Jayakanthan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jayakanthan
Jayakanthan in 2012
Born	(1934-04-24)24 April 1934 Cuddalore, South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	8 April 2015(2015-04-08) (aged 80) Chennai, India
Occupation	Novelist, short story writer, screenplay writer, film director
Language	Tamil
Notable awards	Padma Bhusan, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi Award, Order of Friendship

D. Jayakanthan (born April 24, 1934 – died April 8, 2015), often called JK, was a famous Indian writer, journalist, speaker, filmmaker, and activist. He was born in Cuddalore. He left school when he was only 9 years old and moved to Madras (now Chennai). There, he joined the Communist Party of India.

Over six decades, Jayakanthan wrote about 40 novels and 200 short stories. He also wrote two books about his own life. Besides writing, he directed two films. Four of his other novels were also made into movies by other directors.

Jayakanthan received many important awards for his writing. These include the Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi awards. He also got the Padma Bhushan in 2009, which is one of India's highest civilian honors. Other awards include the Soviet Land Nehru Award in 1978 and the Russian government's Order of Friendship in 2011.

Jayakanthan's Early Life and Journey

Jayakanthan was born in 1934 in Manjakuppam, a town near Cuddalore. His family worked in farming. His mother and uncles raised him. He became interested in politics at a young age because his uncles were very active in it.

As a child, he loved the writings of Subramania Bharati, a famous poet. Jayakanthan decided to leave school after fifth grade. He felt that studying would stop him from being active in politics.

Moving to Chennai and Joining the CPI

In 1946, Jayakanthan moved to Madras (now Chennai) to find work. He did many small jobs. Eventually, he became a compositor in the printing press of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Working with the CPI taught him a lot about the movement's ideas. He got to spend time with important leaders like P. Jeevanandham. These leaders encouraged him to write. As he became a more active member, he learned about world literature, culture, politics, and journalism.

Starting His Writing Career

During his time with the CPI, Jayakanthan began writing for pro-communist magazines. His first works were published in the party newspaper Janasakthi. Soon, other magazines like Sarasvathi and Thamarai also published his stories.

His early stories often focused on the difficult lives of people living in slums near the party office. He became one of the top writers in the party.

Jayakanthan's Films and Major Works

Jayakanthan wrote his first short story for a Tamil magazine called Sowbakiyavathi. It was published in 1953. After this early success, he started writing for popular magazines like Ananda Vikatan and Kumudam. He published many short stories, especially in the 1960s.

Entering the World of Cinema

In 1964, Jayakanthan started making films. He helped produce and direct a movie called Unnaipol Oruvan. This film was based on his own novel. It showed the struggles of people living in slums.

Even though the film did not make much money, it won the President's Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film in 1965. The next year, he made another film, Yaarukkaga Azhudhaan, also based on his novel.

Award-Winning Novels and Adaptations

His novel Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1970) won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972. Later, this novel was made into a film by A. Bhimsingh, which also won a National Film Award.

Because of the film's success, Bhimsingh made another movie called Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkiral. This was also based on Jayakanthan's novel of the same name.

Later Years and Legacy

In 2008, a documentary film about Jayakanthan was made by Ravisubramaniyan. In 2011, his novel Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal was adapted into a Malayalam television series.

Jayakanthan became ill in February 2014 and was admitted to a hospital in Chennai. He was discharged after a year but passed away on April 8, 2015. In 2017, his novel Oru Manithan Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam was made into a feature film.

Jayakanthan's Personal Life and Views

Jayakanthan was married to his cousin. They had two daughters and a son. Since his family had many political activists, he became interested in politics at a young age. He was a strong supporter of the CPI after joining the party in the 1950s.

He admired "Nehruvian socialism" and had great respect for Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India. He later joined the Indian National Congress.

Jayakanthan's Writing Style

Jayakanthan's stories often focused on the lives of ordinary people, especially those living in difficult conditions like slums. He once said that he spent a lot of time with such people when he first moved to Chennai. This made him feel connected to them and want to write about their experiences.

Works of Jayakanthan

Non-fiction

• Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Arasiyal Anubhavangal (Political experiences of a literary person; 1974)
• Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Kalaiyulaga Anubhavangal (Experiences of a literary person in the world of art; 1980)

Novels and Novelettes

Film Adaptations of His Works

• Unnaipol Oruvan (1965; he wrote the script and directed it)
• Kaaval Dheivam (1968) Story (based on Kaivilangu)
• Yaarukkaga Azhudhaan (1966; he also wrote the script and directed it)
• Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1977)
• Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral (1978)
• Ooruku Nooruper (2001)
• Pithamagan (2001) (based on his novel Nandavanathil Oru Aandi)
• Oru Manithan Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam (2017)
• Sarovaram (1993) (Malayalam film)

Short Stories

Jayakanthan wrote about 200 short stories.

Essays

• Bharathi Padam (1974)
• Imayaththukku Appal (1979)

Awards and Honours

• Sahitya Akademi Award for Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal (1972)
• Soviet Land Nehru Award (1978)
• Fellow of Sahitya Akademi (1996)
• Jnanpith Award (2002)
• Padma Bhushan (2009)
• Order of Friendship (2011)
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Story Writer (1978)

See also

• List of Indian writers