Kannada actor-producer Jayamala gets a doctorate

Bangalore, Jan 22 (IANS) Jayamala, well-known Kannada actress and producer of National Award winning films like "Thaayi Saaheba" and "Thuttoori", has been awarded a doctorate by Bangalore University for her thesis on rehabilitation programmes for homeless women in the state.

Jayamala wrote the thesis after studying several documents and personally interacting with rural women and NGOs working for rehabilitation programmes.

A delighted Jayamala said she was happy to be recognised for her work outside the film industry and she did her job with commitment.

"I was pained to see that rehabilitation work related to women was not given due priority and rural woman are not even protesting. My thesis was written to ensure that there was awareness in society that more has to be done in the case of rehabilitation," Jayamala said.

She was presented the doctorate by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Saturday at the Bangalore University Senate hall.

Incidentally, Jayamala has won the special jury award for her performance in the film "Thaayi Saheba" directed by Girish Kasaravalli. She is also the producer of the movie.

Jayamala was one of Kannada cinema's leading actresses and was paired with top artistes like Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ambareesh, Shankar Nag and Prabhakar. But she has also produced artistically brilliant films that have won many awards.

She becomes the first woman artiste in the entire Indian film industry to receive a doctorate for writing a thesis, which is far removed from her professional career.

Jayamala was one of 177 members who had received a doctorate degree from Bangalore University.

Kannada film personalities like Rajakumar, Vishnuvardhan, Saroja Devi have received the honorary doctorate in recognition of their service.