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, predominantly in Tamil and Telugu. 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]

Quick Facts Born, Occupation ...
Sowcar Janaki
Thumb
Born
T. Janaki

(1931-12-12) 12 December 1931 (age 92)
OccupationActress
Years active1949–present
Spouse
Sankaramanchi Srinivasa Rao
(m. 1947)
RelativesVaishnavi (granddaughter)
FamilyKrishna Kumari (sister)
AwardsKalaimamani (1969)
Padma Shri (2022)
Close

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 brought up in a Telugu-speaking family.[6] 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.[7] Her granddaughter, Vaishnavi Aravind is also an actress who acted in several Tamil, Telugu and a few Malayalam movies, starting in 1987.[8][7]

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[9] 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".[10] 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

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Janaki being awarded Padma Shri, c.2022

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

Filmography

More information Year, Film ...
YearFilmRoleLanguageNotes
1950ShavukaruSubbuluTeluguDebut film
1952ValayapathiSathyavathiTamilDebut Tamil film
AdarsamTelugu
1953Pichi PullayyaVasanthaTelugu
PrapanchamTelugu
1954DevakannikaKannada
Panam Paduthum PaduTamil
Vaddante DabbuSarojaTelugu
1955Rojulu MarayiRadhaTelugu
Bhagya ChakraKannada
Adarsha SathiKannada
KanyadhanamTelugu
Asai Anna Arumai ThambiTamil
Ezhayin AasthiTamil
Pasupu KumkumaTelugu
Cherapakura ChedevuLalithaTelugu
DevakannikaaKannada
Kaalm Maari PochuTamil
Beedhala AasthiTelugu
KanyasulkamBuchammaTelugu
1956Charana DaasiSarojaTelugu
Sonta OoruLakshmiTelugu
Illarame InbamTamil
Edi NijamRaamiTelugu
SadarameKannada
Jayam ManadeTelugu
Sontha VooruTelugu
Vetri VeeranTamil
SadaramaTelugu
BhagyodayaKannada
Naga DevathaiTamil
Naga ChavithiTelugu
1957Bhagya RekhaKathyainiTelugu
Panduranga MahatyamTelugu
Bhale BavaTelugu
Rathnagiri RahasyaKannada
1958School MasterGeethaKannada
Veettukku Vandha VaralakshmiTamil
MundaduguTelugu
ThammuduRaniTelugu
Ganga Gauri SamvadamTelugu
Nalla Idathu SammandhamRathinamTamil
1959Kaveriyin KanavanTamil
Mahishasura MardhiniGunavatiKannada
Abalai AnjugamTamil
MadhaviTamil
Raja SevaiTamil
Raja Malaya SimhamTamil
Raja Malaya SimhaTelugu
Thamarai KulamTamil
Ulagam SirikkirathuSellathayiTamil
Rechukka PagatichukkaRajakumariTelugu
Aval YaarVijaya/PonniTamil
1960Sri Venkateswara MahatyamYerukala SaaniTelugu
Kadeddulu Ekaram NelaSeetaTelugu
Naan Kanda SorgamMeenakshiTamil
Chavukkadi ChandrakanthaTamil
Chinna MarumagalTamil
Paavai VilakkuGowriTamil
RevathiTamil
Padikkadha MedhaiTamil
1961BhagyalakshmiKamalaTamil
KumudhamKumudhaaTamil
BatasariShantiTelugu
Palum PazhamumNaliniTamil
Kaanal NeerShantiTamil
1962Paarthaal Pasi TheerumJanakiTamil
AnnaiSeethaTamil
Daiva LeeleKannada
DevasundariKannada
Manchi ManasuluRadhaTelugu
Vadivukku Valai KappuTamil
1963Irugu PoruguKanchanamalaTelugu
AnuragamTelugu
Sathi ShakthiKannada
Malli MaduveKannada
KanyarathnaShanthaKannada
GowriKannada
Aasai AlaigalTamil
Paar Magale PaarLakshmiTamil
Saaku MagaluKannada
Pempudu KuthuruManjulaTelugu
Kadavulai KandenTamil
Savati KodukuJanakiTelugu
1964Puthiya ParavaiChitra & SarasaTamil
Dr. ChakravarthiNirmalaTelugu
Desa DrohuluKarunaTelugu
School MasterJohny's wifeMalayalam
Navakoti NarayanaSaraswatiKannada
Pachai VilakkuParvathiTamil
AlliAlliTamil
Peetala Meeda Pelli Telugu
1965Manchi KutumbamShanthaTelugu
DevataHerselfTelugu
NaanalSavitriTamil
Panam PadaithavanRamaTamil
Neerkumizhi Dr. IndraTamil
1966Petralthan PillaiyaJeevaTamil
Mahakavi KalidasPrinceTamil
Motor Sundaram PillaiFirst wifeTamil
1967Bama VijayamParvathiTamil
Kan Kanda DaivamTamil
Pesum DheivamGuest roleTamil
Thaikku ThalaimaganGauwriTamil
1968Oli VilakkuShantiTamil
Lakshmi KalyanamParvathiTamil
Enga Oor RajaSivakamiTamil
Teen BahuraniyanParvatiHindi
JeevanaamsamJanakiTamil
Ethir NeechalPattuTamil
Uyarndha ManidhanVimalaTamil
Undamma Bottu PedataTelugu
ChakkaramTamil
Thirumal PerumaiKumuthavalliTamil
ArunodayaKannada
Manchi KutumbamShanthaTelugu
Bhale KodalluParvathiTelugu
Chinnari PapaluParvathiTelugu
Evaru Monagadu[13]LakshmiTelugu
ManasssakshiGuest appearanceKannada
1969Iru KodugalJanakiTamil
Kaaval DheivamAlamelTamil
NiraparaadhiKannada
Akka ThangaiJanakiTamil
ThunaivanMarathagamTamil
Kuzhandhai UllamTamil
1970Kaaviya ThalaiviDevi (Meera Bai) & KrishnaTamil
Nadu IravilRaniTamil
KanmalarVadivuTamil
Kasturi ThilakamTamil
MaanavanTamil
PaadhukaappuParvathiTamil
Dharma DaataZamindar's wifeTelugu
Akka ChelleluJanakiTelugu
Inti GowravamTelugu
Rendu Kutumbala KathaTelugu
1971BabuParvathiTamil
RangarattinamTamil
1972ThiruneelakandarLeelavathiTamil
NeedhiSeethaTamil
Appa TataTamil
DeivamVedhammaiTamil
Thanga ThuraiTamil
Badi PanthuluRadhaTelugu
PrajanayakuduTelugu
1973Pasa DheebamTamil
School MasterTamil
Khaidi BabuTelugu
Oka Naari Vandha Thupakulu[14] Teacher and Narrator of the story Telugu
Engal Thanga RajaSeethaTamil
1974Kaliyuga KannanTamil
Swargathil ThirumanamTamil
Ram RaheemLakshmiTelugu
1975Manithanum DeivamagalamValliTamil
Cinema PaithiyamTamil
Pinju ManamTamil
Nalla MarumagalTamil
Uravukku Kai KoduppomTamil
Naaku Swatantram VachindiTelugu
Devudulanti ManishiTelugu
BalipeetamTelugu
Vemulavada BhimakaviTelugu
1976DasavataramTamil
Idhaya MalarRajamTamil
Nalla PenmaniTamil
Athirishtam AzhaikkirathuTamil
Perum PukhazhumTamil
Ramarajyamlo RakthapasamTelugu
ManasakshiTelugu
PremabandhamTelugu
1977Olimayamana EthirkalamTamil
1978Thayige Thakka MagaKumar's adopted motherKannada
Devadasu Malli PuttaduAruna's sisterTelugu
Athani Kante GhanuduTelugu
Anbin AlaigalTamil
Kannan Oru Kai KuzhandhaiTamil
Chal Mohana RangaTelugu
Iddaru AsadhyuleJanakiTelugu
1979Tayaramma Bangarayya TayarammaTelugu
Samajaniki SavalTelugu
Rangoon RowdyJanakiTelugu
Ravanude Ramudayithe?MahalakshmiTelugu
Pattakkathi BhairavanArjunan's motherTamil
1980PappuHerselfMalayalam
Aarada GaayaKannada
Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi JanakiTelugu
1981TheeSeethaTamil
GeethaMuktaKannada
Kula PuthraGuest appearanceKannada
Prem GeetMrs. Laxmi BhardwajHindi
Thillu MulluMeenakshi DuraiswamyTamil
Kula KozhunthuThambi Durai's motherTamil
VaaralabbaiTelugu
Parvathi ParameswaruluParvathiTelugu
Puli BiddaAnnapoornaTelugu
Jagamondi Annapoorna Telugu
1982 Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam? Telugu
Neethi Devan Mayakkam Tamil
1983Bezawada BebbuliTelugu
RajakumarTelugu
Aalaya SikharamTelugu
Onde GuriKannada
1984ChiranjeeviTamil
Kode Trachu[15] Governess Telugu
Kai Kodukkum KaiKaalimuthu's sister-in-lawTamil
1985 Pachani Kapuram Malini Telugu
Kongumudi Telugu
1986Dosti DushmaniSumitra SinghHindi
Krishna Garadi Telugu
Aakrandana Lawyer Janaki Telugu
1987GouthamiSharada DeviTelugu
Samsaram Oka ChadarangamChilakammaTelugu
MajnuAlekhya's motherTelugu
Thayaramma Thandava KrishnaTelugu
Murali KrishnuduMurali Krishna's grandmotherTelugu
Brahma NaiduTelugu
Sardar Krishnamma NaiduTelugu
AnandTamil
VairagyamAnnapooraniTamil
Muddu BiddaTelugu
1988Aadade AadharamTelugu
Neti SwatantramTelugu
1989Thendral PuyalanadhuTamil
SivaSiva's motherTamil
GeethanjaliChancellorTelugu
Pudhu Pudhu ArthangalGoa residentTamil
Vetri VizhaShirley's auntTamil
Swara KalpanaTelugu
1991AzhaganDoctorTamil
1992Soorya ManasamMariyaMalayalam
1993Manavarali PelliJanakiTelugu
MadamSarada DeviTelugu
1994Todi KodalluTelugu
1997Nenu PremisthunnanuRachna's motherTelugu
SubhakankshaluSitaramaiah's wifeTelugu
1998Bavagaru Bagunnara?Swapna's grandmotherTelugu
KondattamJanakiTamil
ThodarumSeetha's grandmotherTamil
Thaayin ManikodiTamil
1999DeviVijay's grandmotherTelugu
Anbulla KadhalukkuTamil
Chinna RajaKarthik's grandmotherTamil
Ravoyi ChandamamaSasi's grandmotherTelugu
2000Hey RamMythili's grandmotherTamil
ShabdavedhiSandeep's motherKannada
2003Ela CheppanuPriya's grandmotherTelugu
AbhiJankiKannada
AbhimanyuSaira Bhanu's grad motherTelugu
2007AmoolyamTelugu
2014Vanavarayan VallavarayanKrishna's & Anand's grandmotherTamil
Pungi DaasaGayatri DeviKannada
2015Yevade SubramanyamSusheelaTelugu
KancheSitadevi's grandmotherTelugu
SoukhyamModern BammaTelugu
2016Babu BangaramSailaja's grandmotherTelugu
2019ThambiParvathy and Saravanan's grandmotherTamil
2020BiskothJanaki PaatiTamil
2023 Anni Manchi Sakunamule Janaki Telugu
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Language Channel
1991Oorarinda RahasyamTamilDoordarshan
PennTamilDoordarshan
1995NeedaTelugu
1998-1999AkshayaTamilSun TV
2001-2002Kelunga Maamiyare Neengalum Marumagal ThanTamilSun TV
2013-2014Varudhini ParinayamTelugu Zee Telugu
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References

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