Sowcar Janaki

Sowcar Janaki
Sowcar Janaki
Born	Sankaramanchi Janaki; 12 December 1931 (age 92); Rajahmundry, East Godavari district, Madras Presidency, British India
💼 Occupation	Actress
📆 Years active	1949–present
👩 Spouse(s)	Sankaramanchi Srinivasa Rao (m. 1947)
👪 Relatives	Vaishnavi (granddaughter)
Family	Krishna Kumari (sister)

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is an Indian actress who has acted in over 387 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years. Her career as film actress began only after her marriage. She became a popular actress with hits in various languages between 1949 and 1975 as the lead heroine such as Shavukaru (Telugu), Valayapathy, 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 and then with her Malayalam debut Schoolmaster (1964) and with a film in Hindi - Teen Bahuraniyan. She worked with famous directors such as Dada Mirasee and K. Balachandar.

She moved to supporting roles after 1975 and her performances in Cinema Paithiyam, Thee, Thillu Mullu, Vetri Vizha and Kaanche were widely appreciated. She served as jury member for the National Indian Films awards committee and as chair person for state Telugu Films awards committee.

She made her debut at the age of 18, after her marriage, in 1949 with the film Shavukaru. After this, she essayed wide variety of roles for next 70 years. 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^[2] However, by 2016, her career span has overtaken most of the actors and she remains the actress with the longest career span.

She was the most comfortable on being paired with Sreekanth, Gemini Ganeshan and Shivaji Ganeshan 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".^[3] She has done around 387 films in Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam and Telugu.She acted in supporting roles in films with M. G.Ramachandran as lead hero like Panam Padaithavan, Thaikku Thalaimagan,Oli Villakku.

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 Sreekanth.

Personal life[edit]

She is the elder daughter of T. Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi of Rajahmundry. 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, four grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Her granddaughter Vaishnavi is also a famous actress who acted in many Tamil movies in 1987 to 1996.^[4]^[5]

Film career[edit]

She was paired alongside N. T. Rama Rao in her first movie Shavukar. She acted with A. Nageswara Rao, Jaggaiah, Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R, Prem Nazir, V.K. Ramaswamy, Major Sunderrajan, Nagesh, Sreekanth, AVM Rajan, Gemini Ganesan, Ravichandran, Dr. Rajkumar, Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth and Mammootty.

Awards[edit]

Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1984)^[6]
Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu government
Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - MGR Award in 1990.
SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012
Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress, 1969 for Iru Kodugal
Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress, 2007 for Amoolyam
SIIMA - Lifetime Achievement (2013)
Kannada Rajyotsava Awards (2015)
Streeratna Awards (2019)

Partial filmography[edit]

Year	Film	Language	Role	Notes
1949	Raksha Rekha	Telugu	Chandrika
1950	Shavukar	Telugu	Subbulu	debut in Telugu
1952	Valayapathi	Tamil	Sathyavathi	debut in Tamil
1952	Adarsham	Telugu
1953	Pitchi Pullaiah	Telugu	Vasantha
1953	Prapancham	Telugu
1954	Devakannika	Kannada
1954	Panam Paduthum Padu	Tamil
1954	Vaddante Dabbu	Telugu	Saroja
1955	Rojulu Marayi	Telugu	Raadha
1955	Bhagya Chakra	Kannada
1955	Adarsha Sathi	Kannada
1955	Kanyadhanam	Telugu
1955	Asai Anna Arumai Thambi	Tamil
1955	Ezhayin Aasthi	Tamil
1955	Pasupu Kumkuma	Telugu
1955	Cherapakura Chedevu	Telugu	Lalitha
1955	Devakannikaa	Kannada
1955	Kaalm Maari Pochu	Tamil
1955	Beedhala Aasthi	Telugu
1955	Kanyasulkam	Telugu	Buchamma
1956	Charana Daasi	Telugu	Saroja
1956	Sonta Ooru	Telugu	Lakshmi
1956	Illarame Inbam	Tamil
1956	Edi Nijam	Telugu	Raami
1956	Edhu Nijam	Tamil	Raami
1956	Sadarame	Kannada
1956	Jayam Manade	Telugu
1956	Sontha Vooru	Telugu
1956	Vetri Veeran	Tamil
1956	Sadarama	Telugu
1956	Bhagyodaya	Kannada
1956	Naga Devathai	Tamil
1956	Naga Chavithi	Telugu
1957	Bhagya Rekha	Telugu	Kathyaini
1957	Panduranga Mahatyam	Telugu
1957	Bhale Bava	Telugu
1957	Rathnagiri Rahasya	Kannada
1958	Veettukku Vandha Varalakshmi	Tamil
1958	Thammudu	Telugu	Rani
1958	Ganga Gauri Samvadam	Telugu
1958	Nalla Idathu Sammandham	Tamil	Rathinam
1959	Kaveriyin Kanavan	Tamil
1959	Mahishasura Mardhini	Kannada	Gunavati
1959	Abalai Anjugam	Tamil
1959	Madhavi	Tamil
1959	Raja Sevai	Tamil
1959	Raja Malaya Simham	Tamil
1959	Raja Malaya Simha	Telugu
1959	Thamarai Kulam	Tamil
1959	Ulagam Sirikkirathu	Tamil	Sellathayi
1959	Rechukka Pagatichukka	Telugu	Rajakumari
1959	Aval Yaar	Tamil	Vijaya/Ponni
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam	Telugu	Yerukala Saani
1960	Kadeddulu Ekaram Nela	Telugu	Seeta
1960	Naan Kanda Sorgam	Tamil	Meenakshi
1960	Chavukkadi Chandrakantha	Tamil
1960	Chinna Marumagal	Tamil
1960	Paavai Vilakku	Tamil	Gowri
1960	Revathi	Tamil
1960	Padikkadha Medhai	Tamil
1961	Bhagyalakshmi	Tamil	Kamala
1961	Kumudham	Tamil	Kumudhaa
1961	Batasari	Telugu	Shanti
1961	Palum Pazhamum	Tamil	Nalini
1961	Kaanal Neer	Tamil	Shanti
1962	Paarthaal Pasi Theerum	Tamil	Janaki
1962	Annai	Tamil	Seetha
1962	Daiva Leele	Kannada
1962	Devasundari	Kannada
1962	Manchi Manasulu	Telugu	Radha
1962	Vadivukku Valai Kappu	Tamil
1963	Irugu Porugu	Telugu	Kanchanamala
1963	Anuragam	Telugu
1963	Sathi Shakthi	Kannada
1963	Malli Maduve	Kannada
1963	Kanyarathna	Kannada
1963	Gowri	Kannada
1963	Aasai Alaigal	Tamil
1963	Paar Magale Paar	Tamil	Lakshmiammal
1963	Saaku Magalu	Kannada
1963	Pempudu Kuthuru	Telugu	Manjula
1963	Kadavulai Kanden	Tamil
1963	Savati Koduku	Telugu	Janaki
1964	Puthiya Paravai	Tamil	Chitra & Saroja
1964	Dr. Chakravarthi	Telugu	Nirmala
1964	Desa Drohulu	Telugu	Karuna
1964	School Master	Malayalam	Johny's wife
1964	Navakoti Narayana	Kannada	Saraswati
1964	Pachai Vilakku	Tamil	Parvathy
1964	Alli	Tamil	Alli
1964	Peetala Meeda Pelli	Telugu
1965	Manchi Kutumbam	Telugu	Shantha
1965	Devata	Telugu	Herself
1965	Naanal	Tamil	Savitri
1965	Panam Padaithavan	Tamil	Rama
1965	Neerkumizhi	Tamil	Dr. Indra
1966	Petralthan Pillaiya	Tamil	Jeeva
1966	Mahakavi Kalidas	Tamil
1966	Motor Sundaram Pillai	Tamil	First wife
1967	Bama Vijayam	Tamil	Parvathi
1967	Kan Kanda Daivam	Tamil
1967	Pesum Dheivam	Tamil	Guest role
1967	Thaikku Thalaimagan	Tamil	Gauwri
1968	Oli Vilakku	Tamil	Shanti
1968	Lakshmi Kalyanam	Tamil	Parvathi
1968	Enga Oor Raja	Tamil	Sivakami
1968	Teen Bahuraniyan	Hindi	Parvati
1968	Jeevanaamsam	Tamil	Janaki
1968	Ethir Neechal	Tamil	Pattu
1968	Uyarndha Manidhan	Tamil	Vimala
1968	Undamma Bottu Pedata	Telugu
1968	Chakkaram	Tamil
1968	Thirumal Perumai	Tamil	Kumuthavalli
1968	Arunodaya	Kannada
1968	Manchi Kutumbam	Telugu	Shantha
1968	Bhale Kodallu	Telugu	Parvathi
1968	Chinnari Papalu	Telugu	Parvathi
1968	Evaru Monagadu	Telugu
1968	Manasssakshi	Kannada	Guest appearance
1969	Iru Kodugal	Tamil	Janaki
1969	Kaaval Dheivam	Tamil
1969	Niraparaadhi	Kannada
1969	Akka Thangai	Tamil	Janaki
1969	Thunaivan	Tamil	Marathagam
1969	Kuzhandhai Ullam	Tamil
1970	Kaaviya Thalaivi	Tamil	Devi (Meera Bai) & Krishna
1970	Nadu Iravil	Tamil	Rani
1970	Kanmalar	Tamil
1970	Kasturi Thilakam	Tamil
1970	Maanavan	Tamil
1970	Paadhukaappu	Tamil	Parvathy
1970	Dharma Daata	Telugu	Zamindar's wife
1970	Akka Chellelu	Telugu	Janaki
1970	Inti Gowravam	Telugu
1970	Rendu Kutumbala Katha	Telugu
1971	Babu	Tamil	Parvathi
1971	Rangarattinam	Tamil
1972	Thiruneelakandar	Tamil	Leelavathi
1972	Needhi	Tamil	Farmer's widow
1972	Appa Tata	Tamil
1972	Deivam	Tamil	Vedhammai
1972	Thanga Thurai	Tamil
1972	Badi Panthulu	Telugu	Radha
1972	Prajanayakudu	Telugu
1973	Pasa Dheebam	Tamil
1973	School Master	Tamil
1973	Khaidi Babu	Telugu
1973	Engal Thanga Raja	Tamil	Kanaga
1974	Kaliyuga Kannan	Tamil
1974	Swargathil Thirumanam	Tamil
1974	Ram Raheem	Telugu	Lakshmi
1975	Manithanum Deivamagalam	Tamil	Valli
1975	Cinema Paithiyam	Tamil
1975	Pinju Manam	Tamil
1975	Nalla Marumagal	Tamil
1975	Uravukku Kai Koduppom	Tamil
1975	Naaku Swatantram Vachindi	Telugu
1975	Devudulanti Manishi	Telugu
1975	Balipeetam	Telugu
1975	Vemulavada Bhimakavi	Telugu
1976	Dasavataram	Tamil
1976	Idhaya Malar	Tamil	Rajam
1976	Nalla Penmani	Tamil
1976	Athirishtam Azhaikkirathu	Tamil
1976	Perum Pukhazhum	Tamil
1976	Ramarajyamlo Rakthapasam	Telugu
1976	Manasakshi	Telugu
1976	Premabandham	Telugu
1977	Olimayamana Ethirkalam	Tamil
1978	Thayige Thakka Maga	Kannada	Kumar's adopted mother
1978	Devadasu Malli Puttadu	Telugu	Aruna's sister
1978	Anbin Alaigal	Tamil
1978	Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai	Tamil
1978	Chal Mohana Ranga	Telugu
1978	Iddaru Asadhyule	Telugu	Janaki
1979	Tayaramma Bangarayya	Telugu	Tayaramma
1979	Samajaniki Saval	Telugu
1979	Rangoon Rowdy	Telugu	Janaki
1979	Ravanude Ramudayithe?	Telugu	Mahalakshmi
1979	Pattakkathi Bhairavan	Tamil	Arjunan's mother
1980	Pappu	Malayalam	Herself
1980	Aarada Gaaya	Kannada
1980	Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi	Telugu	Janaki
1981	Thee	Tamil	Seetha
1981	Geetha	Kannada	Mukta
1981	Kula Puthra	Kannada	Guest appearance
1981	Prem Geet	Hindi	Mrs. Laxmi Bhardwaj
1981	Thillu Mullu	Tamil	Meenakshi Duraiswamy
1981	Vaaralabbai	Telugu
1981	Parvathi Parameswarulu	Telugu	Parvathi
1981	Puli Bidda	Telugu	Annapoorna
1983	Bezawada Bebbuli	Telugu
1983	Rajakumar	Telugu
1983	Aalaya Sikharam	Telugu
1983	Onde Guri	Kannada
1984	Chiranjeevi	Tamil
1984	Kai Kodukkum Kai	Tamil	Kaalimuthu's sister-in-law
1986	Dosti Dushmani	Hindi	Sumitra Singh
1987	Gouthami	Telugu	Sharada Devi
1987	Samsaram Oka Chadarangam	Telugu	Chilakamma
1987	Majnu	Telugu	Alekhya's mother
1987	Murali Krishnudu	Telugu	Murali Krishna's grandmother
1987	Brahma Naidu	Telugu
1987	Sardar Krishnamma Naidu	Telugu
1987	Anand	Tamil
1987	Vairagyam	Tamil	Annapoorani
1988	Aadade Aadharam	Telugu
1989	Siva	Tamil	Siva's mother
1989	Geethanjali	Telugu	Chancellor
1989	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal	Tamil	Goa resident
1989	Vetri Vizha	Tamil	Shirley's aunt
1989	Swara Kalpana	Telugu
1991	Azhagan	Tamil	Doctor
1991	Oorarinda Rahasyam	Tamil		TV Serial
1992	Soorya Manasam	Malayalam	Mariya
1993	Manavarali Pelli	Telugu
1993	Madam	Telugu	Sarada Devi
1997	Subhakankshalu	Telugu	Sitaramaiah's wife
1998	Bavagaru Bagunnara?	Telugu
1998	Kondattam	Tamil	Janaki
1998	Thodarum	Tamil
1998	Thaayin Manikodi	Tamil
1999	Devi	Telugu	Vijay's grandmother
1999	Anbulla Kadhalukku	Tamil
1999	Ravoyi Chandamama	Telugu	Nagarjuna's grandmother
2000	Hey Ram	Tamil	Mythili's grandmother
2000	Shabdavedhi	Kannada	Sandeep's mother
2003	Ela Cheppanu	Telugu
2003	Abhi	Kannada	Janki
2003	Abhimanyu	Telugu
2007	Amoolyam	Telugu
2014	Vanavarayan Vallavarayan	Tamil	Krishna's & Anand's grandmother
2014	Pungi Daasa	Kannada	Gayatri Devi
2015	Yevade Subramanyam	Telugu	Susheela
2015	Kanche	Telugu	Sitadevi's grandmother
2015	Soukhyam	Telugu	Modern Bamma
2016	Babu Bangaram	Telugu	Sailaja's grandmother
2019	Thambi	Tamil	Paatti Parvathy
TBA	Untitled Santhanam Movie	Tamil

References[edit]

↑ "Shavukar Janaki Returns". www.indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
↑ "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express.
↑ "Shavukaru Janaki: Did Not Act Out of Passion But to Meet Family's Needs". The New Indian Express.
↑ "Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki". 25 December 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.
↑ "A dauntless spirit showcased". 29 December 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.
↑ "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years..." filmfare.com.

External links[edit]

Sowcar Janaki on IMDb

S

[1] "Shavukar Janaki Returns". www.indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.

[2] "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express.

[3] "Shavukaru Janaki: Did Not Act Out of Passion But to Meet Family's Needs". The New Indian Express.

[4] "Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki". 25 December 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.

[5] "A dauntless spirit showcased". 29 December 2006 – via www.thehindu.com.

[6] "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years..." filmfare.com.

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v t e Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress
1967–1980	K. R. Vijaya (1967) Padmini (1968) Sowcar Janaki (1969) K. R. Vijaya (1970) — (1971) — (1972) — (1973) — (1974) — (1975) — (1976) Latha (1977) Lakshmi (1978) Saritha (1979) Suhasini (1980)
1981–2000	Sridevi (1981) Saritha (1982) — (1983) — (1984) — (1985) — (1986) — (1987) Saritha (1988) Raadhika (1989) Revathy (1990) Kushboo (1991) Sukanya (1992) Meena (1993) Rajashree (1994) Kushboo (1995) Shruti (1996) Meena & Devayani (1997) Roja (1998) Simran (1999) Devayani (2000)
2001–present	Sneha (2001) Meena (2002) Laila (2003) Jyothika (2004) Jyothika (2005) Priyamani (2006) Jyothika (2007) Sneha (2008) Padmapriya Janakiraman (2009) Amala Paul (2010) Iniya Lakshmi Menon (2012) Nayanthara (2013) Aishwarya Rajesh (2014)

v t e Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South
1983–1989	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (1983) Sowcar Janaki (1984) Sivaji Ganesan (1985) Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair (1986) Bhanumathi Ramakrishna (1987) Akkineni Nageswara Rao (1988) Ilaiyaraaja (1989)
1990–1999	Padmini (1990) M. T. Vasudevan Nair (1991) L. V. Prasad (1992) Gemini Ganesan (1993) K. Balachander, Kasinathuni Viswanath, B. Saroja Devi, Madhu, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Soumitra Chatterjee (1994) Nagesh & Manorama (1995) Krishna & Sharada (1996) Nedumudi Venu & S. Janaki (1997) Allu Rama Lingaiah & Lakshmi (1998) Pandari Bai & Mugur Sundar (1999) D. Ramanaidu & Sheela (2000)
2001–2010	M. S. Viswanathan & Dasari Narayana Rao (2001) Kovelamudi Raghavendra Rao & Vishnuvardhan (2002) K. J. Yesudas & Vijayashanti (2003) K. R. Vijaya & Ramoji Rao (2004) Thilakan & Sukumari (2005) Krishnam Raju & P. Susheela (2006) Sivakumar & Jaya Prada (2007) Veturi Sundararama Murthy (2008) Ambareesh & KPAC Lalitha (2009) Chiranjeevi & Jayasudha (2010)
2011–present	S. P. Muthuraman & Seema (2011) Bapu & Vani Jairam (2012) Balu Mahendra & Jayabharathi (2013) I. V. Sasi & Raadhika (2014) Mohan Babu (2015) Vijaya Nirmala (2016) Kaikala Satyanarayana (2017)