Sowcar Janaki

Sowcar Janaki
Sowcar Janaki
Born	Sankaramanchi Janaki; 12 December 1931 (age 92); ( Peddapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1949–present
Spouse	Sankamaranchi Srinivasa Rao (m. 1947)
Relatives	Vaishnavi (granddaughter)
Family	Krishna Kumari (sister)

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is a south-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 after her marriage only. She became a popular actress with hits across languages between 1949 and 1975 as the lead heroine such as Sowcar (Telugu), Valayapathy, Rojulu Marayi in Telugu, then in Tamil like Naan Kanda Sorgam, Kaviya Thalavi, Pallum Pazhamum, Paar Magale Paar, Thayikku Thalaimagan, Kumudham, Panam Paadithavan, Puthiya Paravai , Bama Vijayam, Oli Villaku, Ethir Neechal,Maan a van, Uyardha Manidhan, Nimarundhu Nil, Thunaivan, Needhi and Iru Kodugal (Tamil), with Kannada films like Devakaanika, Saaku Magalu, Sadarame, Thayige Thakka Maga and then with 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, 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 Shaukar. After this she essayed wide variety of roles for next 65 years.Only other actor to have had such long span in the field of acting in India was Dev Anand.^[2]

She was most comfortable on being paired with Gemini Ganeshan and Shivaji Ganeshan repeatedly.She quoted in an interview “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 Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam and Telugu.

Personal life

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 honorary Doctorate from University of Arizona. She has two daughters and a son, four grandchildren and two great granddaughters.^[4]^[5]

Film career

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, AVM Rajan, Gemini Ganesan, Ravichandran and Dr. RajKumar.

Awards

Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1984)^[6]
Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu government
SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award, 2012

Partial filmography

Year	Film	Language	Role	Notes
1949	Shavukar	Telugu	Subbulu	debut in Telugu
1949	Raksharekha	Telugu	Chandrika
1952	Valayapathi	Tamil	Sathyavathi	debut in Tamil
1953	Pitchi Pullaiah	Telugu	Vasantha
1955	Rojulu Marayi	Telugu	Raadha
1955	Bhagyachakra	Kannada
1955	Adarsha Sathi	Kannada
1955	Kanyadhanam	Telugu
1955	Asai Anna Arumai Thambi	Tamil
1955	Ezhayin Asthi	Tamil
1955	Pasupu Kumkuma	Telugu
1955	Cherapakura Chedevu	Telugu
1955	Devakannikaa	Kannada
1955	Beedhala Aasthi	Telugu
1955	Kanyasulkam	Telugu	Buchamma
1956	Charana Daasi	Telugu	Saroja
1956	Edi Nijam	Telugu	Raami
1956	Sadarame	Kannada
1956	Jayam Manadhe	Telugu
1956	Sontha Vooru	Telugu
1956	Sadarama	Telugu
1956	Naga Devathai	Tamil
1956	Naga Chavithi	Telugu
1957	Bhagya Rekha	Telugu	Kathayini
1959	Mahishasura Mardhini	Kannada
1959	Aval Yaar	Tamil	Vijaya/Ponni
1960	Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam	Telugu	Yerukala Saani
1960	Nan Kanda Sorgam	Tamil
1961	Bhakyalaksumi	Tamil	Kamala
1961	Kumudham	Tamil	Kumudhaa
1961	Palum Pazhamum	Tamil	Nalini
1961	Kaanal Neer	Tamil
1962	Paarthaal Pasi Theerum	Tamil	Janaki
1962	Annai	Tamil	Seetha
1962	Daiva Leele	Kannada
1962	Manchi Manasulu	Telugu	Radha
1963	Sathi Shakthi	Kannada
1963	Malli Maduve	Kannada
1963	Kanyaratna	Kannada
1963	Gowri	Kannada
1963	Paar Magale Paar	Tamil	Lakshmiammal
1963	Saaku Magalu	Kannada
1964	Puthiya Paravai	Tamil	Chitra & Saroja
1964	Dr. Chakravarthi	Telugu	Nirmala
1964	School Master	Malayalam
1964	Pachai Vilakku	Tamil
1965	Manchi Kutumbam	Telugu	Shantha
1965	Naanal	Tamil
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
1968	Oli Vilakku	Tamil	Shanti
1968	Lakshmi Kalyanam	Tamil
1968	Enga Oor Raja	Tamil
1968	Teen Bahuraniyan	Hindi	Parvati
1968	Jeevanaamsam (film)	Tamil	Janaki
1968	Ethir Neechal	Tamil	Pattu
1968	Uyarndha Manidhan	Tamil	Vimala
1968	Arunodaya	Kannada
1968	Manchi Kutumbam	Telugu	Shantha
1969	Iru Kodugal	Tamil	Janaki
1969	Kaaval Dheivam	Tamil
1969	Niraparaadhi	Kannada
1969	Akka Tangai	Tamil	Janaki
1969	Thunaivan	Tamil	Marathagam
1969	Kuzhandhai Ullam	Tamil
1970	Kaviya Thalaivi	Tamil	Devi (Meera Bai) & Krishna
1970	Nadu Iravil	Tamil	Rani
1970	Kanmalar	Tamil
1970	Dharma Daata	Telugu	Zamindar's wife
1971	Babu	Tamil
1971	Rangarattinam	Tamil
1972	Thiru neelakantar	Tamil	Leelavathi
1972	Needhi	Tamil	Farmer's widow
1972	Deivam	Tamil
1973	Pasa Dheebam	Tamil
1974	Kaliyuga Kannan	Tamil
1975	Manithanum Deivamagalam	Tamil
1975	Cinema Paithiyam	Tamil
1975	Pinju Manam	Tamil
1975	Uravukku Kai Koduppom	Tamil
1975	Naaku Swatantram Vachindi	Telugu
1976	Dasavataram	Tamil
1978	Thayige Thakka Maga	Kannada
1979	Tayaramma Bangarayya	Telugu	Tayaramma
1980	Aarada Gaaya	Kannada
1980	Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi	Telugu	Janaki
1981	Geetha	Kannada	Mukta
1981	Prem Geet	Hindi	Mrs. Laxmi Bhardwaj
1981	Thillu Mullu	Tamil	Meenakshi Duraiswamy
1981	Thee	Tamil	Sita
1983	Bezawada Bebbuli	Telugu
1984	Chiranjeevi	Tamil
1986	Dosti Dushmani	Hindi	Sumitra Singh
1987	Samsaram Oka Chadarangam	Telugu	Chilakamma
1987	Majnu	Telugu	Alekhya's mother
1989	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal	Tamil	Goa resident
1989	Vetri Vizha	Tamil
1989	Geethanjali	Telugu	Chancellor
1989	Siva	Tamil
1991	Azhagan	Tamil	Doctor
1992	Soorya Manasam	Malayalam	Mariya
1996	Subhakankshalu	Telugu	Sitaramaiah's wife
1998	Bavagaru Bagunnara?	Telugu
1999	Devi	Telugu	Vijay's grandmother
1999	Raavoyi Chandamama	Telugu	Nagarjuna's grandmother
2000	Hey Ram	Tamil	Mythili's grandmother
2000	Shabdavedhi	Kannada
2003	Ela Cheppanu	Telugu
2003	Abhi	Kannada
2014	Vanavarayan Vallavarayan	Tamil	Krishna's & Anand's grandmother
2014	Pungi Daasa	Kannada	Gayatri Devi
2015	Yevade Subramanyam	Telugu
2015	Kanche	Telugu	Sitadevi's grandmother
2015	Soukhyam	Telugu	Modern Bamma
2016	Babu Bangaram	Telugu	Sailaja's grand-mother

References

External links

Sowcar Janaki at IMDb

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

[2] ttp://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/A-Trip-Down-Memory-Lane/2015/08/20/article2982913.ece

[3] ttp://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/interviews/Sowcar-Janaki-Did-Not-Act-Out-of-Passion-But-to-Meet-Familys-Needs/2016/03/12/article3322223.ece

[4] Still ready to act: Sowcar Janaki

[5] A dauntless spirit showcased

[6] ttp://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html

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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) Radhika (1989) Revathy (1990) Khushbu Sundar (1991) Sukanya (1992) Meena (1993) Rajashree (1994) Khushbu Sundar (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) Ineya 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) P. Bhanumathi (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, K. Viswanath, B. Saroja Devi, Madhu, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Soumitra Chatterjee (1994) Nagesh & Manorama (1995) Krishna & Sharada (1996) Nedumudi Venu & S. Janaki (1997) Allu Ramalingaiah & Lakshmi (1998) Pandari Bai & Mugur Sundar (1999) D. Ramanaidu & Sheela (2000)
2001–2010	M. S. Viswanathan & Dasari Narayana Rao (2001) K. 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 (2008) Ambareesh & K. P. A. C. Lalitha (2009) Chiranjeevi & Jayasudha (2010)
2011–2018	S. P. Muthuraman & Seema (2011) Bapu & Vani Jairam (2012) Balu Mahendra & Jayabharathi (2013) I. V. Sasi & Radhika Sarathkumar (2014) Mohan Babu (2015) Vijaya Nirmala (2016) Kaikala Satyanarayana (2017) Hariharan (2018)
2020–present	Puneeth Rajkumar and Allu Aravind (2020–2021) Srinath (2023)