Sowcar Janaki

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

References

External links

• Sowcar Janaki at the Internet Movie Database