Sowcar Janaki

Sowcar Janaki
Born Sankaramanchi Janaki
(1931-12-12) 12 December 1931
( Peddapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1949–present
Spouse(s) Sankamaranchi Srinivasa Rao (m. 1947)
Relatives Vaishnavi (granddaughter)[1]
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

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 TeluguVasantha
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 KumkumaTelugu
1955 Cherapakura ChedevuTelugu
1955 Devakannikaa Kannada
1955 Beedhala Aasthi Telugu
1955 Kanyasulkam TeluguBuchamma
1956 Charana Daasi TeluguSaroja
1956 Edi Nijam TeluguRaami
1956 SadarameKannada
1956 Jayam Manadhe Telugu
1956 Sontha Vooru Telugu
1956 Sadarama Telugu
1956 Naga Devathai Tamil
1956 Naga Chavithi Telugu
1957 Bhagya Rekha TeluguKathayini
1959 Mahishasura Mardhini Kannada
1959 Aval YaarTamil Vijaya/Ponni
1960 Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam TeluguYerukala 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 KutumbamTeluguShantha
1965 Naanal Tamil
1965 Panam PadaithavanTamilRama
1965 Neerkumizhi TamilDr. Indra
1966 Petralthan PillaiyaTamilJeeva
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 BahuraniyanHindiParvati
1968 Jeevanaamsam (film) Tamil Janaki
1968 Ethir Neechal Tamil Pattu
1968 Uyarndha Manidhan Tamil Vimala
1968 ArunodayaKannada
1968 Manchi Kutumbam Telugu Shantha
1969 Iru Kodugal Tamil Janaki
1969 Kaaval Dheivam Tamil
1969 Niraparaadhi Kannada
1969 Akka Tangai Tamil Janaki
1969 ThunaivanTamilMarathagam
1969 Kuzhandhai Ullam Tamil
1970 Kaviya Thalaivi Tamil Devi (Meera Bai) & Krishna
1970 Nadu IravilTamilRani
1970 Kanmalar Tamil
1970 Dharma DaataTeluguZamindar's wife
1971 Babu Tamil
1971 Rangarattinam Tamil
1972 Thiru neelakantarTamilLeelavathi
1972 NeedhiTamil Farmer's widow
1972 Deivam Tamil
1973 Pasa Dheebam Tamil
1974 Kaliyuga Kannan Tamil
1975 Manithanum Deivamagalam Tamil
1975 Cinema PaithiyamTamil
1975 Pinju Manam Tamil
1975 Uravukku Kai Koduppom Tamil
1975 Naaku Swatantram VachindiTelugu
1976 Dasavataram Tamil
1978 Thayige Thakka Maga Kannada
1979 Tayaramma Bangarayya TeluguTayaramma
1980 Aarada Gaaya Kannada
1980 Gopala Rao Gari Ammayi TeluguJanaki
1981 Geetha Kannada Mukta
1981 Prem Geet HindiMrs. Laxmi Bhardwaj
1981 Thillu Mullu Tamil Meenakshi Duraiswamy
1981 TheeTamilSita
1983 Bezawada Bebbuli Telugu
1984 Chiranjeevi Tamil
1986 Dosti DushmaniHindi Sumitra Singh
1987 Samsaram Oka Chadarangam Telugu Chilakamma
1987 Majnu TeluguAlekhya's mother
1989 Pudhu Pudhu ArthangalTamil Goa resident
1989 Vetri VizhaTamil
1989 GeethanjaliTelugu Chancellor
1989 Siva Tamil
1991 Azhagan TamilDoctor
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 SubramanyamTelugu
2015 KancheTelugu Sitadevi's grandmother
2015 Soukhyam Telugu Modern Bamma
2016 Babu Bangaram TeluguSailaja's grand-mother

References

  1. ↑ "Sowcar Janaki Returns". www.indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/A-Trip-Down-Memory-Lane/2015/08/20/article2982913.ece
  3. ↑ http://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. ↑ http://www.filmfare.com/features/lifetime-achievement-award-south-winners-down-the-years-6684.html
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