J Chandulal Jain

J Chandulal Jain is considered to be the doyen of Kannada Film Industry. In his 40 years of outstanding career, he produced and directed 40 Kannada films. Some of his films such as Thayi Devaru, Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu, Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane and Bhakta Siriyala were appreciated nationwide. He has also contributed to Hindi Film Industry through Godhuli and Pyaar Karke Dekho. One of his Kannada films, Idu Sadhya, draws special enthrallment as it was shot in just 48 hours. Mr. Jain was born around the 1930s in Pavadi, Rajasthan and he migrated to Chennai around 47 years ago in 1970’s.

He was married to Leela Jain and they were blessed with two sons (named as Rajakumar Jain and Rohit Jain Bio Coming Soon... >> Read More... ) and two daughters. In the Davanagere district of Karnataka, he started his work as a trader and used to supply imported perfumes and other materials. During this period, he met Mr. Rajkumar who was then a popular Kannada thespian. According to son, Rohit Jain, Mr. Rajkumar was astounded by Chandulal Jain’s prowess in Kannada language and emboldened him to be a Kannada filmmaker which resulted in his career debut as a filmmaker in 1971 from Thayi Devaru starring Mr. Rajkumar. On January 21, 2009, when entered 74, Mr Jain announced a Kannada film, Videshi, on the occasion of 50 years of his married life with Leela Jain.

On 17 December 2009, at the age of 75, J Chandulal Jain passed away at his residence due to prolonged illness leaving whole Kannada Film Industry anguished. Thayi Devaru, Mr. Jain's career debut was a huge success. After that, he never looked back in his filmmaking career. His three films; Bhootayaana Maga Ayyu (1973-74), Veerappan (1991-92), and Gangamma Gangamaayi (1994-95) were acknowledged by the Karnataka Government and all three films got the best film awards. Godhuli, the Hindi movie produced by him, featuring Naseeruddin Shah Naseeruddin Shah is an experimental actor and asso >> Read More... and Om Puri Om Rajesh Puri is one of the widely noted senior a >> Read More... , won The National Filmfare Award. Thabbaliyu Neenaade Magane, the film which he concurrently produced with Godhuli, received the National Award in 1977 for Best Feature Film in Kannada.

The huge success of all these films established him as a brilliant producer and director. J Chandulal Jain was also felicitated with the Kannada Rajyotsava Award and Lifetime Achievement Award (2004-2005) from Karnataka state government for his remarkable contribution to the Kannada film industry. His last Kannada movie was Bahala Channagide. The Kannada Film Producers Association, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and Kannada Cinema Artists Association expressed deep agony for the demise of the veteran of Kannada filmdom. J Chandulal Jain will always be remembered for his illustrious contribution to the Kannada Film history.