Sri: Did you ever try it on your husband (laughs)?
Jamuna: (Laughs) I never tried it... Not this one but there was another such song - I used to hum the song
endukanO ninu chooDaganE kavvinchaalani unTundi... from the film
C.I.D. (1965, starring NTR and Jamuna, and has music by Ghantasala).
Sri:
Illarikam was a blockbuster at that time, running for 25 weeks in some areas! How come you were not chosen for the Hindi version of the film (
Sasuraal, 1961)?
Jamuna: Actually, I was supposed to do that film too. L.V. Prasad
gaaru even announced the film with me and Rajendra Kumar. But, to our shock, the shooting started with B. Saroja Devi. I did not know what happened, and I went to visit L.V. Prasad
gaaru, whom I affectionately called
naanna gaaru, at his house just a couple of houses away from where I live. He informed that B. Saroja Devi had a problem with the film
Nazraanaa (a remake of
Pelli Kaanuka, starring Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, and Ushakiran) and that she was replaced with Ushakiran after the shooting was started. When she was very upset and came crying to L.V. Prasad about this issue, he gave my role in
Sasuraal to her. I already had problems with NTR and ANR as they banned me in their movies. Thus, I asked him what I could do since I had my own share of problems too. He immediately finalized me for three films in Hindi,
Beti Beti (remake of
Santhaanam),
Milan (remake of
Mooga Manasulu), and
Humrahi (1963). To my luck, all three movies went on to celebrate successful silver jubilee runs; I also got the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for my performance in
Milan.
Sri: You did mention the ban in a
previous interview to TeluguCinema.Com
. What's the actual reason for your ban by the two top heroes of that time?
Jamuna:
Strictly speaking, the issue was not with both the heroes. Only one of them had a problem and he convinced the other one to ban me too. They had complaints on me saying that I was coming late and was not giving too much importance to them like others, but these allegations were not at all true. That one hero's actual intentions were different and I did want to loss my integrity as I have family values and was not ready to do according to his wishes.
Sri: Do you mind telling if it's NTR or ANR who was behind this issue? I think it is ANR...
Jamuna: (Laughs) Why do you want to dig it after 40 years? Let's leave it now! Chakrapani
gaaru (of Vijaya Productions) later sorted it out when making
Gundamma Katha. The very next day, Trivikrama Rao
gaaru and Pundareekakshayya
gaaru came to my house with an offer to do
Gulebakavali Katha. You know that film is a big hit too...
Sri: I think the problem was partially because of the hair dresser Josephine, who was very busy at that time?
Jamuna: That's one of the reasons. She was really really busy at that time and she was the only one who used to work for all mythological movies. Sometimes, we used to go to her by 6:30 a.m. and wait for my turn until 8 a.m. or longer, thus getting late to the sets sometimes. One day during the shooting of
Usha Parinayam, director Kadaru Nagabhushanam
gaaru (husband of the legendary artiste Pasupuleti Kannamba) was very upset with me as I was coming late everyday. The next day, I went to the sets much earlier than others, but without the hair-dressing, and he then understood the real reason for my delay. Parthasarathy used to do my hairstyling for social movies at that time.
Sri: After being a popular heroine for so many years, you took a break and entered into politics and social service...
Jamuna: At that time, stage artistes were neglected by all, and nothing was done towards their betterment. Thus, I chose that sector and I made them get lands to construct their own houses. One can even see Jamuna Nagar near Kakinada, Rajahmundry, and some other places, where the beneficiaries even named their residential colony after me.
Sri: Yeah, I know! You also wanted to donate the amount you won in a recent TV show... (Jamuna
gaaru won Rs.50,000/- in the TV program
jaaNavulE.. nerajaaNavulE... anchored by Udayabhanu. She told Udayabhanu to donate that amount to charity but the organizers clarified that winners get that amount for shopping only.)
Jamuna: What'll I do with all that money! By God's grace, I have everything I need. I don't need more now, and I'm happy with what I have. I'd like to do something for others rather than doing something more for myself all the time.
