Reliving the life and times of Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu’s Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader) breathed her last in Chennai early on Monday. Here’s a look at Jayalalithaa’s life and the important milestones that resulted in the God-like devotion the beloved Amma enjoyed till the end:

February 24, 1948: Jayalalithaa is born to Brahmin couple Jayaraman and Vedavalli in Mysore, Karnataka

1961: Jayalalithaa starts her career in movies as a child artiste

November 4, 1964: Stars in leading role in Kannada film Chinnada Gombe at the age of 16

1965: Debuts in Tamil film industry with Vennira Aadai, a box office hit

Stars opposite future CM and political mentor MG Ramachandran in Ayirathil Oruvan

1973: Pattikaattu Ponnaiya ends her successful pairing with MGR after 28 films

1977: MGR becomes the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

1980: After nearly 300 films, Jayalalithaa stars in her last lead role in Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal

1982: Enters politics, delivers the iconic Pennin Perumai (pride of woman) speech as AIADMK member in Cuddalore town

1983: Appointed the party’s propaganda secretary

1984: Her proficiency in the English language prompts MGR to send her to the Rajya Sabha

1987: MGR passes away, leaving behind a fractured party – one faction is led by his widow Janaki Ramachandran and the other by Jayalalithaa

Many remember the moment Jayalalithaa was pushed off MGR’s funeral carriage by Janaki’s supporters

1988: Janaki becomes chief minister but then PM Rajiv Gandhi dismisses her government in 21 days

1989: DMK sweeps the elections but it is victory for Jaya nevertheless – her faction gets 27 seats. Janaki ends up with two and leaves the political stage forever

March 1989: A heated and ugly spat with CM Karunanidhi sees Jayalalithaa storming off the Assembly floor. A DMK minister allegedly tries to disrobe her. Hell hath no fury like Jayalalithaa insulted and defeating DMK becomes the sole purpose of her party

1991: Jayalalithaa has her revenge and reduces DMK to a two-seat party in elections. Takes CM’s oath for the first time

1992: It, however, isn’t smooth sailing as a pledge of austerity is followed by a lavish, multi-crore wedding for foster son Sudakaran. Allegations of corruption, land grab follow

1996: Karunanidhi returns to power and Jaya cuts all ties with close aide and Sudarakan’s aunt Sasikala

In December, she is arrested on corruption charges and spends nearly a month in prison

Her legal troubles continue into the new millennium

2001: AIADMK is back in power but an SC order bars Jaya from contesting elections. Enter loyalist O Panneerselvam who rules in her stead

2003: Much-needed relief from the Madras HC sees a party MLA happily quitting to make way for a bypoll. Jaya is CM again

2006: TN continues the pendulum swing between the two parties. DMK is back in power. Jaya is leader of opposition till 2011

2011: 2G scam unseats the DMK and Jaya becomes the CM for the third time

Soon after, Jaya throws Sasikala, who had slowly worked her way to the inner circle, out of the party and her house, only to take her back in again

September 27, 2014: Convicted in a disproportionate assets case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in 1996, Jaya goes to prison.

Panneerselvam takes her place temporarily and symbolically refuses to sit in the CM’s chair

May 2015: Cleared of the charge, Jaya is back in charge, this time stronger than ever

May 2016: It’s AIADMK all the way in elections and Jaya is the first CM in 32 years to return to power

September 22: Jaya is hospitalised with complaints of fever and dehydration. Reports over the next few weeks say the CM is recovering and would return home “soon”

December 4: AIADMK says the CM has “completely recovered”, cites an AIIMS team

Hours later, Jaya suffers a cardiac arrest

December 5: Jayalalithaa passes away aged 68