Son-for-one-year: Why did Jayalalithaa disown foster son Sudhakaran?
- Jayalalithaa adopted Sasikala's nephew Sudhakaran in 1995 and disowned him in 1996
- Sudhakaran's lavish marriage conducted by Jayalalithaa was one of the reasons for her defeat in 1996 elections
- The two had not met each other for more than 17 years now
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The news that Jayalalithaa's foster son was not allowed inside the hospital during her illness should not come as a shock since she had disowned him way back in 1996.
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It all began a long time ago when Jayalalithaa competed with yesteryear actor Sivaji Ganeshan in the cinematic and political field. Sivaji was a competitor of , who was Jayalalithaa's political guru.
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Many decades later, in 1995, the thought of adoption seemed to have entered Jayalalithaa's mind when patron-turned-aide Sasikala’s nephew got engaged to Sivaji Ganesan’s youngest daughter.
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By this time Jayalalithaa was already one of the most powerful politicians in Tamil Nadu, and the state Chief Minister. In a surprise move, Jaya announced Sudhakaran would be adopted as her foster son and said she would conduct his marriage as his mother in 1995.
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And what a marriage it was! Till date, it is considered one of the most expensive marriages in the country. Jayalalithaa, who was officially drawing just ₹1 as her salary, spent several crores.
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In 1997, Sudhakaran claimed to Outlook that Jaya apparently hated the fact that whenever Sivaji entered a function, she was made to stand up and give him respect as a senior.
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So by being Sudhakaran’s mother, she had reduced Sivaji to a daughter’s father, who had to ask the groom’s mother for every decision.
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This was her way of dealing with him, he alleged.
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After the marriage, Sudhakaran became a favourite of Jaya. There was even speculation that he would be her heir. But Sudhakaran began interfering in Jayalalithaa’s financial affairs.
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It is alleged that he carried off a lot of her wealth, with no intention of repayment.
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Jaya withdrew as Sudhakaran’s 'mother' just one year after his adoption.
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In the same year, i.e., in 1996, Jayalalithaa was routed in the polls by a landslide. Ironically it was that marriage which proved her downfall. The lavish funds expended on the wedding (a sure sign of corruption) turned the majority of the electorate against her.
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Sudhakaran, by now a wealthy man, moved on - starting JJ TV and the 'Chinna MGR Narpani Manram' (Junior MGR Fan Club).
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In 2001, Sudhakaran was back in the news for his negative comments against Jayalalithaa. Shortly after that, his house was raided, a packet of heroin was seized along with an unlicensed gun and of course, Sudhakaran was arrested.
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After this, the two maintained a significant distance from each other, even avoiding face-offs during the 2014 court hearing of the disproportionate assets case. The case had named Jayalalithaa, Sudhakaran, and her niece, Ilavarasi.
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And now Sudhakaran is back, visiting his foster-mother after nearly 20 years of silence and bitterness.
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And why wouldn't he come? With the rumours of a will written by Jayalalithaa which named an actor as her successor doing the rounds, perhaps Sudhakaran was just hedging his bets.
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It never hurts to try.