchi Babai 1979 Yugandhar Jaya Shri Tirupati Venkateswara Kalyanam Goddess Lakshmi Seethe Ramudaithe Seetha Muddula Koduku Sommokadidhi Sokokadidhi Lily Mande Gundelu Varalakshmi Kalyani Kavita Judagadu Aruna Intinti Ramayanam Driver Ramudu Chukkamma Andamaina Anubhavam Kamini Idhi Katha Kadhu Suhasini Nindu Noorellu Bangaru Chellalu 1980 Sivamethina Satyam Geetha Srivari Muchatlu Priya Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi Gajadonga Yedanthasthula Meda Sudha Prema Tarangalu Nisha Pilla Zamindar Chitti Bangaru Lakshmi Alludu Pattina Bharatham Moogaku Matosthe 1981 Premabhishekam Jayanthi Swargam Suma Illalu Kalpana Pakkinti Ammayi Indira Agni Poolu Janaki Aadavallu Meeku Joharulu Addala Meda Guest appearance Sathyabhama Guvvala Janta Samsaram Santhamam Lavanya Maha Purushudu Padma 1982 Yuvaraju Aasha / Jyothi Raga Deepam Nipputho Chelagatam Naa Desam Mohini Trisulam Neeli Madhura Swapnam Radha Anuraga Devatha Tulasi Gruha Pravesam Lakshmi Jayasudha Jayasudha Meghasandesam Parvati Bhale Kapuram Illali Korikalu Bharathi Gopala Krishnudu Sujatha Korukunna Mogudu Doctor Cine Actor Radha 1983 Chattaniki Veyyi Kallu Savithri/Maya Devi Ramudu Kadu Krishnudu Satya Raj Kumar Poratam Sudha Lanke Bindelu Rama Iddaru Kiladilu Amayakudu Kadhu Asadhyudu Kumkuma Thilakam Laxmi Dharmaatmudu Lakshmi Koti Kokkadu Oorantha Sankranthi Durga 1984 Yuddham Jagan Lalitha Punyam Koddi Purushudu Sathya Iddaru Dongalu Bangaru Kapuram Sarada Puli Joodam Dandayatra Durga Danavudu Latha Bobbili Brahmanna Kasturi Bharyamani Aada Puli Bharatamlo Sankharavam Kirayi Alludu Justice Chakravarthy Jayanthi 1985 Thirugubatu Palnati Simham Sujatha Mangalya Balam Maha Sangramam Edadugula Bandham Sarala Andarikante Monagadu Srimathi Garu Kalyana Thilakam O Thandri Theerpu Seeta Aggi Raju 1986 Tandra Paparayudu Mallamma Muddula Manavaraalu Chaitanyam Dharmapeetam Daddarillindhi Gauri Aadi Dampathulu Vijrumbhana Bharathi Magadheerudu Jeevana Raagam Neti Yugandharam 1987 Aatma Bandhuvulu Kalyani Paga Saadhista Annapurna Devi Sardar Dharmanna Srimathi Oka Bahumathi Uma Kirayi Dada Rani Malini / Arunabai Marana Sasanam Gayatri Devi 1988 Kanchana Seeta O Bharya Katha Indumathi and Prema Patel Prithviraj Ashwini Bharyabhartala Bandam Rao Gari Illu Jaya Ontari Poratam Raja Rajeswari Devi Jeevana Jyothi Kalyani Bharatamlo Bala Chandrudu Vijaya Brahma Puthrudu Kiranmayi Maa Inti Maharaju 1989 Naa Mogudu Naake Sontham Soggaadi Kaapuram Vijaya Vijay Yamuna Devi Black Tiger Simha Swapnam Annapurna Swathi Chinukulu Sudha 1991 Kalikalam 1992 Chillara Mogudu Allari Koduku Repati Koduku 1993 Money Vijaya Akka Pettanam Chelleli Kapuram Ranganayaki Vinta Kodallu Kavya Inspector Jhansi Jhansi Kalachakram Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhoumudu Sridevi Mama Kodalu Bava Bavamaridi Janaki Akka Chellalu 1994 Thodi Kodallu Bangaru Kutumbam Savitri Doragariki Donga Pellam Money Money Vijaya Jeevitha Khaidi Jailor Gaari Abbayi Savitri Rickshaw Rudraiah Super Police Journalist Renuka 1995 Rikshavodu Raju's mother Aasthi Mooredu Aasa Baredu Street Fighter Krishnaveni Aunty Jyothi Sankalpam Municipal Commissioner Vyjayanthi Bhale Bullodu Jayanti 1996 Deyyam Sindhumathi Akka Bagunnava Lakshmi Pellala Rajyam 1997 Pattukondi Chuddam Atha Nee Koduku Jagratha 1998 Daddy Daddy Sarada Pape Naa Pranam Aahaa..! Rajeswari 1999 English Pellam East Godavari Mogudu Guest appearance 2000 Rayalaseema Ramanna Chowdary Seetha Yuvakudu Padmavati Kante Koothurne Kanu Satya Sri Sai Mahima 2001 Chinna Ammaye Navvithe Rajeswari 2002 Hai Aryan's mother 2003 Fools Deepti's mother Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi Lakshmi Vishnu Vishnu's mother 2005 Balu ABCDEFG Rajeswari Devi 2006 Style Raghava's mother Valliddari Vayasu Padahare Vamsee's mother Bommarillu Lakshmi Addala Photo Swapna's mother 2007 Vijaya Dasami Chennamaneni Mahalakshmi 2008 Parugu Yashoda Raksha Dr. Seema Kalidasu Kanakadurga Kotha Bangaru Lokam Balu's mother 2009 Neramu Siksha Saujanya 2011 Solo Vaishnavi's aunt 2012 Daruvu Parvathamma Adhinayakudu Lakshmi Sarocharu Lakshmi 2013 Seethamma Vakitlo Sirimalle Chettu Saavitri 2014 Yevadu Dr. Shailaja Rowdy Lakshmii Govindudu Andarivadele Baby 2016 Oopiri Seenu's mother Brahmotsavam Rajyalakshmi 2019 Ruler Sarojini Naidu Maharshi Yashoda 2022 Pratibimbalu 2023 Malli Pelli Narendra's mother Custody Judge Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty Anvitha's mother 2025 Bhairavam Nagarathnamma

Tamil + Tamil film credits Year Title RoleNote 1972 Kula Gouravam Tamil Debut 1973 Sollathaan Ninaikkiren Sudha Petha Manam Pithu Radha Bharatha Vilas Mohini Arangetram Devi Baghdad PerazhagiShakila 1974 Vellikhizhamai Viratham Prayachittham Dheerga Sumangali Babu's wife Pandhattam Naan Avanillai Rani Sisubalan 1975 Aayirathil Oruthi Sudha Apoorva Raagangal Ranjani Mannavan Vanthaanadi Latha Melnaattu Marumagal Sudha Pattikkaattu Raja Usha 1976 Maharasi Vazhga Athirshtam Azhaikirathu 1979 Pattakkathi Bhairavan Roopa Ninaithale Inikkum Kamini 1992 Pandiyan Inspector Vijayalakshmi 1993 Rajadurai Uma Devi 1994 Mahanadhi Narmadaonly appears in portrait used on set 1996 Anthimanthaarai Thangam 2000 Alai Payuthey Saroja 2001 Thavasi Thavasi's wife 2009 1977 Vetrivel's mother 2016 Thozha Seenu's motherSimultaneously shot in Telugu 2018 Chekka Chivantha Vaanam Lakshmi Senapathi 2023 Varisu Sudha Rajendran Custody Judge Simultaneously shot in Telugu

Malayalam Year Title RoleNote 1975 Rasaleela Unnimaya Malayalam Debut Thiruvonam Shandini 1976 Romeo Mohiniyattam 1977 Shivathandavam 1978 Priyadarshini 1981 Jeevikkan Padikkanam 1993 SarovaramRajalakshmi/Sony 2001 Ishtam Sridevi

Hindi

Kannada

As a producer Year Title Notes 1986 Aadi Dampatulu 1987 Kanchana Sita 1990 Kalikalam Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai 1992 Adrustam 1993 Vinta Kodallu 2000 Hands Up

As a story writer

Year Title Notes 2000 Hands Up

Television Janani (2000–01) (ETV)