Watch: Jayalalithaa takes on Karan Thapar in hard-hitting BBC interview
Tens of thousands of mourners filed past the coffin of Jayaram Jayalalithaa (her name is sometimes spelled Jayalalitha) on Tuesday in an emotional farewell to the former movie star who enjoyed almost god-like status in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The year-old Jayalalithaa, described by her party as the Iron Lady, died late Monday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at the weekend following a long period of ill health.
Despite being twice jailed over allegations of corruption, the woman known by Tamils simply as Amma, or mother, was a revered figure in her southern fiefdom and one of India’s most popular and successful politicians as a populist champion of the poor.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew into the state capital Chennai to pay his own respects, streams of her supporters lined up outside a hall in the centre of the city where her casket was put on display.
Jayalalithaa had earned the loyalty of many voters with a series of populist schemes, including “Amma canteens” that provided lunch for just three rupees (five cents) and vast election-time giveaways that ranged fro
Profile: Jayaram Jayalalitha
The allegations made against her over the years have been extensive - from arranging for her opponents to be beaten up to spending large amounts of taxpayers' money on lavish wedding ceremonies.
Some of these allegations have veered towards the outlandish - on one occasion she was accused of losing her temper with her auditor and assaulting him.
Jayalalitha first came to political prominence in the late s, although she was well known as an actress before then, starring in more than films.
Naturally charismatic, she was brought into politics by the then actor-turned-chief minister, MG Ramachandran, with whom she starred in many of her films.
Three years after his death in , she took over his All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagham (AIADMK) party as well as the state, and proved equally adept at retaining the political base of the party.
Stories about her extravagance are legendary, and many of her worshipping followers are known to profess their loyalty through bizarre acts such as walking on hot coals or drawing her portrait with their blood.
Incidents of her followers setting fire to themselves whenever she faces political setbacks are
Jayalalitha: The 'goddess' of Tamil Nadu politics
She successfully built up a near-indelible personality cult through welfare schemes - and the inexpensive food and water products, branded "Amma" after her nickname, mother, that were provided to the poor.
Subsidies made up more than a third of Tamil Nadu's revenue spending, and the policies endeared her to women and children.
Tamil Nadu also became the first state in India to allow government hospitals to perform medical procedures on transgender people to help them fight infections.
Jayaalalitha spent a lot of time in court, facing multiple corruption allegations.
But, following each arrest, she eventually emerged unscathed.
Jayalalitha's passing leaves her party, one of the oldest regional parties in India, in a shambles.
But she will also be remembered as a woman who stood up and created her own narrative - both in the film world, and in politics.
Sudha G Tilak is an independent Delhi-based journalist
Obituary: Jayaram Jayalalitha
Jayaram Jayalalitha was one of India's most colourful and controversial politicians, adored by some and condemned by others.
Her admirers say she played a key role in the economic development of the southern state of Tamil Nadu - but critics say she encouraged a personality cult and fostered corruption in the state.
One of India's most successful actresses, her political career was marked by allegations of self-enrichment to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
As head of the AIADMK party, she was elected as chief minister of Tamil Nadu on four occasions, overcoming convictions and jail terms to return to office.
Jayalalitha was born on 24 February in what was then the Mysore State. Her father was a lawyer who squandered most of the family fortune and who died when she was only two years old.
She excelled at school and, after studying music and dance, began training as an actress. Over the ensuing three decades she became one of India's most popular, and high-profile artists, appearing in more than films.
Naturally charismatic, she was introduced to politics by the actor-turned chief minister, MG Ramachandran, with whom she sta
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