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Jyothika Saravanan (; born 18 October 1978) is an India actress and producer who primarily works in Tamil language and Hindi films. She has received several accolades including a National Film Award, five Filmfare Awards South, four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards (a record four Best Actress award) and Kalaimamani Award. Jyothika is regarded among the most prolific actresses in Tamil cinema, and has been ranked among the best South Indian actresses.
Jyothika debuted in films with the Hindi film Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1997), directed by Priyadarshan. She starred in her first Tamil film Vaalee (1999) and her first Telugu film Tagore (2003), opposite Chiranjeevi. She received her first Filmfare Awards for Best Female Debut - South for the former film. She was awarded the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award for Kushi (2000). A string of successful films followed and Jyothika gained prominence for her performances in Kushi (2000), Dumm Dumm Dumm(2001), Poovellam Un Vasam (2001), Kaakha Kaakha (2004), Perazhagan (2004), Chandramukhi (2005) and Mozhi, (2007), for the latter three she won Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress. For the movie, Mozhi, she was in the final three for National Film Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance, however she lost the award to Umashree for the Kannada film Gulabi Talkies.
She has a record of holding maximum number of nominations with 16 for Best Tamil Actress at South Filmfare Awards.
Jyothika left the industry at the peak of her career after marrying Tamil actor Suriya on 11 September 2006, after being engaged in a relationship for several years, and whom she was paired with in seven films. She made a comeback in the film 36 Vayadhinile (2015) where her performance was given strong reviews and she received Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress and Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – South for the movie. By winning her fourth Best Actress Award at Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, she broke the record of winning most Best Actress Title till date with four as her record. After the success of 36 Vayadhinile, she appeared in a series of women centric films like Magalir Mattum (2017), Naachiyaar (2018), Kaatrin Mozhi (2018), Raatchasi (2019), and Ponmagal Vandhal (2020) and also played a lead female role in Mani Ratnam's multi-starrer Chekka Chivantha Vaanam (2018). She made a comeback to Malayalam and Hindi film industry with critically acclaimed performances in Kaathal – The Core (2023) with Mammootty for which she won her fifth Filmfare Awards South in the category Best Actress – Malayalam and Shaitaan (2024) with Ajay Devgn and R. Madhavan. The latter became the fourth highest grossing Indian film of 2024.
Jyothika completed her schooling from the Learner's Academy, Mumbai. She later majored in Psychology at the Mithibai College in Mumbai.
Her first role in Tamil was in Vaalee (1999), for which she won Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut – South, Cinema Express Award for Best Newface - Female and Dinakaran. Later that year, she starred in Poovellam Kettuppar, in which she played the love interest of the protagonist, portrayed by her future husband Suriya. The success of the film Kushi became a turning point in her career. Slap in the face for Kamal . Rediff.com (18 August 2000). Retrieved 12 December 2012. A string of successful films followed between 2000 and 2002, among them Mugavaree, Dumm Dumm Dumm and Snegithiye. She also acted with Kamal Haasan during this period, in the comedy film Thenali. She was awarded the Filmfare Best Tamil Actress Award, Dinakaran Film Award for Best Actress & Cinema Express Award for Best Sensational Actress at the Cinema Express Awards, for her performance as Jennifer in Kushi. Her role in Rhythm though small, has been widely appreciated. "We Rise fast, fall fast": Jyothika . Cinematoday2.itgo.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012. After the success of Kushi, she was signed to play the female lead in Friends, opposite Vijay, but she was replaced by Devayani. Friends . Cinematoday2.itgo.com. Retrieved 12 December 2012. She starred opposite to Ajith Kumar in Poovellam Un Vaasam which became a commercial hit as well as her character received huge response and accloades. She won the Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil, which was given by her co-star Ajith Kumar at the Cinema Express Awards. Ajith was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil, and Jyothika for Best Actress – Tamil. The success of the film prompted Ezhil, Ajith and Jyothika to team up for a venture the following year with Raja (2002). She collaborated with Mani Ratnam for the first time by appearing in his production house Madras Talkies' romantic comedy Dumm Dumm Dumm, alongside Madhavan. The film won positive acclaim and became a success not only in Tamil Nadu, but also in Andhra with its dubbed version. Runaway success?. The Hindu (18 September 2002). Retrieved 12 December 2012. Telugu Cinema – Review – Dum Dum Dum – Madhavan, Jyotika – Mani Ratnam – Perumal – Karthik Raja – veturi . Idlebrain.com (21 September 2001). Retrieved 12 December 2012. She also made an appearance in the Kannada film industry opposite Upendra in Nagarahavu. She had a dual role in this film. For her work in the film, she won the Udaya Film Award for Best Actress along with Upendra for her Best Male Actor Award.she was also nominated Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Kannada in that year. Later, she appeared in the Tamil cinema thriller film Snegithiye, directed by Priyadarshan, made in Tamil and Malayalam. The dancing brush . Rediff.com (11 August 2000). Retrieved 12 December 2012. Ladies Only . Rediff.com (31 March 2000). Retrieved 12 December 2012.
Her most successful film in Tamil was Chandramukhi (2005), in which she played the title role. She acted along with Rajinikanth for the first time. She won accolades for her performance in Chandramukhi including a Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards Nomination. She was also offered a chance to act with Mohanlal in Udayon, directed by Bhadran, but she could not do it due to busy schedules in Tamil. Her first release in 2006 was Saravana, opposite Silambarasan after Manmadhan. Her role in June R was noticed before the release of the film. Metro Plus Chennai / Cinema : Hits all the way. The Hindu (28 July 2005). Retrieved 12 December 2012. She has underplayed her emotions beautifully. Her films in 2006 include Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, a crime thriller film written and directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon and Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, opposite Suriya.
Her last films were Gautham Vasudev Menon's Pachaikili Muthucharam and the critically acclaimed Mozhi, both in 2007. Her roles in these two films, as a negative character in the former (which she played for the first time) and as a deaf and mute in the latter earned her widespread appreciation. Among these, Mozhi won her acclaim. Her performance took her very close to winning the National Film Award for Best Actress. However, she lost the award by a narrow margin at the end. In Pachaikili Muthucharam she had a crucial role and pulled off a memorable performance. Jyothika later made a comeback through television adverts. In 2008, she appeared in a short film Herova? Zerova?. The film was written and produced by her father-in-law Sivakumar and also starred Vijay, R. Madhavan and Suriya. Her Malayalam films Raakilipattu and Seetha Kalyanam were released in 2007 and 2009 respectively after languishing in development hell for years.
In late February 2017, Suriya confirmed Jyothika's new project, Naachiyaar by sharing the first look posters of the film. She received several accolades for her performance in Naachiyar as Rough and Riveting Cop. Deccan chronicle addressed her as "Lady Singham". As per behindwoods Jyothika is fantastic, as she masterfully plays the role of a menacing, short-tempered and a bold cop, with a gracious heart. Following the immense success of the film and Jyothika's big fan following in the Telugu speaking states, the film Naachiyar has been dubbed into Telugu by the title Jhansi. Jyothika agreed to portray a leading female role in Mani Ratnam's project titled Chekka Chivantha Vaanam in early September 2017, and confirmed her participation to the media while promoting Magalir Mattum (2017). She had earlier appeared in Mani Ratnam's production venture Dumm Dumm Dumm (2001), but stated her excitement at being selected in a film to be directed by him.
After the success of Kaatrin Mozhi, she was again cast as one of the female lead roles in Mani Ratnam's period film action drama film, . She was also considered for the lead female role in Vetrimaaran's Asuran opposite Dhanush. She opted out from both films due to her prior project commitments. Jyothika was seen in three films that year, Raatchasi, produced by Dream Warrior Pictures in which she plays a school teacher; Jackpot, in which she appears as a cop co-starring Revathi under 2D Entertainment and Thambi, a Jeethu Joseph film along with Karthi. She won several accolades for her performance in Raatchasi including Behindwoods Gold Medal Award for Best Actor Lead Role (Female), and the Edison Award for Best Actress.
After the success of three films, she starred in a legal drama film written and directed by J. J. Fredrick in his directorial debut, Ponmagal Vandhal.Being Amazon's first Indian digital film and the maiden Tamil film to be released on a streaming platform following pandemic restrictions, the film was premiered digitally on 29 May 2020 and received mixed reviews from critics, praising Jyothika's performance, story and the social message conveyed in the film, but criticised the lack of depth in the narration, slow-paced and clichéd screenplay. However, it became one of the most watched films in digital streaming services of the year. Her 50th film, Udanpirappe was released directly on Amazon Prime Video on 14 October 2021 as a part of 2D Entertainment's four-film deal with the streaming service. She was Nominated for Best actress Category for her performances in both films, Ponmagal Vandhal and Udanpirappe as Venba / Angel / Sakthijothi (imagination) and Maathangi Sargunam respectively at 67th Filmfare Awards South. Gargi, starring Sai Pallavi was distributed by Jyothika and Suriya.
Her last film in Telugu was Shock, opposite to Ravi Teja. It was produced by Ram Gopal Varma.She was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Telugu for her performance. She was considered to act in the Telugu film Stalin, opposite Chiranjeevi. She was selected as the lead actress opposite Nagarjuna in Sri Ramadasu and Venkatesh in Lakshmi, but refused the offers due to her marriage preparations. She was asked to act along with Venkatesh again in Aadavari Matalaku Arthale Verule. Jyothika opted out after signing the contract due to her wedding arrangements and it later came to the hands of Trisha. Her film Mozhi was released in Telugu under the title Maataranai Mounamidi.
After an impressive comeback, she was approached by director Venu Sriram and producer Dil Raju for a strong character in the film Middle Class Abbayi starring Nani, Sai Pallavi and Bhumika Chawla. Chawla replaced her later. Boyapati Srinu was considered Jyothika in Jai Simha opposite to Nandamuri Balakrishna, but later K. S. Ravikumar replaced Boyapati and Jyothika's role went to Nayanthara. Her latest film Thambi along with Karthi was dubbed into Telugu as Donga.
She acted in three Malayalam films: Raakilipattu (2007), Seetha Kalyanam (2009) and Kaathal – The Core (2023). For her work in Seetha Kalyanam (2009), she was nominated for Best Actress – Malayalam at Filmfare Awards but lost to Swetha Menon for .
In Kaathal – The Core, she played Omana, the wife of Mathew played by Mammootty. Her performance gained widespread critical acclaim from critics as well as from audiences. She was awarded Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Malayalam & was Nominated for Best Actress Category at the same Event, also she won Vanitha Film Awards for Best Actress at Vanitha Film Awards-2024 and was nominated for best actress categories at Koimoi Awards and National Critics Choice Awards, along with Mammootty for best actor category.
The production house won Best Cinematography at 64th National Film Awards for DOP Tirru for 24 (2016) and Best Production Design at 64th National Film Awards for Subrata Chakraborthy, Shreyas Khedekar, and Amit Ray for 24 (2016).
At 68th National Film Awards the film Soorarai Pottru won 5 Categories: Best Actor for Suriya, National Film Award for Best Actress for Aparna Balamurali, Best Feature Film for Suriya, Sudha Kongara, Jyothika, Best Music Direction (Background Score) for GV Prakash Kumar and Best Screenplay for Sudha Kongara.
In 2021, Jyothika and Suriya's production house donated to the welfare of Tamil Nadu tribal community.
In 2024, Jyothika and her husband donated Rs 50 lakh to the CM Relief Fund to provide relief to the Wayanad district of Kerala which was devastated by landslides.
Jyothika, along with actor Vivek, had been appointed as ambassadors for plastic free Tamil Nadu campaign by the State government under the leadership of former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Vikram Venkateswaran of The Quint termed her the "standalone female lead actor" who can carry a film "entirely on her shoulders". Karthik Kumar of Hindustan Times termed her the "comeback queen" and added, "Jyothika brought in the wave of women-centric cinema to Tamil industry which gained momentum post the release of 36 Vayadhinile." Her portrayal in Mozhi, Pachaikili Muthucharam and 36 Vayadhinile are considered among the most memorable female characters of Tamil cinema.
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