Sowcar Janaki

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), widely known as Sowcar Janaki, is an Indian actress known for her works in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada language films. In a career spanning over seven decades Janaki has appeared in close to over 390 films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years. She is the recipient of two Nandi Awards, a Kalaimamani and India's fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri.^[1] Her younger sister, Krishna Kumari, was also a noted actress.^[2]

Sowcar Janaki
Born	T. Janaki (1931-12-12) 12 December 1931 (age 93) Rajahmundry, Madras Presidency, India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1949–present
Spouse	Sankaramanchi Srinivasa Rao ​ ​ (m. 1947)​
Relatives	Vaishnavi (granddaughter)
Family	Krishna Kumari (younger sister)
Awards	Kalaimamani (1969) Padma Shri (2022)

She was featured in the first Kannada pan-Indian film Mahishasura Mardini alongside Dr. Rajkumar which was released in 1959 making her one of the first leading pan-Indian actresses.^[3]

Personal life

Janaki was born on 12 December 1931.^[4] She is the elder daughter of Tekumalla Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi of Rajahmundry.^[5] Her younger sister is Krishna Kumari, a noted actress.^[2] She was born in a Kannada-speaking Madhva Brahmin family.^[6][7] She completed her earlier studies from Gauhati University in Assam and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Arizona. She has two daughters and a son.^[8] Her granddaughter, Vaishnavi Aravind is also an actress who acted in several Tamil, Telugu and a few Malayalam movies, starting in 1987.^[9][8]

Film career

Sowcar Janaki has been a prominent radio artist at "Aakashvani Madras" from the age of 14. She has also acted in Telugu plays penned by prominent authors like Dr. P.V. Rajamannar, Dr. Aarudra Padmaraju Atreya and others.^{[citation needed]}

She made her debut at the age of 18, after her marriage, in 1949 with the film Shavukaru. She became a popular actress with hits in various languages between 1949 and 1975. Janaki had stated in an interview with Chitra Lakshmanan, that when she entered the movie world, there was V.N. Janaki (MGR's third wife) playing heroine roles. As such, to distinguish her from V.N. Jankai, producers came to tagged Sowcar in front of her name. Her lead heroine roles in Valayapathy (Tamil), Rojulu Marayi (Telugu), then in Tamil, such as Naan Kanda Sorgam, Kaviya Thalavi, Bhagya Lakshmi, Pallum Pazhamum, Paar Magale Paar, Thayikku Thalaimagan, Kumudham, Panam Paadithavan, Puthiya Paravai, Bama Vijayam, Oli Villaku, Ethir Neechal, Maanavan, Uyardha Manidhan, Nimarundhu Nil, Thunaivan, Needhi, Kaliyuga Kannan and Iru Kodugal (Tamil), with Kannada films such as Devakaanika, Saaku Magalu, Sadarame, Thayige Thakka Maga received popular recognition. Janaki's Malayalam debut Schoolmaster (1964) and with a film in Hindi - Teen Bahuraniyan. She worked with famous directors such as Dada Mirasi and K. Balachander.^{[citation needed]}

Janaki moved to supporting roles after 1975 and her performances in Tamil films like Cinema Paithiyam, Thee, Thillu Mullu, Vetri Vizha, Puthu Puthu Arthangal, Kaanche and her performances in Telugu language films like Bezwada Bebbuli, Tayaramma Bangaraya, Samsaram Oka Chadarangam were widely appreciated. She even acted in Hindi films in supporting roles in Dosti Dushmani and Prem Geet. She served as jury member twice for the National Indian Films awards committee and as chair person for State Telugu Films awards committee.^{[citation needed]}

She had essayed wide variety of roles throughout her 74 years career. The only other actors to have had such long careers in the field of acting in India were Dev Anand, Pran, Ashok Kumar, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Kamini Kaushal^[10] However, by 2016, her career span has overtaken most of the actors and she remains one of the few Indian actors with the longest career span.^{[citation needed]}

She was the most comfortable on being paired with Sreekanth, Gemini Ganesan and Sivaji Ganesan repeatedly in Tamil films. She quoted in an interview on her pairing with Sivaji Ganesan, "He would compliment me in public using superlatives. I’d be thrilled! We would always rehearse together. If my character needed a little over-acting, he would tone down his and vice versa. It was a challenge working with the great actor! If they remember Sivaji Ganesan, they remember me".^[11] She has done over 300 films in Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and Telugu. She acted in supporting roles in films with M. G.Ramachandran as lead hero like Panam Padaithavan, Petralthan Pillaiya, Thaikku Thalaimagan, Oli Vilakku.^{[citation needed]}

She actively participated in drama troupes and did live drama shows right from 1960, despite being a busy film star and continued doing so till 1995. In many of the dramas, she worked with co-star Srikanth.^{[citation needed]}

She was paired alongside N. T. Rama Rao in her first movie Shavukaru. She acted with A. Nageswara Rao, Jaggayya, Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R, Prem Nazir, V.K. Ramaswamy, Major Sunderrajan, Nagesh, Srikanth, AVM Rajan, Gemini Ganesan, Ravichandran, Dr. Rajkumar, Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth, Ajithkumar and Mammootty.^{[citation needed]}

She has performed on stage in 3 popular plays, written and directed by K. Balachander, in over 300 shows.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

Janaki being awarded Padma Shri, c. 2022

She has received several awards. Some notable ones are given below:

• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1984)^[12]
• Mahanati Savithri Award in 1985
• Honorary Doctorate from World University, Arizona for Excellence in her chosen field in 1985.
• Indian Express Dyonara Golden Award in 1989.
• Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004
• Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000
• Sri Krishna Devaraya Award, Karnataka
• Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu government in 1969-1970.
• Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - MGR Award in 1990.
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress, 1970 for Iru Kodugal
• Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for Samsaram Oka Chadarangam,1987^[13]
• Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for Amoolyam,2007
• SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
• Rajyotsava Award by Government of Karnataka (2015)
• Streeratna Awards (2019)
• Wonder Women Awards (2019) as Evergreen Entertainer of Indian Cinema
• Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Special Kalaimamani Award (2020) by the Government of Tamil Nadu
• Padma Shri (2022) by the Government of India

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Language	Notes
1950	Shavukaru	Subbulu	Telugu	Debut film
1952	Valayapathi	Sathyavathi	Tamil	Debut Tamil film
	Adarsam		Telugu
1953	Pichi Pullayya	Vasantha	Telugu
	Prapancham		Telugu
1954	Devakannika		Kannada
	Panam Paduthum Padu		Tamil
	Vaddante Dabbu	Saroja	Telugu
1955	Rojulu Marayi	Radha	Telugu
	Bhagya Chakra		Kannada
	Adarsha Sathi		Kannada
	Kanyadhanam		Telugu
	Asai Anna Arumai Thambi		Tamil
	Ezhayin Aasthi		Tamil
	Pasupu Kumkuma		Telugu
	Cherapakura Chedevu	Lalitha	Telugu
	Devakannikaa		Kannada
	Kaalm Maari Pochu		Tamil
	Beedhala Aasthi		Telugu
	Kanyasulkam	Buchamma	Telugu
1956	Charana Daasi	Saroja	Telugu
	Sonta Ooru	Lakshmi	Telugu
	Illarame Inbam		Tamil
	Edi Nijam	Raami	Telugu
	Sadarame		Kannada
	Jayam Manade		Telugu
	Sontha Vooru		Telugu
	Vetri Veeran		Tamil
	Sadarama		Telugu
	Bhagyodaya		Kannada
	Naga Devathai		Tamil
	Naga Chavithi		Telugu
1957	Bhagya Rekha	Kathyaini	Telugu
	Panduranga Mahatyam		Telugu
	Bhale Bava		Telugu
	Rathnagiri Rahasya		Kannada
1958	School Master	Geetha	Kannada
	Veettukku Vandha Varalakshmi		Tamil
	Mundadugu		Telugu
	Thammudu	Rani	Telugu
	Ganga Gauri Samvadam		Telugu
	Nalla Idathu Sammandham	Rathinam	Tamil
1959	Kaveriyin Kanavan		Tamil
	Mahishasura Mardhini	Gunavati	Kannada
	Abalai Anjugam		Tamil
	Madhavi		Tamil
	Raja Sevai		Tamil
	Raja Malaya Simham		Tamil
	Raja Malaya Simha		Telugu
	Thamarai Kulam		Tamil
	Ulagam Sirikkirathu	Sellathayi	Tamil
	Rechukka Pagatichukka	Rajakumari	Telugu
	Aval Yaar	Vijaya/Ponni	Tamil
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam	Yerukala Saani	Telugu
	Kadeddulu Ekaram Nela	Seeta	Telugu
	Naan Kanda Sorgam	Meenakshi	Tamil
	Chavukkadi Chandrakantha		Tamil
	Chinna Marumagal		Tamil
	Paavai Vilakku	Gowri	Tamil
	Revathi		Tamil
	Padikkadha Medhai		Tamil
1961	Bhagyalakshmi	Kamala	Tamil
	Kumudham	Kumudhaa	Tamil
	Batasari	Shanti	Telugu
	Palum Pazhamum	Nalini	Tamil
	Kaanal Neer	Shanti	Tamil
1962	Paarthaal Pasi Theerum	Janaki	Tamil
	Annai	Seetha	Tamil
	Daiva Leele		Kannada
	Devasundari		Kannada
	Manchi Manasulu	Radha	Telugu
	Vadivukku Valai Kappu		Tamil
1963	Irugu Porugu	Kanchanamala	Telugu
	Anuragam		Telugu
	Sathi Shakthi		Kannada
	Malli Maduve		Kannada
	Kanyarathna	Shantha	Kannada
	Gowri		Kannada
	Aasai Alaigal		Tamil
	Paar Magale Paar	Lakshmi	Tamil
	Saaku Magalu		Kannada
	Pempudu Kuthuru	Manjula	Telugu
	Kadavulai Kanden		Tamil
	Savati Koduku	Janaki	Telugu
1964	Puthiya Paravai	Chitra & Sarasa	Tamil
	Dr. Chakravarthi	Nirmala	Telugu
	Desa Drohulu	Karuna	Telugu
	School Master	Johny's wife	Malayalam
	Navakoti Narayana	Saraswati	Kannada
	Pachai Vilakku	Parvathi	Tamil
	Alli	Alli	Tamil
	Peetala Meeda Pelli		Telugu
1965	Manchi Kutumbam	Shantha	Telugu
	Devata	Herself	Telugu
	Naanal	Savitri	Tamil
	Panam Padaithavan	Rama	Tamil
	Neerkumizhi	Dr. Indra	Tamil
1966	Petralthan Pillaiya	Jeeva	Tamil
	Mahakavi Kalidas	Prince	Tamil
	Motor Sundaram Pillai	First wife	Tamil
1967	Bama Vijayam	Parvathi	Tamil
	Kan Kanda Daivam		Tamil
	Pesum Dheivam	Guest role	Tamil
	Thaikku Thalaimagan	Gauwri	Tamil
1968	Oli Vilakku	Shanti	Tamil
	Lakshmi Kalyanam	Parvathi	Tamil
	Enga Oor Raja	Sivakami	Tamil
	Teen Bahuraniyan	Parvati	Hindi
	Jeevanaamsam	Janaki	Tamil
	Ethir Neechal	Pattu	Tamil
	Uyarndha Manidhan	Vimala	Tamil
	Undamma Bottu Pedata		Telugu
	Chakkaram		Tamil
	Thirumal Perumai	Kumuthavalli	Tamil
	Arunodaya		Kannada
	Manchi Kutumbam	Shantha	Telugu
	Bhale Kodallu	Parvathi	Telugu
	Chinnari Papalu	Parvathi	Telugu
	Evaru Monagadu[14]	Lakshmi	Telugu
	Manassakshi	Guest appearance	Kannada
1969	Iru Kodugal	Janaki	Tamil
	Kaaval Dheivam	Alamel	Tamil
	Niraparaadhi		Kannada
	Akka Thangai	Janaki	Tamil
	Thunaivan	Marathagam	Tamil
	Kuzhandhai Ullam		Tamil
1970	Kaaviya Thalaivi	Devi (Meera Bai) & Krishna	Tamil
	Nadu Iravil	Rani	Tamil
	Kanmalar	Vadivu	Tamil
	Kasturi Thilakam		Tamil
	Maanavan		Tamil
	Paadhukaappu	Parvathi	Tamil
	Dharma Daata	Zamindar's wife	Telugu
	Akka Chellelu	Janaki	Telugu
	Inti Gowravam		Telugu
	Rendu Kutumbala Katha		Telugu
1971	Babu	Parvathi	Tamil
	Rangarattinam		Tamil
1972	Thiruneelakandar	Leelavathi	Tamil
	Needhi	Seetha	Tamil
	Appa Tata		Tamil
	Deivam	Vedhammai	Tamil
	Thanga Thurai		Tamil
	Badi Panthulu	Radha	Telugu
	Prajanayakudu		Telugu
1973	Pasa Dheebam		Tamil
	School Master		Tamil
	Khaidi Babu		Telugu
	Oka Naari Vandha Thupakulu[15]	Teacher and Narrator of the story	Telugu
	Engal Thanga Raja	Seetha	Tamil
1974	Kaliyuga Kannan		Tamil
	Swargathil Thirumanam		Tamil
	Ram Raheem	Lakshmi	Telugu
1975	Manithanum Deivamagalam	Valli	Tamil
	Cinema Paithiyam		Tamil
	Pinju Manam		Tamil
	Nalla Marumagal		Tamil
	Uravukku Kai Koduppom		Tamil
	Naaku Swatantram Vachindi		Telugu
	Devudulanti Manishi		Telugu
	Balipeetam		Telugu
	Vemulavada Bhimakavi		Telugu
1976	Dasavataram		Tamil
	Idhaya Malar	Rajam	Tamil
	Nalla Penmani		Tamil
	Athirishtam Azhaikkirathu		Tamil
	Perum Pukhazhum		Tamil
	Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam		Telugu
	Manasakshi		Telugu
	Premabandham		Telugu
1977	Olimayamana Ethirkalam		Tamil
1978	Thayige Thakka Maga	Kumar's adopted mother	Kannada
	Devadasu Malli Puttadu	Aruna's sister	Telugu
	Athani Kante Ghanudu		Telugu
	Anbin Alaigal		Tamil
	Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai		Tamil
	Chal Mohana Ranga		Telugu
	Iddaru Asadhyule	Janaki	Telugu
1979	Tayaramma Bangarayya	Tayaramma	Telugu
	Samajaniki Saval		Telugu
	Rangoon Rowdy	Janaki	Telugu
	Ravanude Ramudayithe?	Mahalakshmi	Telugu
	Pattakkathi Bhairavan	Arjunan's mother	Tamil
1980	Pappu	Herself	Malayalam
	Aarada Gaaya		Kannada
	Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi	Janaki	Telugu
1981	Thee	Seetha	Tamil
	Geetha	Mukta	Kannada
	Kula Puthra	Guest appearance	Kannada
	Prem Geet	Mrs. Laxmi Bhardwaj	Hindi
	Thillu Mullu	Meenakshi Duraiswamy	Tamil
	Kula Kozhunthu	Thambi Durai's mother	Tamil
	Vaaralabbai		Telugu
	Parvathi Parameswarulu	Parvathi	Telugu
	Puli Bidda	Annapoorna	Telugu
	Jagamondi	Annapoorna	Telugu
1982	Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam?		Telugu
	Neethi Devan Mayakkam		Tamil
1983	Bezawada Bebbuli		Telugu
	Rajakumar		Telugu
	Aalaya Sikharam		Telugu
	Onde Guri		Kannada
1984	Chiranjeevi		Tamil
	Kode Trachu[16]	Governess	Telugu
	Kai Kodukkum Kai	Kaalimuthu's sister-in-law	Tamil
1985	Pachani Kapuram	Malini	Telugu
	Kongumudi		Telugu
1986	Dosti Dushmani	Sumitra Singh	Hindi
	Krishna Garadi		Telugu
	Aakrandana	Lawyer Janaki	Telugu
1987	Gouthami	Sharada Devi	Telugu
	Samsaram Oka Chadarangam	Chilakamma	Telugu
	Majnu	Alekhya's mother	Telugu
	Thayaramma Thandava Krishna		Telugu
	Murali Krishnudu	Murali Krishna's grandmother	Telugu
	Brahma Naidu		Telugu
	Sardar Krishnamma Naidu		Telugu
	Anand		Tamil
	Vairagyam	Annapoorani	Tamil
	Muddu Bidda		Telugu
1988	Aadade Aadharam		Telugu
	Neti Swatantram		Telugu
1989	Thendral Puyalanadhu		Tamil
	Siva	Siva's mother	Tamil
	Geethanjali	Chancellor	Telugu
	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal	Goa resident	Tamil
	Vetri Vizha	Shirley's aunt	Tamil
	Swara Kalpana		Telugu
1991	Azhagan	Doctor	Tamil
1992	Soorya Manasam	Mariya	Malayalam
1993	Manavarali Pelli	Janaki	Telugu
	Madam	Sarada Devi	Telugu
1994	Todi Kodallu		Telugu
1997	Nenu Premisthunnanu	Rachna's mother	Telugu
	Subhakankshalu	Sitaramaiah's wife	Telugu
1998	Bavagaru Bagunnara?	Swapna's grandmother	Telugu
	Kondattam	Janaki	Tamil
	Thodarum	Seetha's grandmother	Tamil
	Thaayin Manikodi		Tamil
1999	Devi	Vijay's grandmother	Telugu
	Anbulla Kadhalukku		Tamil
	Chinna Raja	Karthik's grandmother	Tamil
	Ravoyi Chandamama	Sasi's grandmother	Telugu
2000	Hey Ram	Mythili's grandmother	Tamil
	Shabdavedhi	Sandeep's mother	Kannada
2003	Ela Cheppanu	Priya's grandmother	Telugu
	Abhi	Janki	Kannada
	Abhimanyu	Saira Bhanu's grad mother	Telugu
2007	Amoolyam		Telugu
2014	Vanavarayan Vallavarayan	Krishna's & Anand's grandmother	Tamil
	Pungi Daasa	Gayatri Devi	Kannada
2015	Yevade Subramanyam	Susheela	Telugu
	Kanche	Sitadevi's grandmother	Telugu
	Soukhyam	Modern Bamma	Telugu
2016	Babu Bangaram	Sailaja's grandmother	Telugu
2019	Thambi	Parvathy and Saravanan's grandmother	Tamil
2020	Biskoth	Janaki Paati	Tamil
2023	Anni Manchi Sakunamule	Janaki	Telugu

Television

Year	Title	Language	Channel
1991	Oorarinda Rahasyam	Tamil	Doordarshan
	Penn	Tamil	Doordarshan
1995	Needa	Telugu
1998-1999	Akshaya	Tamil	Sun TV
2001-2002	Kelunga Maamiyare Neengalum Marumagal Than	Tamil	Sun TV
2013-2014	Varudhini Parinayam	Telugu	Zee Telugu

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References

1. "Gen Bipin Rawat, Sowcar Janaki, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella among Padma awardees: Full list". The News Minute. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
2. "Krishna Kumari is no more". Deccan Chronicle. 25 January 2018.
3. "Did you know? The very first pan-Indian Kannada film is this 1959 classic starring Dr. Rajkumar". The Times of India. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
4. Mary, S. B. Vijaya (9 December 2021). "Veteran actor Sowcar Janaki turns 90". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
5. India Who's who. INFA Publications. 1989. p. 73.
6. "Book on Krishna Kumari". The Hindu. 16 July 2016.
7. Santhanam, Kausalya (16 July 1999). "Spirit that defies age". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
8. "A dauntless spirit showcased". The Hindu. 29 December 2006.
9. "Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki". The Hindu. 25 December 2006.
10. "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express. 20 August 2015.
11. "Shavukaru Janaki: Did Not Act Out of Passion But to Meet Family's Needs". The New Indian Express. 16 March 2016.
12. "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years..." filmfare.com.
13. "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.(in Telugu)
14. "Evaru Monagadu (1968)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
15. "Oka Naari Vandha Thupakulu (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
16. "Kode Trachu (1984) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.

External links

• Sowcar Janaki at IMDb