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.