Gayatri hopes to be a mantra on fans' lips!
(Source : www.msn.co.in)
It is inevitable.
If an actress fails to make it in one language, she tries her luck in another.
When the shapely Gayathri Jayaram's, a top five finisher in the Miss India pageant, first film in Tamil Manathai Thirudivittai did not do well at the box office, everybody knew she would test the waters elsewhere. It was only a question of whether it was Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada or, if she was lucky, Hindi.
As it happens, it 
is in Telugu.
Gayathri has been cast as the heroine in the Telugu re-make of the Malayalam hit Ee Parakkum Thalika. She is paired opposite the struggling Srikanth.
She was hosting a popular TV show before she entered the film industry. "I think that was the stepping stone. It gave me the confidence to shape up before the camera," Gayathri points out.
But she did not come straight to films after TV. "I made it to the top five in the Miss India contest. Then again, the exposure there helped me a lot".
One does not know what exposure Gayathri meant, but plenty of it was seen in her first Tamil film. Cast opposite Prabhu Deva, Gayathri did a glamour doll role in that film. "I think you said the right word glamour. Glamour is not obscenity. What is wrong if you wear fetching clothes," she seethes.
Does it upset her that she is getting opportunities only against heroes who are fighting for survival? Parbhu Deva in Tamil, Srikanth in Telugu? "Frankly, I do not know. I think I should concentrate only on what I am getting in my roles. At any rate, there will be ups and down in a hero's career".
Gayathri is not unduly worried about the fiasco of her first movie. It has happened to many actresses. "I am not the first. Nor I am going to be the last," she says with confidence.
Her foray into Telugu was a major achievement . "Telugu industry is really big. To get an opportunity here is really good". She could have as well added that the film was a major success in Malayalam.
Luckily for Gayathri, the team for her Telugu film is good. Up and coming comedian Sunil is the side-kick of Srikanth in the film. Thanikella Bharani, Bramhanandam, Sathibabu, M.S.Narayana are also in the cast.
Music director Chakri, who has tuned the songs, also appears in a special role in the film. Direction is by Deviprasad and produced by C.V.Reddy.
"If I can get a good break in Tollywood, it will be great for my career," Gayathri says earnestly.
Anyway, even if she fails here, there is Malayalam or Kannada to welcome her.
(Source: India Syndicate)
Ramp model turns star
(Source : www.hinduonnet.com)
Life Coimbatore
Tuesday, Feb 19, 2002
WALKING THE ramp comes easy to Gayatri Jayaram, and she's thrilled that her catwalk days have earned her a foothold in cinema. Gayatri was at "Contagion'', the cultural festival hosted by the School of Communication Studies of GRD College of Science.
``It's my first visit to Coimbatore as an actress, though I've been down here on lots of shoots... going up and down to Ooty. When I'm here, I usually go to Boomerang for an ice-cream, or Dominos for a pizza... I don't really know other places!'' 
Starting off with school culturals and fashion shows, Gayatri had been in several major fashion events: Miss South India 1998 and Miss India 2000, to name just two. Born in Mumbai, she'd adapted to Chennai, where she'd made two tele-films for "Balachandar Sir''.
``It's easier to work in a TV series than in a film,'' she said. "In tele-films there are no rules to follow, and you get to know your co-stars. In films, the conversation is mostly about the shot. For a career, a TV series is more stable... film is unpredictable.''
Her first Tamil film with Prabhu Deva, "Manathai Thirudivittai'', brought her to the attention of most cinema-goers. Still, she says that one of the most difficult characters she'd played was that of a tribal girl in a Kannada art film, "Neela'', now doing the rounds of film festivals.
``I was not myself at all in the film,'' she said, "for I played an adivasi girl in `therukoothu' style. It was shot in a village, and even the dialect was not proper Kannada. I had to think a lot about my character, and I couldn't even grow my nails, because an adivasi girl wouldn't do that.''
``I've played a tribal girl in Telugu film... and 90 percent of it was shot in a bus. I played the role of a spoilt minister's daughter who pretends to be a tribal,'' she added. Compared to these characters, doing roles in Tamil films had been a lot easier, for she had needed to be just herself most of the time.
She said she had a March release film in Telugu titled "Aaduthu Paaduthu''. Then there was "Shree'' opposite Surya. She wouldn't say much about the film except that there were two heroines... the other one being Srutika. Vijayakumar is the father and Surya is the son. "I play Surya's mistress.''
``Shree'' was supposed to be a Pongal release, but it had got delayed, and was likely to be out in May at the latest. "I play a fiery character. Everywhere I go, I keep shouting at people.''
In real life, she wasn't short-tempered like her character, of course. "I'm very simple. I can't stop talking... or smiling. When I'm irritated, I tell people twice. I will not tell them a third time, but after they hear what I have to say, they won't be able to face me again.''
On her future plans, she said: "I'm not here for 20 releases a year, only to burn out in two years. I want to take it very slowly and choose movies well. I'm looking for a film in Malayalam, the only South Indian language I haven't done.''
Neela
At mixing stage
(Source : www.screenindia.com)
Rarely subjects on dreadful ailments are focused in our films. Nationally acclaimed director T.S. Nagabharana has taken Cancer, one such disease, as the focal issue in a film made by producer Dr. Ajaikumar of United States of America. According to the director, Cancer is not a death warrant, it is as common a disease like blood pressure or sugar complaints. The fears in the mind of the people make this disease to acquire at dreadful dimension in our society. Cancer is curable, states TSN.
After completion of the shooting at places like Savadatti, Thallur, Ulavi, Shimsha and Mysore surroundings, the film is now at the mixing and background music stage.
Newfind Gayathri Jayaram, who appeared in the Thums Up advertisement, plays the central role of a singer. Hailing from Chennai and a student of Physiotherapy from S.R.M. College, Chennai, she had rejected a lot of offers in Tamil for the lack of substance and now she intends to get good roles like the ones in her debut Kannada film Neela.
Veteran music director Vijayabhasker has tuned the music. Bhasker is the man behind camera and Dinesh Mangalore is the art director of this film. Ananth Nag, Jayanthi, Sharathbabu, Mayoori, Enagi Nataraj, Naveen Mayoor, Shivadwaj ad theatre artists of Dharwad district are also in the cast.
The Neela girl
(Source : www.deccanherald.com)
Notwithstanding the fact that Kannada film Neela (directed by T S Nagabharana) was selected for the Indian Panorama section to be screened at the International Film Festival of India which was scheduled to be held in Bangalore, the film has not been quite successful at the box-office. But, the girl who played the title role of Neela in the film - Gayathri Jayaram - certainly knows her strengths and limitations as an upcoming actress.
Gayathri has now decided to rivet her focus on a full-time acting career after the kind of tick that Neela gave her as an actress. The Mumbai-based actress was in Bangalore with her family members last week to see Neela. Interestingly, Gayathri grew up in Shahabad near Gulbarga till she was four years old before her family headed to Madras. She spent a year in Bangalore when in her eighth standard and this helped her pick up Kannada. Gayathri is a physiotherapist by profession but now she has forayed into acting. Says she, I wanted to do medicine. But, I never ever knew that acting would become a career option. I know the average life of an actress on screen is maximum four years. I can always return to physiotherapy once my career as an actress is over. I may decide to set up a business of my own or work under an established doctor. It shouldnt be a problem.
Gayathri started her career as an actress with director K Balachanders teleserial Chinna Thirai, before she bagged Nagabharanas Neela. Gayathri has recently finished shooting for Tamil film Manathai Thirudivittai opposite Prabhu Deva which is likely to be released soon. She is playing the role of a college-going girl who fights for a cause. Gayathri says she has signed up for yet another Tamil film Shree opposite Surya which has a strong script that speaks about father-son relationship.
Gayathri believes that middle cinema or bridge films have more depth because she feels she wasnt herself while she was doing the role. She chose Neela to be her debut film for the same reason. When Nagabharana came to sign me on, I wasnt quite sure whether I could pull it off without any acting background. Before Neela happened I also never believed that I could be on celluloid. But, I wanted to see myself on the screen. I found myself funny. I should say that if I know something about acting, all the credit should go to Nagabharana because he moulded me and drew the best out of me.
(Source : www.deccanherald.com)
April 07, 2002
Though Gayathri Jayaram won critical acclaim for her performance as the Neela girl in Nagabharanas film, it did not open doors for her in Kannada cinema.
When Gayathris (a top five finisher in the Miss India pageant) first film in Tamil Manathai Thirudivittai opposite Prabhu Deva did not do well at the box office, it was a foregone conclusion that she would test the waters elsewhere. It was only a question of whether it would be Malayalam, Telugu, or, if she was lucky, Hindi.
Now, Gayathri has been cast as the heroine in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam hit Ee Parakkum Thalika.
Gayathri was hosting a popular TV show before she entered the film industry. I think that was the stepping stone. It gave me the confidence to shape up before the camera, she says. But she did not come straight to films after TV. I made it to the top five in the Miss India contest. Then again, the exposure there helped me a lot. One does not know what exposure Gayathri meant, but plenty of it was seen in her first Tamil film. Gayathri did a glamour doll role in that film. According to her, Glamour is not obscenity. What is wrong if one wears fetching clothes? Gayathri is not unduly worried about the fiasco of her first movie. It has happened to many actresses. I am not the first. Nor I am going to be the last, she says with confidence.
From modelling to acting: A long haul for her
(Source : www.newstodaynet.com)
January 4, 2002
From modelling to compering shows on television to acting, it has been a mixed bag for Gayatri Jayaram, who is giving it her best to establish herself as an actress to be reckoned with in the Tamil film industry.
The debut film - Manathai Thirudivittai opposite Prabhu Deva, failed to make an impact at the box-office and it took her some time to get another lead role. About her maiden film the young actress says, 'I was actually pencilled to do the role finally played by Kausalya. Somehow, I was asked to switch roles.'
The Manjakattu maiyna song picturised on her and Prabhu Deva, helped her in getting recognised by the people.
It was nice to act with Prabhu Deva and it was really hard work as far as dance in the song (Manjakattu maina) was concerned. 'I just could not believe I danced so well in that film', she has to say.
However, after a promising start to her career, Gayatri had a rather tough time as her role in Sri, a film which also starred Surya and newcomer Sruthika, was chopped.
Starting off as a model who did several assignments when the family was based in Mumbai, things happened quickly for Gayatri when she was picked by producer KRG for Manathai Thirudivittai.
'I never thought I will become an actress', she admits candidly. 'It has always been a dream for me to become a doctor', she goes on to say but that has not been realised.
It was a nice experience to work in a Kannada film (an art movie), she recalls. Incidentally she won an award the Cinema Express award for her role in the film. She has fond memories of working in that film (Neela). 'The artistes were all so nice to me.'
Later, apart from compering shows on TV like Ilamai Puthumai on Sun TV and Telephone Manipol on Vijay TV, Gayatri says she had the opportunity to work in a couple of mini television serials produced by noted director K Balachander.
After her first film, she was slated to act in Charlie Chaplin (featuring Prabhu, Prabhu Deva and Abirami), but unfortunately as the project got delayed she had to opt out.
Interestingly, the heroine in that film Gayatri Raghuram (no relation to her) is always confused with her. 'There are some calls which leave me totally bewildered', she points out. Many people mistake me for her, says Gayatri Jayaram.
Presently, she is working in Vaseegara which has Vijay and Sneha also in the cast. She says her role in the film slated for release during the Pongal festival is good. However, she is pinning hopes on Nee Varum Padhaiyalam with a newcomer Vimal and Vindhya among others. 'I am waiting for the film to be released. My role is excellent and it should certainly be an indication of my acting skills.'
Asked if being cast in the role of second heroines (as in her case in some films) would push the spotlight away from her, she says that is not the case.
In fact, Gayatri acted as the second heroine in April Madathil, whose love is not accepted by the hero, Srikanth.
And, she refers to actress Sneha, who shot into prominence with some roles as the second heroine.
Having acted in a Telugu film (Aduthu paduthu, the version of Sundara Travels), she has a desire to act in Malayalam films as there would be more scope for histrionics.
The key thing, Gayatri says is that she should be remembered as a good actress. She goes on to point that all efforts are being made in that regard.
As far as glamour goes, the young actress is quick to point that she is not averse to it, but a limit has to be drawn. 'If I think it is crossing the levels of decency, I will say no', she says firmly.
Gayatri gives herself around five years to make a mark in the industry and says her father, a chartered accountant and mother had been very supportive.
A fun-loving girl, she enjoys going out with her friends and watching movies though she does not go to the theatres often.
Will the new year be a new beginning for the young starlet who is expecting her films to do well.
'I want myself to be remembered as a good actress in future'
'I am not averse acting in glamour roles, but a limit has to be drawn for it'
'I'm not going to give up my hero anymore' - Gayathri Jayaram
(Source : www.cinesouth.com)
Gayathri Jayaram- the name is synonymous with giving up the hero for a better looking girl in the films.
But, her next film 'Nee Varum Paadhaiyellaam' is paving way for a new beginning. She is not doing any of her usual things- like acting with a group of other heroines or sacrificing her love/hero in the end. For the first time, she isn't doing her glamour bit and is actually doing a heavy role. Everybody is finally happy for her.
'The hero has 30 scenes. I have 25', she says with all smiles. 'After this film, I have decided not to act in multiple heroine films. If anybody turns up with glamour roles alone, I have only goodbye for him.'
Wait for the consequences.....
Meaty role
(Source : www.chennaionline.com)
After playing heroine to Prabhu Deva, Gayatri Jairam has since been relegated to playing the second lead. In her recent releases like Shri, April Mathathil and Vaseegara, it was the one-sided lover role that she played. Whereas her first Kannada film Neela had earned her a state award for her performance. But now the actress has something to look forward to in Tamil films too and a role that is challenging and exciting. The film is Nee Varum Paathayellam where she plays the role of a girl who falls in love with her best friend, but is reluctant to express it, in case she jeopordises the friendship. "Ive finally got a meaty role, and its sure to earn me name and recognition," gushes the actress.
Turning to Malluwood in search of success
(Source : www.newstodaynet.com)
04 May, 2003
Actress Gayathri Jayaram, for success has been tough to come by in Tamil filmdom, has forayed into Malayalam films and has landed a role opposite Jayaram in Salperu Ramankutty.
The model-turned-actress, who was last seen in Vaseegara opposite Vijay, says she will start acting in Tamil films after her project in Malayalam is over.
Gayatri, who is awaiting the release of Tamil film Nee varum pathai ellam in which she plays the lead role opposite a newcomer Vimal, is happy with her performance in the film. The tall actress, who has so far been seen in glamourous roles, says it was a different experience acting in the film directed by Poovi.
'I am presently busy with the Malayalam film and will be acting in Tamil film after it gets over', she says.
She is pinning hopes on Nee varum pathai ellam to improve her stock in Kollywood and says that it is a good role which should showcase her acting potential. The film also has in the cast Vindya, Akash, Rajeev and Balaji. Unfortunately for her, films like Manathai Thirudivittai (the debut venture opposite Prabhu Deva) and Vaseegara failed to make an impact at the box-office.
In the Malayalam film opposite Jayaram, she has landed a meaty role, which she expects would help improve her acting skills.
Tall actress has to rise to the occasion
(Source : www.123kerala.com)
If good looks and earnestness are the most important things to succeed as a heroine, then Gayathri Jayaram should logically be somewhere near the top and not scrapping at the barrel, as it were, as she is doing now.
The tall and sharp-featured actress has been around in Tamil and Telugu films for quite some time now. But egregious success has eluded here. Her only film of note was a Telugu one, Aduthu Paduthu, a remake of Ee Parakkum Thalikka.
But even here, Gayathri has not been able to follow that one with any major hits. In Tamil, her mother tongue, her predicament is no better.
She is now reduced to playing second-heroine and one-bit roles. This is a major come down for this well-endowed actress, who was once a top-five finisher in the Miss India contest.
Anyway, Gayathri is not ready to look at the past. Instead, she is ready to change strategy and look ahead. Like looking at Malayalam where they love their heroines to be natural and simple.
Gayathri has been signed to play the heroine in Anil Babus Salpperu Ramankutty. The film, which is a middle class comedy film, will have Gayathri Jayaram in the female lead, and, er, Jayaram opposite her.
This is obviously a major break to establish herself. It is a fact that is not lost on Gayathri. I know this film is very important for me. It can help me establish my credentials, she says earnestly.
Gayathri says that it has been great working with Anil Babu and Jayaram. He is very understanding, and knows what he wants from the artistes, Gayathri says of Anil. And what of Jayaram? Gayathri is totally sold out on him. He is very senior and seasoned. Yet, he has no airs about him. He is down to earth and simple, she points out. The shooting for the film is fast progressing, and may hit the screens for Onam.
If indeed the film is a hit, then Gayathri has a good chance of mounting a serious challenge to established starlets. For, Gayathri is one of the few actresses who is both glamorous as well as endowed with the capacity to act. Though I have a long way to go before reaching the top, I think I have it in me to be optimistic, she adds. Tall actress, tall ambitions.
But to succeed, she has still to rise up to the occasion. Malluwood may just provide the occasion for her.
Match Maker Celebrates Cinematic Excellence
(Source : www.bharatmatrimony.com)
BharatMatrimony.com's popular publication Match Maker has taken another dynamic step towards celebration but this time, celebrating brilliant cinema performances in the Southern film industry.
Match Maker recently brought together the entire star gallery of the Tamil film industry at Valluvar Kottam, Chennai on 1st January 2003, to reward the best performers in the cine world. This event, which became the talk of the town, was organized by Mr. Anandhan, the PRO of the southern film world.
The winner of the best actor award Thiru. Vijaykanth, for the film Ramona directed by Murugadoss, is a VIP profile holder on BharatMatrimony.com.
By being present on this occasion in large numbers, cine stars have only reciprocated our readers' new found love for India's first matrimonial weekly. Their presence in such large numbers only goes to show the the degree of acceptance that Match Maker has gained among our Southern readers.
The accompanying photographs show how the cine professionals were highly appreciative of Match Maker's efforts to help eligibles find their ideal life partner.
The other prominent awardees were: Prabhu, Parthiban, Surya, Napolean, Meena, Sneha, Gayathri Jayaram, K S Ravikumar, Vikraman, Manorama and Vairamuthu.
The best couple award was bagged by Mrs. Roja and Mr. Selvamani; they were judged an ideal couple and symbolized Match Maker's aim to see people happily married with the partner of their choice.
Match Maker congratulates all the winners and thanks all the stars who helped make it a red letter day for us.
Gayathri Jayaram, who had done the heroine role in the super-hit Kannada film, "Neela", has recently been selected for the 'Best Actress' award by the Film Fans' Association', for her excellent performance in the film.
(Source : www.dinakaran.com)
