First Telugu Cinema Dream Girl, Jamuna

She never wished to go on to the screen, but she had. Similar was her passion towards politics, however she was invited into politics. About the celluloid industry and about the political parties, irrespective to her candidature, she daringly condemns every wrong doer. Her ideology right from the beginning was very straight, unchangeable. In others view that nature is adamant, strong headed and proud ness.

She had the catwalks of those days, if she featured in a film that celebrated 100 days celebration. She was a replica for classic action.

Jamuna, the foremost Glamour Star in Telugu cinema industry, gives out very straight, sharp and blunt comments on cinema and political arenas to the extent she had acted and played on.

According to her, the present cinema has forgotten to portray what an Indian woman looks like. Classical Indian woman respected globally is being projected and screened in a shameful vamp role, she regrets. For walking out of the Congress party into Bharatiya Janata Party, the reason she has in her is that the former party had lost its basis essence of functioning and morale.

In the changing scenarios, both in cinema industry and at the political front, on a rhythmic note interaction with Jamuna, HamaraShehar.com Correspondent Ms Rubeena Parveen saw variant colours emerging from. Here are some excerpts of the interview:

Q: What inspired you to get into the celluloid industry?

A:In fact, I never wished to join the cinema industry though I am very fond of watching movies right from my kindergarten days. I watched every film released those days. While living in Duggirala (Guntur district), I was into stage acting at school. Many friends and relatives of my father advised him to get me into movies. My family and me did not take to that much. However, on the day Dr Raja Rao, the then reputed man of cinema industry, watched me playing a drama titled ‘Maa Bhoomi’ and invited me into the glittering arena. Therefore, there is no special inspiration to particularly mention about.

Q: When was that you performed before the camera in floodlights?

A:It was just out of the blues that my maiden character in the movies was as a heroine. I played as heroine in ‘Puttillu’ produced by Dr Raja Rao in 1952-53. Hero Dr Raja Rao was 51 years old and I was 15 years young, then. Audience received the movie well and I started making my stand.

Q: Were any of your relatives happened to be in the industry at the time of your entry?

A:No. None of our family members and relatives was into the industry. Mother was a singer and musician. She trained me vocal and harmonium. Lone younger brother settled as a doctor.

Q: What were your experiences, those days when females were not given any liberty. Did you face any resistance from family members or problems from society around you?

A:It is true that those days’ women were not given any liberty. Females from good families never thought of acting in cinema, forget about entering the industry. Initially, my mother resisted the proposal of Dr Raja Rao. Dad’s friend Srimannarayana Murthy convinced her somehow. Hence, my entry into the industry in 1952. Both my parents accompanied me round the clock.

Q: What is your score of movies until now? Tell us a memorable happening during your bright days.

A:In total, I have done about 198 films. Hmmm…about the memorable happening. I had a problem with the two big heroes of those days, NT Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao. Both the top duo boycotted me for some reason and it went on for four years. I never opted to put my self-respect to stake for chances with them. Instead, I produced movies with new heroes like Haranath, Jaggaiah and others to create sensation in the industry.

Great personalities and big producers like K B Reddy and Nagi Reddy took initiative and settled the problem between us stating that there should not exist such cold war situations in the industry. We again started sharing the screen with ‘Gundamma Katha’. That was about the industry side of life. When it comes to domestic front, a happy marriage…uninterrupted and dispute free married life since 38 years.

Q: Why are you away from the industry during recent times?

A:In the year 1983 Mrs Indira Gandhi invited me into politics. Once I took up politics into my stride, I realised that working on both the ships parallel is impractical. For example if a party meeting is in progress and if I suddenly leave the place to meet the shooting schedules it would definitely upset my fans and party activists similarly. This would hamper both the art and party interests. There by I decided to stay little away from the cinema industry.

Q: Can you detail the reason behind your walking out of Congress, which gave you an MP seat, into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)?

A:Between 1983-89 Congress party had faced a very rough patch in the state. Challenging NTR’s charisma, I toured entire state and put in all my efforts for the interest of the Congress party. During that time, I accepted Rajiv Gandhi’s offer to contest to Lok Sabha from Rajahmundry and I won the seat for Congress. All my life I was maintaining my self-respect and pride. I never bowed before some one begging for something.

Till date, though being in politics since then, I never toured to New Delhi asking favours from the national leaders or any cabinet member. The Congress party lost its basic essence after the demise of Mrs Indira Gandhi and Mr Rajiv Gandhi. It has no proper leadership to drive the party towards people’s service. Its agenda, policies and constitution drastically changed and went contrary to the ideals that Indian National Congress maintained for decades.

Vajpayee’s policies and ideals pleased me, as they were towards the benefit of common people of the country. I never joined BJP with any thirst or lust for power or some seat. People know me well. What ever I do, they can understand that I do that with principles. That is enough for my lifetime.

Q: How about your venture with the small screen?

A:One serial titled ‘Doctor Mamatha’ is ready in Hindi. I directed the serial. Another script ‘Krishna Leelalu’ is also ready, which I will be taking up very soon.

Q: You were into acting for about three decades. Now you emerged in a new colour as director. What basic difference do you see in acting and directing? Which one do you prefer?

A:Basically, acting is a limited cycle. If we look at the stretch and expressions of the role, components of the story and analyse whether picture would click or not, that would suffice for an actor or actress. Whereas in the direction, every minute detail should be carefully selected and presented. That includes selection of artiste for roles, story, script and directing them… so on. The director should maintain every thing self. The seat demands creativity and keeps mind sharp after every shot. Well, now I prefer direction to acting.

Q: What major theme shift do you locate in the industry, to your times and the present day?

A:You remember Malli Pelli, Maala Pilla, Raithu Bidda, Mangala Suthram…

In fact any movie of those days. Those movies were filled with entertainment and interlaced with a message to the society. Producers of those days used to feel their responsibility towards the society they are in and they were not so commercial as the present day ones are. Not a single present day producer has moral responsibility towards the nation or the society. They are only interested in protecting their pockets that’s all. Sex, violence and mixture to sidetrack the youth are the prime components of the cinema, now. This is reflecting the corrupt mindsets of the producers and directors.

Q: Yester years’ artistes curse that present day artistes are lacking the dedication and commitment towards the profession. What do you say?

A:I definitely agree with them. Not just because I belong to those days, but as a common cinegoer and especially as a mother, sister and woman. A heroine character reflected the ideal housewife and Indian woman in attire and treatment was natural. A vamp character would present some sexiness and disappear.

It is unfortunate that the present day heroine herself is a bigger exposé than a vamp. For example, a heroine character with rural background dreams a sequence song wearing the minimum possible clothing. How unnatural? Do the directors and producers think at least once how a rural beauty dreams worst than a vamp? The ultimate goal of director and producer is to cash on presenting women as ugly as possible.

Q: Where do you think is the industry heading towards with all the excessive sex, violence and exposures in movies?

A:A 60 year old is raping a six-year young girl. This is all “blessings and direction” of the present day erotic literature, cinema and TV channels. All these are spoiling the future of the youth. Even the young women are wearing sexposing attire in the name of modernity. If the rape and atrocities on women are on the rise… why not? Every one is responsible for driving the society towards destruction.

Q: How about your early childhood, family etc.?

A:I was born to Srinivasa Rao and Kausalya Devi at the historical Vijaya Nagar Empire’s capital city Humpy on August 30, 1936. We have Zamindars, bureaucrats and art lovers in our family. Father was an exporter of turmeric and tobacco. Both the parents are freedom fighters. From the total five children to our parents, my brother and me are living. I am being considered as a Telugu woman though actually my mother tongue is Kannada.

I got married to Professor Juluri Ramana Rao on August 4, 1965. He recently retired from service working with Osmania University as Zoology professor. We are blessed with one boy and a girl. Vamsi Krishna is now a professor in San Francisco after his Ph.D. in mass communications. Baby Sravanthi is in her first year of Arts Graduation course.

Q: To what extent is that true, those glamour field personalities have disturbed lives?

A:It is not like that in general. There might be some cases. It depends on individual thinking. If a woman decides to keep up her individuality and self-respect, that can be maintained well.

Q: What was the behaviour of directors, producers, and artistes in your shiny days?

A:Irrespective of the position and glamour of the artistes and other technical members of the industry, we all used to move like a family. We treated sets to be a sacred temple while entering.

Q: Even today women are not longing to enter the industry. Why? Are the conditions so unruly?

A:This exists right from those good olden days. If a woman decides herself not to succumb to any pressure and lose her character, she can survive. Regrettable, the new entrants are with only motive how to climb the ladder of success in a shortest period. Definitely, those with that thinking turn loose character and people blame the industry, which is not fair.

I will give you an example. In my early days a Tamil director wanted me to get into a swim suit, offering me a carrot that he would give me chance in movies of three languages. Immediately, my father razed and told him not to ask so. He also warned the director to get a beating if he repeated the request. After all this, am I not a good actor, did I not achieve success? It is only talent that comes to the rescue of an artiste nothing else.

Q: What is your near future planning?

A:I am inclined for social work, right from the beginning. I instituted Andhra Pradesh Professional Theatre Artistes Association some 25 years ago with this ideology. We worked for house sites, medical aid and employment from the government, under the association banner. Now this Association is having a network of 26 branches strengthened with over 10,000 members. Through ‘Jamuna Public Charitable Trust’, I am helping poor artistes. I wish to do to the best of my ability and means. I also wish to construct a ‘Home for the Aged’. By the mercy of the Almighty, I might complete this. I am turning towards the devotional track being a devotee of Puttaparthi Bhagavan Satya Sai Baba. To the extent possible, I am following his guidelines in social service.

Q: As a senior actress, do you wish to give any message to the youth?

A:Are they in a position to take any message from us? Any way, talented actresses should strive to cast good characters and win glory and reputation that stands long, like us.

Profile

Name: Jamuna
Profession: Acting, directing
Featured in: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi movies
Total movies acted: 198
First cast in: Puttillu (1952-53)
Parents: Nimpani Kausalya Devi, Nimpani Srinivasa Rao
Husband’s name: Juluri Ramana Rao
Cine experience: Heroine for 30 years, later aged characters
Politics: Congress MP for one term from Rajahmundry, Now in BJP.
Other Activities: Social service, managing Artistes Association from 25 years.

Interview by Rubeena Parveen