U. R. Jeevarathnam

Unjalur Ramayamma Jeevaratnam[1] was an Indian actress, singer, producer and playback singer. Most of her works are in Telugu and Tamil languages.

U. R. Jeevarathnam
யூ. ஆர். ஜீவரத்தினம்
U. R. Jeevarathnam in 1948 Tamil film Sri Andal
Born
Unjalur R. Jeevarathnam

Unjalur, Erode, Madras Presidency, British India
Died26 July 2000
Mandaveli, Chennai, India
Occupation
  • Singer
  • Actress
Years active1937  – 1956

Early life

Born in Unjalur, Erode, Madras Presidency in British India to Subramaniam and Kunjammaal. She was very much interested in music right from the time of her school days and could sing very well also. K. S. Angamuthu, a very popular comedian of that time helped her to join the Krishna Drama Company at the age of 9. She had tutelage of carnatic music from Kailasa Bhagavathar and Kunnakkudi Venkatrama Iyer. She used to watch the acting style of everyone with attention.

Career

When Salem Modern Theatres was founded, she joined as an artiste. She made her debut through the Modern Theatres maiden film Sathi Ahalya in 1937 at the age of ten. She appeared as a celestial lady from the heaven. She appeared in other films till 1941 when was offered a main role in Bhaktha Gowri. She was a good singer and the song 'Theruvil varaandi' was a testimony to her mellifluous voice.

She had acted in films such as Poompavai, Abhimanyu, Bhojan and Devakanya. In the film Kannagi she had acted as Kaunthi Adigal (An old Jain nun in the Tamil epic Silapathikaram). She was awarded the title Isai Kuyil (Nightingale Of Music) by Swami Dhinakar at the 100th day function of Kannagi held at Thiruvarur. She appeared in many Modern Theatres productions.

After marriage, they started a film production company Mercury Films. The first production was Pona Machan Thirumbi Vanthaan (1954) with Sriram and T. D. Kusalakumari in the lead roles. The film earned a moderate profit. The second production was Vaazhvile Oru Naal (1956) with Sivaji Ganesan and G. Varalakshmi in the lead roles.

The third attempt was a film titled, Sirikkum Silai with MGR with the expectation of recovering the money that were lost in their previous films, but the production had to be given up within a few days of shooting. They tried a fourth attempt in the film Adichathu Yoham with Ravichandran which unfortunately had also to be shelved in the middle. They incurred heavy losses due to these two films.

She was also a playback singer. She sang for N. S. Saroja in Kannagi (1942), T. D. Kusalakumari in Pona Machan Thirumbi Vanthaan (1954) and G. Varalakshmi in Vaazhvile Oru Naal (1956).

Personal life

She married T. S. Venkataswami who was the manager of Central Studios. After her marriage she said bid adieu to the films but she was active in stage dramas. The couple had four daughters and one son, four granddaughters and two grandsons. Her husband died on 7 April 1971. Jeevarathnam died on 26 July 2000 when she was living at Mandaveli, Chennai. Her body was cremated at her native place Unjalur. The entire film industry paid its last respects to this veteran artiste. Her son Vetrivel and his wife Jothi Paappammaa have planned to publish a book on Jeevarathnam's biography. Jeevarathnam's family happily recalls the marriage of Vetrivel which was attended by the then chief minister MGR and V. N. Janaki. MGR handed over the sacred thaali to Vetrivel and blessed the couple.

Filmography

Actress
YearFilmLanguageCo-StarsBanner
1937Sathi AhalyaTamilK. Thavamani Devi, S. D. SubbaiahModern Theatres
1937PadmajothiTamilT. M. Sankaran, M. S. MuthukrishnanModern Theatres
1938ThayumanavarTamilM. M. Dandapani Desikar, M. S. DevasenaModern Theatres
1939Santhana DevanTamilM. R. Radha, G. M. BasheerModern Theatres
1940Raja YogamTamilK. Nadarajan, T. K. SampangkiModern Theatres
1940Sathi MahananthaTamilC. V. V. Panthulu, P. B. RangachariModern Theatres
1940Uthama PuthiranTamilP. U. ChinnappaModern Theatres
1940SathyavaaniTamilM. R. Radha, K. L. V. VasanthaModern Theatres
1940ParasuramarTamilSerukalathur Sama, K. L. V. VasanthaAngel Films
1941Bhaktha GowriTamilS. D. Subbaiah BagavatharModern Theatres
1942KannagiTamilP. U. Chinnappa, P. KannambaJupiter Pictures
1943ArundhathiTamilC. Honnappa BhagavatharModern Theatres
1943DevakanyaTamilC. Honnappa BhagavatharPadma Pictures
1944PoompaavaiTamilK. R. RamaswamyLeo Films
1944JagathalaprathapanTamilP. U. ChinnappaPakshiraja Films
1944RajarajeshwariTamilC. Honnappa BhagavatharModern Theatres
1945En MaganTamilN. KrishnamurthiCentral Studios
1946ValmikiTamilC. Honnappa BhagavatharCentral Studios
1946Sri MuruganTamilC. Honnappa Bhagavathar, MGRJupiter Pictures
1948Sri AandalTamilP. S. Govindan, V. A. ChellappaSalem Surya Films
1948AbhimanyuTamilS. M. Kumaresan, MGRJupiter Pictures

Playback singer
YearFilmSongLanguageActorCo-SingerMusicBanner
1942KannagiTamilM. S. SarojaS. V. VenkatramanJupiter Pictures
1954Pona Machaan Thirumbi VandhanYaar Inge MaarthavandiTamilT. D. KusalakumariC. N. PanduranganMercury Pictures
Idhayam Ennum Koyil ThannilT. D. KusalakumariA. M. Rajah
1955Nam KuzhandaiJigu Jigu Digiri NambaadheTamilM. D. ParthasarathyWindsor Productions
1956Vaazhvile Oru NaalThendrale Vaaraayo Inba Sugam ThaaraayoTamilG. VaralakshmiT. M. SoundararajanT. G. LingappaMercury Pictures

Producer

References
  1. Guy, Randor (16 August 2014). "Poompaavai 1944". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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