Sowcar Janaki

Janaki was born on 12 December 1931.^[4] She is the elder daughter of Tekumalla Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi of Rajahmundry.^[5] Her younger sister, Krishna Kumari, is a noted actress.^[2] She was born in a Kannada-speaking Madhva Brahmin family.^[6][7] She completed her early studies at Gauhati University in Assam and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Arizona. She has two daughters and a son.^[8] Her granddaughter, Vaishnavi Aravind is also an actress who appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and a few Malayalam films, starting in 1987.^[9][8]

Janaki made her debut in the L. V. Prasad directed Telugu film Shavukaru in 1950, which got her the moniker ‘Sowcar’.^[10] She made her Tamil debut in 1952 with Valayapathi. She became a prominent actress with hits in different languages as the lead heroine.^[11]

Some of her Tamil famous films include Panam Paduthum Padu (1954), Puthiya Paravai (1964), Neerkumizhi (1965), Mahakavi Kalidas (1966), Edhir Neechal (1968), Iru Kodugal (1969), Uyarndha Manithan (1968), Kaviya Thalaivi (1970), Ranga Rattinam (1971), Thillu Mullu (1981), Vettri Vizhaa (1989), Devi (1999), Hey Ram (2000), among others.

Some of her notable 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), Samsaram Oka Chadarangam (1987) and Devi (1999), among others.

She has participated in more than 3000 stage plays, and her contributions to the arts are numerous.^[12]

She has received multiple state awards from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh governments (before bifurcation).^[13]

In 2020, Sowcar was seen in her 400th movie, Biskoth.^[14][15]

In 2022, Sowcar Janaki has been honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award by the Government of India.^[16]

She has received several awards. Some notable ones are given below:

• Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award - South for Outstanding contributions to South Indian Cinema (1984)^[17][18]
• Mahanati Savithri Award in 1985
• Honorary Doctorate from World University, Arizona for Excellence in her chosen field in 1985.
• Indian Express Dyonara Golden Award in 1989.
• Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004
• Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000
• Sri Krishna Devaraya Award, Karnataka
• Kalaimamani by Tamil Nadu government in 1969-1970.
• Tamil Nadu State Film Honorary Award - MGR Award in 1990.
• Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress for Iru Kodugal in 1970
• Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for Samsaram Oka Chadarangam in 1987^[19]
• Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress for Amoolyam in 2007
• SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award (2013)
• Rajyotsava Award by Government of Karnataka (2015)
• Streeratna Awards (2019)
• Wonder Women Awards (2019) as Evergreen Entertainer of Indian Cinema
• Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Special Kalaimamani Award (2020) by the Government of Tamil Nadu
• Padma Shri by the Government of India (2022)