Veteran Actor ‘Sowcar’ Janaki Dies in Chennai at 94
Chennai, Aug 21 (TNT): Veteran actor Sankaramanchi Janaki, popularly known as ‘Sowcar’ Janaki, died at a private hospital here on Friday due to age-related health issues.
She was 94.
Janaki, who had a career spanning more than seven decades, appeared in nearly 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada cinema.
She also performed in more than 300 stage shows and worked as a radio artist during her early years.
Her mortal remains have been kept at Centoph Road in Teynampet, where fans, friends and members of the film industry are expected to pay their last respects.
Janaki made her film debut with director L V Prasad’s Telugu film Shavukaru in 1950, earning the moniker ‘Sowcar’ from the film.
She made her Tamil debut with Valayapathi in 1952 and went on to establish herself as a prominent actor across South Indian cinema.
Among her notable Tamil films are Panam Paduthum Padu (1954), Puthiya Paravai (1964), Neerkumizhi (1965), Mahakavi Kalidas (1966), Edhir Neechal (1968), Iru Kodugal (1969), Kaviya Thalaivi (1970), Thillu Mullu (1981), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), Devi (1999) and Hey Ram (2000).
Her prominent Telugu films include Rojulu Marayi (1955), Kanyasulkam (1955), Jayam Manade (1956), Panduranga Mahatyam (1957), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Akka Chellelu (1970), Badi Panthulu (1972), Tayaramma Bangarayya (1979) and Samsaram Oka Chadarangam (1987).
Janaki was also featured in the Kannada film Mahishasura Mardini (1959), alongside Dr Rajkumar.
Over her long career, she received two Nandi Awards, the Kalaimamani award and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award-South for her contribution to South Indian cinema.
She was also conferred the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2022.
She was associated with more than 3,000 stage plays and received several state-level honours from the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments, according to the report.
Janaki was born into a Kannada-speaking family in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. She was the elder daughter of Tekumalla Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi.
Her younger sister, Krishna Kumari, was also a noted actor.
Her husband, Sankaramanchi Srinivasa Rao, passed away way back in 1947.
Janaki is survived by two daughters and a son. Her granddaughter Vaishnavi Aravind is also an actor who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.
In 2020, Janaki appeared in Biskoth, described in the report as her 400th film.
Her death marks the end of a long and influential career in Indian cinema and theatre.
TNT KS
