V. I. S. Jayapalan is a Sri Lankan-Norwegian writer, political commentator and actor who has appeared in Indian films, mainly in Tamil cinema. He made his acting debut in Vetrimaaran's Aadukalam (2011) and won a National Film Award for his portrayal.
Career Jayapalan was born in Uduvil, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He began writing in the 1970s while studying at the University of Jaffna and published his first anthology in 1986. He graduated with a degree in Economics from the university, while also leading the student union. Since then he has published at least 12 anthologies of poetry and short fiction. As the Sri Lankan Civil War escalated, he fled to Oslo, Norway in 1988 and since then he has been living in Norway as a Norwegian citizen - travelling to the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu to continue his art and literary work. In 1995, he was awarded the best immigrant writer by the Norwegian Writers’ Association, with poetry being translated into English, Norwegian as well as Sinhala. In 2009, some of his poems were translated into English and published as a book in Canada - named 'Wilting Laughter’ - along with selected poems of R. Cheran and Puthuvai Raththinathurai.
Through his friendship with film maker Balu Mahendra, he was introduced to Vetrimaaran who was keen on casting Jayapalan in his film Aadukalam (2011). After accepting the offer, he worked alongside an ensemble cast including actor Dhanush, with the film releasing to a positive response at the box office in January 2011. Critics lauded his performance as the local cock fighting team's patriarch, Pettaikaran, with Sify.com labelling him as a "revelation" and Behindwoods writing that with the "right kind of expressions and body language, he demonstrates a new type of villainy". He went on to win a special jury award at the National Film Awards in 2011, as well as garnering nominations at the Filmfare and Vijay Awards.
Filmography Year Film Role Notes2011 Aadukalam Pettaikaran National Film Award – Special Jury AwardNominated, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor – TamilNominated, Vijay Award for Best Villain Vellore Maavattam Minister 2013 Pandiya Naadu Ravi's advisor Attahasa Periyavar Kannada film 2014 Jilla Periyavar Naan Sigappu Manithan Kottaiperumal Madras Krishnappan 2015 Touring Talkies President Anthology film; segment Selvi 5am Vaguppu Indru Netru Naalai Marthandam 49-O MLA Boominathan 2016 Peigal Jaakkirathai Saravanan's grandfather Aranmanai 2 Namboothiri Thirunaal Durai 2017 Valla Desam 2019 Kuthoosi 2020 Dhowalath 2022 Veeramae Vaagai Soodum Nedunchezhiyan's father Yaanai Samuthiram Buffoon Chief Minister Adithattu Dinkan Malayalam film 2023 Meippada Sei Gaja 2024 Sir
See also Cinema of India
References