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PHOTOS: 12 Stunning Pictures Of Jayalalithaa You May Have Never Seen Before

From glamour queen to beloved Amma.
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Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa who passed away on Monday night left a vacuum in Tamil politics, plunging millions of ordinary Tamil people who revered her as Amma (mother) into grief.

From announcing an official government holiday in Tamil Nadu today to shutting down schools during the next three days of 'mourning period', Amma's followers are inconsolable.

Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, who was also Jayalalithaa's aide, has been sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa, who was a glamorous film actor in Tamil cinema in the early 1970s, ventured into politics with the help of her mentor and actor MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.

As her mortal remains have been kept at Rajaji Hall, in Chennai, for her supporters and fans to pay tribute to, here are some of the rare moments from this powerful woman's life:

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Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi on 21 April 1984.
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J Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 9 April 1984.
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File photo of Jayalalithaa, first female Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, attending an event in New Delhi.
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Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on 16 July 1991.
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Jayalalithaa with BJP Leader LK Advani the at National Integration Council Meeting in New Delhi on 2 November 1991.
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AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa during press conference in New Delhi on 7 April 1989.
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J Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in New Delhi on 6 April 1989.
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Congress president Sonia Gandhi welcoming AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa at her residence in New Delhi on 15 April 1999.
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J Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on 16 July 1991.
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Former defence minister Sharad Pawar and Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 10 February 1992.
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J Jayalalithaa with an infant in Chennai on 19 May 1995.
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Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 30 January 1999.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.