Sowcar Janaki
Born
T. Janaki

(1931-12-12) 12 December 1931
Rajahmundry, Madras Presidency, India (now in Andhra Pradesh, India)
OccupationActress
Years active1949–present
Spouse
Sankaramanchi Srinivasa Rao
​
​
(m. 1947)​
RelativesVaishnavi (granddaughter)[1]
FamilyKrishna Kumari (sister)
AwardsKalaimamani (1969)
Padma Shri (2022)

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is an Indian actress who has appeared in close to over 390, films, predominantly in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada languages. 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, Kalaimamani and India's fourth-highest civilian award Padma Shri.[2] Her younger sister Krishna Kumari, is also a noted actress.[3]

Personal life

Janaki was born on 12 December 1931.[4] She is the elder daughter of T. Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi of Rajahmundry.[5] Her younger sister is Krishna Kumari, who was also an actress.[3] She was brought up in a Telugu-speaking family.[6] She completed her earlier studies from Gauhati University in Assam and has 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 since 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.

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 tag the name 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

She has performed on stage in 3 popular plays, written and directed by K. Balachander, in over 300 shows.

Awards

Janaki being awarded Padma Shri, c. 2022

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

Trivia

Filmography

YearFilmLanguageRoleNotes
1950ShavukaruTeluguSubbuluDebut film
1952ValayapathiTamilSathyavathiDebut Tamil film
AdarsamTelugu
1953Pichi PullayyaTeluguVasantha
PrapanchamTelugu
1954DevakannikaKannada
Panam Paduthum PaduTamil
Vaddante DabbuTeluguSaroja
1955Rojulu MarayiTeluguRadha
Bhagya ChakraKannada
Adarsha SathiKannada
KanyadhanamTelugu
Asai Anna Arumai ThambiTamil
Ezhayin AasthiTamil
Pasupu KumkumaTelugu
Cherapakura ChedevuTeluguLalitha
DevakannikaaKannada
Kaalm Maari PochuTamil
Beedhala AasthiTelugu
KanyasulkamTeluguBuchamma
1956Charana DaasiTeluguSaroja
Sonta OoruTeluguLakshmi
Illarame InbamTamil
Edi NijamTeluguRaami
Edhu NijamTamilRaami
SadarameKannada
Jayam ManadeTelugu
Sontha VooruTelugu
Vetri VeeranTamil
SadaramaTelugu
BhagyodayaKannada
Naga DevathaiTamil
Naga ChavithiTelugu
1957Bhagya RekhaTeluguKathyaini
Panduranga MahatyamTelugu
Bhale BavaTelugu
Rathnagiri RahasyaKannada
1958School MasterKannadaGeetha
Veettukku Vandha VaralakshmiTamil
MundaduguTelugu
ThammuduTeluguRani
Ganga Gauri SamvadamTelugu
Nalla Idathu SammandhamTamilRathinam
1959Kaveriyin KanavanTamil
Mahishasura MardhiniKannadaGunavati
Abalai AnjugamTamil
MadhaviTamil
Raja SevaiTamil
Raja Malaya SimhamTamil
Raja Malaya SimhaTelugu
Thamarai KulamTamil
Ulagam SirikkirathuTamilSellathayi
Rechukka PagatichukkaTeluguRajakumari
Aval YaarTamilVijaya/Ponni
1960Sri Venkateswara MahatyamTeluguYerukala Saani
Kadeddulu Ekaram NelaTeluguSeeta
Naan Kanda SorgamTamilMeenakshi
Chavukkadi ChandrakanthaTamil
Chinna MarumagalTamil
Paavai VilakkuTamilGowri
RevathiTamil
Padikkadha MedhaiTamil
1961BhagyalakshmiTamilKamala
KumudhamTamilKumudhaa
BatasariTeluguShanti
Palum PazhamumTamilNalini
Kaanal NeerTamilShanti
1962Paarthaal Pasi TheerumTamilJanaki
AnnaiTamilSeetha
Daiva LeeleKannada
DevasundariKannada
Manchi ManasuluTeluguRadha
Vadivukku Valai KappuTamil
1963Irugu PoruguTeluguKanchanamala
AnuragamTelugu
Sathi ShakthiKannada
Malli MaduveKannada
KanyarathnaKannadaShantha
GowriKannada
Aasai AlaigalTamil
Paar Magale PaarTamilLakshmi
Saaku MagaluKannada
Pempudu KuthuruTeluguManjula
Kadavulai KandenTamil
Savati KodukuTeluguJanaki
1964Puthiya ParavaiTamilChitra & Sarasa
Dr. ChakravarthiTeluguNirmala
Desa DrohuluTeluguKaruna
School MasterMalayalamJohny's wife
Navakoti NarayanaKannadaSaraswati
Pachai VilakkuTamilParvathi
AlliTamilAlli
Peetala Meeda Pelli Telugu
1965Manchi KutumbamTeluguShantha
DevataTeluguHerself
NaanalTamilSavitri
Panam PadaithavanTamilRama
Neerkumizhi TamilDr. Indra
1966Petralthan PillaiyaTamilJeeva
Mahakavi KalidasTamilPrince
Motor Sundaram PillaiTamilFirst wife
1967Bama VijayamTamilParvathi
Kan Kanda DaivamTamil
Pesum DheivamTamilGuest role
Thaikku ThalaimaganTamilGauwri
1968Oli VilakkuTamilShanti
Lakshmi KalyanamTamilParvathi
Enga Oor RajaTamilSivakami
Teen BahuraniyanHindiParvati
JeevanaamsamTamilJanaki
Ethir NeechalTamilPattu
Uyarndha ManidhanTamilVimala
Undamma Bottu PedataTelugu
ChakkaramTamil
Thirumal PerumaiTamilKumuthavalli
ArunodayaKannada
Manchi KutumbamTeluguShantha
Bhale KodalluTeluguParvathi
Chinnari PapaluTeluguParvathi
Evaru MonagaduTelugu
ManasssakshiKannadaGuest appearance
1969Iru KodugalTamilJanaki
Kaaval DheivamTamilAlamel
NiraparaadhiKannada
Akka ThangaiTamilJanaki
ThunaivanTamilMarathagam
Kuzhandhai UllamTamil
1970Kaaviya ThalaiviTamilDevi (Meera Bai) & Krishna
Nadu IravilTamilRani
KanmalarTamilVadivu
Kasturi ThilakamTamil
MaanavanTamil
PaadhukaappuTamilParvathi
Dharma DaataTeluguZamindar's wife
Akka ChelleluTeluguJanaki
Inti GowravamTelugu
Rendu Kutumbala KathaTelugu
1971BabuTamilParvathi
RangarattinamTamil
1972ThiruneelakandarTamilLeelavathi
NeedhiTamilSeetha
Appa TataTamil
DeivamTamilVedhammai
Thanga ThuraiTamil
Badi PanthuluTeluguRadha
PrajanayakuduTelugu
1973Pasa DheebamTamil
School MasterTamil
Khaidi BabuTelugu
Oka Naari Vandha Thupakulu[14] Telugu Teacher and Narrator of the story
Engal Thanga RajaTamilSeetha
1974Kaliyuga KannanTamil
Swargathil ThirumanamTamil
Ram RaheemTeluguLakshmi
1975Manithanum DeivamagalamTamilValli
Cinema PaithiyamTamil
Pinju ManamTamil
Nalla MarumagalTamil
Uravukku Kai KoduppomTamil
Naaku Swatantram VachindiTelugu
Devudulanti ManishiTelugu
BalipeetamTelugu
Vemulavada BhimakaviTelugu
1976DasavataramTamil
Idhaya MalarTamilRajam
Nalla PenmaniTamil
Athirishtam AzhaikkirathuTamil
Perum PukhazhumTamil
Ramarajyamlo RakthapasamTelugu
ManasakshiTelugu
PremabandhamTelugu
1977Olimayamana EthirkalamTamil
1978Thayige Thakka MagaKannadaKumar's adopted mother
Devadasu Malli PuttaduTeluguAruna's sister
Athani Kante GhanuduTelugu
Anbin AlaigalTamil
Kannan Oru Kai KuzhandhaiTamil
Chal Mohana RangaTelugu
Iddaru AsadhyuleTeluguJanaki
1979Tayaramma Bangarayya TeluguTayaramma
Samajaniki SavalTelugu
Rangoon RowdyTeluguJanaki
Ravanude Ramudayithe?TeluguMahalakshmi
Pattakkathi BhairavanTamilArjunan's mother
1980PappuMalayalamHerself
Aarada GaayaKannada
Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi TeluguJanaki
1981TheeTamilSeetha
GeethaKannadaMukta
Kula PuthraKannadaGuest appearance
Prem GeetHindiMrs. Laxmi Bhardwaj
Thillu MulluTamilMeenakshi Duraiswamy
Kula KozhunthuTamilThambi Durai's mother
VaaralabbaiTelugu
Parvathi ParameswaruluTeluguParvathi
Puli BiddaTeluguAnnapoorna
Jagamondi Telugu Annapoorna
1982 Edi Dharmam Edi Nyayam? Telugu
Neethi Devan Mayakkam Tamil
1983Bezawada BebbuliTelugu
RajakumarTelugu
Aalaya SikharamTelugu
Onde GuriKannada
1984ChiranjeeviTamil
Kode Trachu[15] Telugu Governess
Kai Kodukkum KaiTamilKaalimuthu's sister-in-law
1985 Pachani Kapuram Telugu Malini
Kongumudi Telugu
1986Dosti DushmaniHindiSumitra Singh
Aakrandana Telugu Lawyer Janaki
1987GouthamiTeluguSharada Devi
Samsaram Oka ChadarangamTeluguChilakamma
MajnuTeluguAlekhya's mother
Thayaramma Thandava KrishnaTelugu
Murali KrishnuduTeluguMurali Krishna's grandmother
Brahma NaiduTelugu
Sardar Krishnamma NaiduTelugu
AnandTamil
VairagyamTamilAnnapoorani
Muddu BiddaTelugu
1988Aadade AadharamTelugu
Neti SwatantramTelugu
1989Thendral PuyalanadhuTamil
SivaTamilSiva's mother
GeethanjaliTeluguChancellor
Pudhu Pudhu ArthangalTamilGoa resident
Vetri VizhaTamilShirley's aunt
Swara KalpanaTelugu
1991AzhaganTamilDoctor
1992Soorya ManasamMalayalamMariya
1993Manavarali PelliTeluguJanaki
MadamTeluguSarada Devi
1994Todi KodalluTelugu
1997Nenu PremisthunnanuTeluguRachna's mother
SubhakankshaluTeluguSitaramaiah's wife
1998Bavagaru Bagunnara?TeluguSwapna's grandmother
KondattamTamilJanaki
ThodarumTamilSeetha's grandmother
Thaayin ManikodiTamil
1999DeviTeluguVijay's grandmother
Anbulla KadhalukkuTamil
Chinna RajaTamilKarthik's grandmother
Ravoyi ChandamamaTeluguSasi's grandmother
2000Hey RamTamilMythili's grandmother
ShabdavedhiKannadaSandeep's mother
2003Ela CheppanuTeluguPriya's grandmother
AbhiKannadaJanki
AbhimanyuTeluguSaira Bhanu's grad mother
2007AmoolyamTelugu
2014Vanavarayan VallavarayanTamilKrishna's & Anand's grandmother
Pungi DaasaKannadaGayatri Devi
2015Yevade SubramanyamTeluguSusheela
KancheTeluguSitadevi's grandmother
SoukhyamTeluguModern Bamma
2016Babu BangaramTeluguSailaja's grandmother
2019ThambiTamilParvathy and Saravanan's grandmother
2020BiskothTamilJanaki Paati
2023 Anni Manchi Sakunamule Telugu

Television

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

  1. ↑ "Shavukar Janaki Returns". indiaglitz.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Gen Bipin Rawat, Sowcar Janaki, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella among Padma awardees: Full list". The News Minute. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Krishna Kumari is no more". Deccan Chronicle. 25 January 2018.
  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. ↑ Santhanam, Kausalya (16 July 1999). "Spirit that defies age". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 February 2001. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. 1 2 "A dauntless spirit showcased". The Hindu. 29 December 2006.
  8. ↑ "Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki". The Hindu. 25 December 2006.
  9. ↑ "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express.
  10. ↑ "Shavukaru Janaki: Did Not Act Out of Passion But to Meet Family's Needs". The New Indian Express.
  11. ↑ "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years..." filmfare.com.
  12. ↑ "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)
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ "Oka Naari Vandha Thupakulu (1973)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  15. ↑ "Kode Trachu (1984) | V CINEMA - Movie, Review, Cast, Songs & Release Date". www.vcinema.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
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