Yesteryear actor Jayan had wowed the Malayali audience throughout generations and still enjoys a loyal fan base who keeps his memories alive by memorizing the super hit dialogs that pack a punch from his movies. His untimely demise in 1980 while performing a helicopter stunt midair had sent shock waves across the Malayalam movie industry. Jayan’s unique style of delivering dialogs and his incredible panache continues to charm the cinema lovers.
The great actor had recently become an unusual topic of row after the videos of two women claiming to be the dead actor’s nieces have gone viral in the social media. Uma Nair, a serial actress had introduced herself as Jayan’s brother’s daughter while taking part in the TV program Onnum Onnum Moonnu aired on Mazhavil Manorama. Uma had said that hers and Jayan’s paternal grandmothers were siblings and that would make the yesteryear super star her paternal uncle. But Uma was rebuked by another woman named Lakshmi Sreedevi who posted a video on Facebook saying that Jayan had only a younger brother, her father Soman Nair. Lakshmi also added that she was shocked to hear Uma claim that she Jayan’s niece.
Both the videos are currently unavailable online. However, edited versions of both the videos are making the rounds on video sharing sites.
Lakshmi says, “I happened to see a girl being introduced as Jayan’s younger brother’s daughter in Onnum Onnum Moonnu. But Jayan has only a younger brother, Soman Nair. I am the youngest among Soman Nair’s three children. I have rarely seen any such relative of my father’s, so I was greatly shocked to see a girl suddenly claim that she is Jayan’s niece.”
Lakshmi swears that she has never seen Uma at any of their family gatherings. “Many people suddenly appear claiming to be related to my paternal uncle. Earlier, somebody had said that he had a son and now a girl claims she is Jayan’s niece,” said Lakshmi. She concludes her video by pointing out that her paternal uncle is equally loved by all Malayalis and there should be clarity when somebody tries to establish or claim close relationship with the deceased actor.
Meanwhile, Uma Nair had posted another video to retaliate Lakshmi whose words Uma said had pained her. Uma says, “There is a video that is becoming viral in the social media after I was featured in Onnum Onnum Moonnu. In that video, a girl called Lakshmi had said things about me that defame me, without inquiring about her relatives or familial bonds. I am taking to a public medium to clarify my stance because she insulted me publicly in a similar way.”
Uma even flashed a photograph as proof in which Lakshmi’s mother is seen with Uma’s paternal grandmother. She said that she had been in the media for the past 27 years and had never claimed anything by exploiting Jayan’s name. “I called him ‘valiachan’ (paternal uncle) because he was related to my father. She is just scared that someone might steal her position as Jayan’s niece. I don’t want to do anything of that sort. I have decided to respond like this as news defaming me have began to come in the media.”
Uma said that there is no justification for insulting her just because Lakshmy doesn’t know her. She also added that she doesn’t have to lie about something like this and hinted that she may take the legal course against Lakshmi for insulting her on social media. “I don’t have anything to gain by confounding the society. Now I will meet Lakshmi in the court room,” says Uma. She ends her video message by saying that she had decided to take the legal course against Lakshmi not to prove a point but as a response to her words that had caused her great insult.
