# Chinni Jayanth
**Chinni Jayanth** (சின்னி ஜெயந்த்; born Krishnamurthy Narayanan, 1960) is an Indian Tamil film actor, comedian, director, producer, and mimicry artist who has appeared in main, character, and supporting roles since the mid-1980s[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D). He is also a television personality who hosted shows such as Sagalai Vs Ragalai, Kalakka Povathu Yaar, and Asathapovathu Yaaru, and he received the [Kalaimamani](https://www.edgepedia.org/kalaimamani) award of the [Government of Tamil Nadu](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-tamil-nadu) for the year 2009[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI286b6BupM) • [3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/feb/13/tn-kalaimamani-awards-to-125-artistes-227285.html). Aggregator listings disagree on his birth year: the Tamil Filmibeat profile, Rotten Tomatoes, and Tamil-language references give 26 July 1960, while the Times of India topic page lists 1953[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chinni_jayanth) • [5](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Chinni-Jayanth/movies).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Krishnamurthy Narayanan, born 1960 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D) |
| Screen debut | Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984), an eccentric villain opposite Rajinikanth, in a film directed by J. Mahendran[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html) |
| Output | Supporting roles in over 70 Tamil films as of 2016, including Kizhakku Vaasal (1990), Idhayam (1991), Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Sivaji (2007), and Kuselan (2008)[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html) |
| Directing | Three films: Unakkaga Mattum (2000), Kaanal Neer (2007), and Neeye En Kadhali (2011)[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1232849/) |
| Television hosting | Sagalai Vs Ragalai, Kalakka Povathu Yaar, and Asathapovathu Yaaru[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI286b6BupM) |
| Honors | Kalaimamani award of the Government of Tamil Nadu for 2009; doctorate from The Open International University of Alternate Medicine (29 December 2013)[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/feb/13/tn-kalaimamani-awards-to-125-artistes-227285.html) |
| Family | Married to Jayashree; two children, including son Srutanjay Narayanan, who entered the IAS[8](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/568371-how-did-the-actor-s-son-get-interested-in-governance-ias-exam-winner-chinni-jayanth-s-son-interview.html) |
## Early life and education
Jayanth grew up in Chennai, behind the Music Academy, where he watched dramas by [K. Balachander](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-balachander), S. Ve Shekher, Visu, Nagesh, and Y. G. Parthasarathy from the age of seven; he says this exposure instilled his passion for performance[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html). He is an alumnus of the Ramakrishna Mission Students Home in Chennai, studied at New College, Royapettah, and completed a Diploma in Film Technology at the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu in Taramani[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D).
One neighbor mattered especially: [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth) lived nearby, and Jayanth grew up watching the way the star walked, turned, and talked[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html). His first public success came at an inter-college fest, where he performed the song "Sankara" from [Sankarabharanam](https://www.edgepedia.org/sankarabharanam) (1979) in Rajinikanth's style; the applause led friends to urge him toward films[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html). With a friend's help he applied to the film technology diploma course and was selected after auditioning with a comedy piece by Usulamani and [Thengai Srinivasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/thengai-srinivasan) before the actors S. V. Sahasrananam and Bhanumathi and the director Sridhar[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html).
His screen name carries a personal debt: the "J" in "Jayanth" comes from the director J. Mahendran, who introduced him to cinema, joined to the suffix "anth" that was fashionable when he began[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). Mahendran and the director Kathir also steered him away from the Nagesh-style slapstick comedy that people suggested he try, advice he says turned out well[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html).
## Film career
**Debut and the 1980s.** Through Mahendran, Jayanth got his first film offer and debuted in Kai Kodukkum Kai (1984) as an eccentric villain opposite Rajinikanth[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html). He has said the film was a remake, playing in Tamil the role that Umesh played in [Puttanna Kanagal](https://www.edgepedia.org/puttanna-kanagal)'s Kannada film Katha Sangama, in which Rajinikanth had appeared as the villain[10](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/tamil-cinema-news/i-did-my-first-film-which-is-a-remake-says-chinni-jayanth). Through the 1980s and 1990s he played the hero's friend, elder brother, comedian, and character parts in a long run of Tamil films[11](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/116684/cinema/Kollywood/Chinni-Jayant-is-the-hero-of-the-story.htm), and he became strongly associated with college-student roles[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). He appeared in 22 films alongside the actor Murali, usually as the hero's friend, a pairing so regular that it became an unwritten rule of [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) in that period[12](https://cinema.cricglitz.com/actor-chinni-jayanth-speaking-about-the-late-actor-murali/).
**Signature comedy.** Jayanth is known for making up words and speaking gibberish on screen, a habit he traces to his admiration for the actor Thengai Srinivasan, who used invented phrases such as "jaanchika jinakuchika"; Jayanth carried the practice from his college days into his films[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). The word "Haun," which he used to comic effect in Raja Chinna Roja, trended again decades later when the film resurfaced online[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). Among his own favorite roles he counts Chinna Pulla, Kannedhirey Thondrinal, and [Kadhalar Dhinam](https://www.edgepedia.org/kadhalar-dhinam)[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html).
**Later career.** After a long break, he returned in [Prabhu Solomon](https://www.edgepedia.org/prabhu-solomon)'s Thodari (2016) and then deliberately moved toward serious character roles, saying he had never seen himself as a comedian but as "a character artiste who could do humour"[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). In Rubaai (2017) he played a 65-year-old, Kungumaraja, the father of Kayal Anandhi's character; director Prabhu Solomon had him leave his hair and beard untrimmed for two months before he and director Anbazhagan restyled his look entirely[9](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html). Later credits include Petta (2019), Trigger (2022), Boat (2024), Thug Life (2025), and the anthology Vowels – An Atlas of Love (2026), in which he appeared opposite Yugi Sethu, a contemporary from the 1980s with whom he had not shared the screen until nearly four decades into both careers[13](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/chinni-jayanth) • [14](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2026/Mar/10/yugi-sethu-a-kamal-haasan-rajinikanth-reunion-is-required-to-pull-audiences-back-to-theatres). In a 2026 interview he said he had been acting for 42 years[15](https://l-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/136466/cinema/Kollywood/Ive-been-acting-for-42-years%2C-do-you-know-what-my-first-film-was--Chinni-Jayant.htm).
## Mimicry and television
Mimicry is central to Jayanth's public identity. He performs live mimicry-and-singing shows, imitating [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s voice and singing in the style of [T. M. Soundararajan](https://www.edgepedia.org/t-m-soundararajan), and his mimicry spoof of [Kaun Banega Crorepati](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaun-banega-crorepati) drew appreciation from Amitabh Bachchan himself[6](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html). On television he hosted Sagalai Vs Ragalai, Kalakka Povathu Yaar, and Asathapovathu Yaaru[2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI286b6BupM).
## Directing and producing
Jayanth runs the production company Ashtalakshmi Creations and has directed three films: Unakkaga Mattum (2000), Kaanal Neer (2007), and Neeye En Kadhali (2011), the last of which he also acted in[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1232849/) • [16](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/actor-chinni-jayanth-s-son-appointed-as-deputy-collector-085774.html). Unakkaga Mattum was his company's first production and his directorial debut[1](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D).
## Family
His son Srutanjay Narayanan chose civil services over cinema, clearing the [Union Public Service Commission](https://www.edgepedia.org/union-public-service-commission) examination in 2019 with an all-India rank of 75[8](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/568371-how-did-the-actor-s-son-get-interested-in-governance-ias-exam-winner-chinni-jayanth-s-son-interview.html). He was appointed deputy collector of Tiruppur district and later served as sub-collector of [Thoothukudi](https://www.edgepedia.org/thoothukudi)[17](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/actor-chinni-jayant-son-has-been-appointed-as-tirupur-district-deputy-collector-rjhko0) • [18](https://tamil.abplive.com/news/tamil-nadu/actor-chinni-jayanth-son-srujan-jai-appointed-as-thoothukudi-sub-collector-11540). Jayanth has said that Rajinikanth publicly congratulated Srutanjay on the result[18](https://tamil.abplive.com/news/tamil-nadu/actor-chinni-jayanth-son-srujan-jai-appointed-as-thoothukudi-sub-collector-11540).
## Honors
The Government of Tamil Nadu conferred its Kalaimamani award on Jayanth for the year 2009, presented by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at a ceremony honoring 125 artistes[3](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/feb/13/tn-kalaimamani-awards-to-125-artistes-227285.html).
## References
1. [சின்னி ஜெயந்த், Tamilar Wiki](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF_%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D)
2. [Chinni Jayanth Humorously Mimics Actors, IndiaGlitz Tamil (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI286b6BupM)
3. [TN: Kalaimamani awards to 125 artistes, The New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2011/feb/13/tn-kalaimamani-awards-to-125-artistes-227285.html)
4. [Chinni Jayanth Movies List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/chinni_jayanth)
5. [Chinni Jayanth Movies, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Chinni-Jayanth/movies)
6. [Where are 'Cocktail Comedians' Now?, The New Indian Express (2016)](https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2016/Apr/09/where-are-cocktail-comedians-now-922015.html)
7. [Chinnijayanth, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1232849/)
8. [IAS exam winner Chinni Jayanth's son interview, Hindu Tamil Thisai](https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/568371-how-did-the-actor-s-son-get-interested-in-governance-ias-exam-winner-chinni-jayanth-s-son-interview.html)
9. [Seriously funny, Cinema Express (2017)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2017/Jul/11/seriously-funny-1062.html)
10. [I did my first film which is a remake says Chinni Jayanth, Puthiyathalaimurai](https://www.puthiyathalaimurai.com/cinema/tamil-cinema-news/i-did-my-first-film-which-is-a-remake-says-chinni-jayanth)
11. [Chinni Jayant is the hero of the story, Dinamalar Cinema (2023)](https://lr-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/116684/cinema/Kollywood/Chinni-Jayant-is-the-hero-of-the-story.htm)
12. [Actor Chinni Jayanth on the late actor Murali, Cricglitz Cinema](https://cinema.cricglitz.com/actor-chinni-jayanth-speaking-about-the-late-actor-murali/)
13. [Chinni Jayanth Movies and TV Shows, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/chinni-jayanth)
14. [Yugi Sethu and Chinni Jayanth interview for Vowels, Cinema Express (2026)](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/interviews/2026/Mar/10/yugi-sethu-a-kamal-haasan-rajinikanth-reunion-is-required-to-pull-audiences-back-to-theatres)
15. [Ive been acting for 42 years, Dinamalar Cinema (2026)](https://l-cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/136466/cinema/Kollywood/Ive-been-acting-for-42-years%2C-do-you-know-what-my-first-film-was--Chinni-Jayant.htm)
16. [Actor Chinni Jayanth's son appointed as deputy collector, Filmibeat Tamil](https://tamil.filmibeat.com/news/actor-chinni-jayanth-s-son-appointed-as-deputy-collector-085774.html)
17. [Actor Chinni Jayanth's son appointed Tirupur district deputy collector, Asianet News Tamil](https://tamil.asianetnews.com/cinema/actor-chinni-jayant-son-has-been-appointed-as-tirupur-district-deputy-collector-rjhko0)
18. [Actor Chinni Jayanth's son Srujan Jai appointed Thoothukudi sub collector, ABP Live Tamil](https://tamil.abplive.com/news/tamil-nadu/actor-chinni-jayanth-son-srujan-jai-appointed-as-thoothukudi-sub-collector-11540)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of South Asia › Indian screen actors, 2000s onward › Surnames H to K*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license