There was a time when a film’s success was measured by the number of weeks it ran in the theatres — 25 was a momentous number, and silver jubilee functions were a thing. Well, things have changed now, and it is a huge thing if a film runs for 25 days at a stretch with people thronging the theatres every single day. Nevertheless, silver jubilees are still special, and it makes it even more emotional when there is something deep connected with the film. Twenty-five years ago, a simple rom-com starring two relative newcomers was released. The 24-year-old hero was five films old, and the 20-year-old heroine was just featuring in her first full-length role in Tamil cinema. It was helmed by a maverick filmmaker specialising in relationship dramas, and it had music by a young composer who was just stepping out of the humongous shadow of his legendary father. On the first Friday of August 1999, Vasanth’s Poovellaam Kaettupaar hit the screens, and it was the first time audiences saw the now-iconic pairing of Suriya-Jyotika on screen. Let’s take this occasion to look back at the seven times this real-life couple proved to the discerning Tamil cinema audience that some matches are indeed made by the higher powers.
ALSO READ: Jyotika reveals whether she is teaming up with Suriya after 11 years? ‘Need the right script’
Poovellaam Kaettupaar (1999) – Krishna and Janaki
In Vasanth’s breezy romance, Krishna (Suriya) and Janaki (Jyotika) have the typical meet-cute love story. When they finally fall in love after a series of incidents that continues to put a smile on our faces, the pair realise that the antagonists in their love story are their respective fathers. Krishna and Janaki now try to convince these acquaintances-turned-foes to let bygones be bygones, and give them the blessings for their happily ever after. While the film became a success, and the music by Yuvan Shankar Raja became a classic that is celebrated even today, Poovellaam Kaettupaar was one serendipitous film that also almost reflected the struggles Suriya and Jyotika had to undergo to convince their families about their own love story. Whoever said art imitates life was right after all.
Uyirile Kalandhadhu (2000) – Suriya and Priya
This intense family drama marked the first time Suriya shared screen space with his father and veteran actor Sivakumar. It was also the first time Sivakumar was acting with his future daughter-in-law Jyotika. Although the romance between Suriya (Suriya) and Priya (Jyotika) wasn’t the central plot of Uyirile Kalandhadhu, their good luck with the music continued with this film that gave composer Deva a State Award for Best Music. Although Uyirile Kalandhadhu didn’t work wonders at the box-office, it is a special film as it featured future family members playing themselves onscreen for the first time. Whoever said second time lucky was right after all.
ALSO READ: Suriya at 49: Finally at the cusp of greatness, once again?
Kaakha Kaakha (2003) – Anbuselvan and Maya
Suriya and Jyotika from Kaakha Kaakha
There comes a moment in every actor’s life that goes on to define their career. That moment in Suriya and Jyotika’s life happened when Gautham Vasudev Menon decided to make a cop film called Kaakha Kaakha as his sophomore effort after the blockbuster romantic drama, Minnale. By now, Jyotika was a star with a bigger market, and Suriya, after a series of ups and downs, finally delivered his breakthrough performance in Bala’s Nandha. But all of this was forgotten when they became Anbuselvan IPS and school teacher Maya. Their sizzling chemistry, their lived-in camaraderie, the scintillating score of Harris Jayaraj, and of course, Gautam’s script ensured that the understated romance of Kaakha Kaakha stood tall against the intensity of the cop drama. Whoever said the third time’s the charm was right after all.
ALSO READ: Revisiting Kaakha Kaakha, the turning point of Suriya’s career
Perazhagan – Karthik – Chinna aka Prem Kumar and Priya – Shenbagam
Perazhagan was Suriya and Jyotika’s first remake together, and interestingly enough, the first Tamil film to feature them in double roles. It is rare for both actors in a film to get such challenging roles, especially since the original film (Kunji Koonan) only had Dileep essaying two roles. While Suriya, by now, had established himself as a performer, and was stepping into the shoes of a star, Jyotika was dismissing the naysayers who felt she couldn’t do author-backed roles. Perazhagan was an answer to many such voices, and it was lovely to see not just a couple grow together, but two individual actors embark on a combined path to cinematic glory. Whoever said couples that work together stay together was right after all.
Mayavi (2005) – Balaiyya and Jyotika
Probably because of their chemistry offscreen, Suriya and Jyotika often collaborated in films that tested both their limits as a performer. While Suriya reached the star status that allowed him to experiment, Tamil cinema wasn’t still accommodative of Jyotika’s penchant for trying out something new. It is interesting how every collaboration of theirs featured Jyotika presenting a newer version of herself to the audience. So much so that in Singampuli’s Mayavi, she plays a fictionalised version of herself, and Suriya plays a small-time thief who kidnaps her. Both these characters go through a gamut of emotions, and it is an interesting play on the matinee idol-fan ploy, and a film that experimented with tonal shifts and mixing of genres. Of course, this film didn’t become a “magical” success, but it showed what the actors could do with a script that gave them enough meat to dig their teeth into. Whoever said that adversity tests the brave was right after all.
June R (2006) – Raja and June
After almost seven years of acting in Tamil cinema, Jyotika sowed the seeds of her kind of cinema in 2006. As a fiercely independent woman, who still craves for love and affection, Jyotika showcased her acting talent playing the titular role in June R. The film about women solidarity, and how the society can be manipulative towards single women was a wonderful exhibition of some top-tier talent. Amidst the likes of Saritha and Khushbu, Jyotika stood toe-to-toe with them, and delivered one of her finest performances to date. Suriya, in a special appearance, offers June R the shoulder she needed then, and capped off this quietly dignified film that deserved more love. Whoever said love is all about being a reason for someone to smile was right after all.
ALSO READ: Suriya and Jyotika’s strenuous couple workout goes viral, fans say ‘fitness goals’. Watch
Sillunu Oru Kadhal (2006) – Gowtham and Kundhavi
It is interesting how Sillunu Oru Kadhal, their last film together, was the first time it was actually shown that their onscreen characters got married and had a happily ever after. It was beautiful that Suriya and Jyotika got married three days after the release of the film. It is even more beautiful that the film spoke about how love trumps everything. It showcased how nothing can come in the way of true love, not even the heart that beat for someone else once. In seven years of acting together, and through seven films, Sillunu Oru Kadhal became the microcosm of the love story of Suriya and Jyotika that started in 1999 as Krishna and Janaki, and culminated as Gowtham and Kundhavi in 2006. Whoever equated unparalleled happiness to seventh heaven was right after all.
Suriya and Jyotika with their children and National Award medals
Apart from these seven films, Suriya and Jyotika have a working collaboration through their production house 2D Entertainment, and they have bankrolled National Award-winning films like Soorarai Pottru, and the critically acclaimed Jai Bhim, among others
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
