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Jayakanthan was born in 1934 in a family of agriculturists in Cuddalore, in the South Arcot district of Tamil Nadu. He quit school after completing grade 3 education. He was then considered a problematic child. He was close to his mother and grandfather. He had a rocky relationship with his father. Unable to bear the harsh treatment meted out to him at home and in the village, he ran away from home at the age of 12 to Villupuram. There, he grew up under the aegis of his uncle from whom he imbibed communist ideologies and was also introduced to the works of Subramanya Bharathy. At this stage, his mother took him to Chennai and requested a friend/family member associated with Communist Party of India (CPI) to bring some sense to him for she was frustrated that he was a school dropout. It was here where Jayakanthan first worked as a minion in the CPI party office. Jayakanthan has written a lot about his days in the office and seems to cherish his boyhood days there. During this period, he became acquainted with some great CPI leaders of Tamil Nadu such as Mr. Jeeva Jeevanandam and Mr. Baladandayutham and many others. Thus, the CPI office in Chennai became his primary school, the members of the communist party his immediate family.
Jayakanthan grew up listening to the discussions of these leftists during his formative years. It can be seen that this had a serious impact on his outlook and literary works. Jayakanthan once wrote that Mr. Jeeva was horrified to read his Tamil with full of grammar mistakes. This led to Jeeva offering the fee needed for proper education under a Tamil pandit. Thus he learned proper Tamil from a pandit. Later he moved around in various jobs forced by circumstances. He worked in the party's printing press and spent his evenings selling the magazine JanaSakthi on street corners. But in 1949, unexpected political developments resulted in extreme restrictions on the activities of the CPI. Jayakanthan was forced to work in a shoe shop in Thanjavur for a short period of time, after which he came back to Chennai. This period was an important phase for Jayakanthan as he found more time to think and read. During this period, the CPI also was eclipsed by the emergence of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the DK, whom Jayakanthan termed "fascists".
Internal rifts within the CPI and his difference of opinion on many political issues forced him to gradually withdraw from CPI and active politics. His frustration with CPI can be seen through his short story "Karungali" (The traitor). Equally he broke ranks with his fellow Tamil writers in opposing E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (a noted rationalist movement leader in Tamil Nadu) and his view of brahminism in Tamil Nadu. Only a personality like Jayakanthan who could have the courage and wisdom to oppose Mr. E.V. Ramasamy openly in a public forum. Jayakanthan was greatly praised for his public speech in Tiruchi. Before this, he also tested waters in other political philosophies including Congress. He was fascinated with the former Chief Minister and Congress party leader Kamaraj and briefly served as a member of that party and actively compaigned for him and his party members during election time. He also served as the editor of "Nava-Shakthi" a daily with leanings towards Congress party philosophy.
Jayakanthan himself has accepted that he had no patience to do a systematic research and do a complete work. It was this lack of scholarly approach to his work led to more short stories than fiction writing. It was only later he matured enough to write fictions. Once Jayakanthan wrote that all his true friends lived in Soviet Russia. Of course Russia loved it and invited him as a state guest and gave him a "Nehru literary award".
His lack of scholarship in matters of religion can be seen in his writings. Jayakanthan started his literary work at a young age. He started writing from around 1953 in Tamil magazines such as Saraswathi, Thamarai, Grama Uzhiyan and Anantha Vikatan. He called himself "the first Tamil writer to earn a living by writing". He went on to become one of the most prolific and powerful Tamil writers of the twentieth century. He also had a stint in Tamil Cinema and tried his hand at making films. He made a film based on his novel, Unnaippol Oruvan, which became the first Tamil film to get an award at the national level in India. It was awarded the President's award (third prize) in "The Best Regional film" category .
It was then that he developed a relationship with a stage actress. Jayakanthan was already married to his uncle's daughter. This chapter in his life was fictionalized in the novel Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkkiral(An actress witnesses a play).
His stories are vivid portrayals of life as he sees them and they embrace humanity as a whole. His later works also witnessed a strong dose of his philosophical musings. He is considered as one of the most influential writers Tamil Literature has ever produced.
Jayakanthan is infamously known for his arrogance and his multi-dimensional personality. Significantly, his personality became ideal characters of a writer—many movies and writers later adopted such characters as protagonists for their creations.
Though he is not a brahmin, he orated "Why I am a Brahmin", explaining why Brahminism was a concept.
| Name | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Vazhkkai Azhaikkiradhu | Aug 1957 |
| Kaivilangu | Jan 1961 |
| Yarukkaga Azhuthan | Feb 1962 |
| Brahma Upadhesam | May 1963 |
| Piralayam | Aug 1965 |
| Karunaiyinal Alla | Nov 1965 |
| Parisukkup Po! | Dec 1966 |
| Kokila Enna Seythu Vittaal? | Nov 1967 |
| Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal | Jun 1970 |
| Oru Nadigai Naadagam Paarkkiral | Jan 1971 |
| Oru Manidhan Oru Vidu Oru Ulagam | Apr 1973 |
| Jaya Jaya Sankara... | Sep 1977 |
| Gangai Engey PogiraaL | Dec 1978 |
| Oru Kudumbaththil Nadakkirathu | Jan 1979 |
| Pavam, Ival Oru Paapathi! | Mar 1979 |
| Engengu Kaaninum | May 1979 |
| oorukku Nooru Per | Jun 1979 |
| Karikkodugal | Jul 1979 N |
| Moongil Kaattunile | Sep 1979 |
| Oru Manidhanum Sila Erumaimaadugalum | Dec 1979 |
| Ovvoru Kooraikkum Kizhe | Jan 1980 |
| Paattimaargallum Peththimaargalum | Apr 1980 |
| Appuvukku Appa Sonna Kadhaigal | Aug 1980 |
| Indha Neraththil ival | 1980 |
| Kaaththirukka Oruththi | Sep 1980 |
| Kaaru | Apr 1981 |
| Ayudha Poosai | Mar 1982 |
| Sundhara Kaandam | Sep 1982 |
| Isvara Alla Tere Naam | Jan 1983 |
| O, America! | Feb 1983 |
| Illaadhavargal | Feb 1983 |
| Idhaya Ranikalum Ispedu Raajakkalum | Jul 1983 |
| Katru VeLiyinile | Apr 1984 |
| Kazhuththil Vizhundha Maalai | Sep 1984 |
| Andha Akkaavaiththedi | Oct 1985 |
| Innum Oru Pennin Kadhai | Jul 1986 |
| Rishimoolam | Sep 1965 |
| cinemavukkup Pona siththaal | Sep 1972 |
| Unnaippol Oruvan | Oct 1989 |
| arputham | 2008 |
oru nadigai nadagam parkiral
Yaarukkaga azhudhaan
Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal
cinemavukkup Pona siththaal
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