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| Janaki |
Name Sowcar Janaki
Born Sankaramanchi Janaki December 12, 1931 (1931-12-12) (age 78)
Rajahmundry, Andra Pradesh
Occupation Actress
Years active 1949 - 2000
Spouse(s) Sankamaranch Srinivasa Rao (marriage in 1947) |
First movie in Telugu: "Shahukaaru" by Vijaya productions. Played the leading role paired with Sri NT Rama Rao
Acted as heroine with A Nageswara Rao, NTR, Jaggaiah, Sivaji Ganesan, MGR, Gemini Ganesan and many others.
Acted in 10 Kannada films opposite Dr Raj Kumar.actress vaishnavi's her doughter.she's also a fabulous actress[malayalam films mrugaya.aham. mackal mahathmyam]
Sowcar Janaki recently turned 75. In her prime, the actor worked with nearly all the lead actors of her time in both South Indian as well as Hindi cinema
. Ms. Janaki, for whom acting is a profession and cooking a passion, looks back on her long career.
I was a radio artist and my first make-up still was taken in 1949 for the film `Sowcar' produced by Nagi Reddy for Vijaya Productions. L.V. Prasad was the director. Talent hunters asked me to perform seven different expressions.
After seven days, I was happy to know I was selected as my survival depended on it. I was married and was having a 3-month-old baby. I came right from the kitchen to the camera. Today, one cannot dream of entering the film field with a baby.
My first salary for the film was Rs.2,500. I was happy to receive it as I could buy milk and clothes for my baby. The film was a hit .
People now say my Tamil is very good. I take great interest in learning the language in every film that I work in.
In fact, when I spoke Bharathidasan's dialogue in the film "Valaiyapathi", it was appreciated by all.
I have worked in almost all the South Indian languages such as like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. In Hindi also, I have done a couple of films.
Till now, I have done 385 films, mostly in Tamil. In Telugu, it could be more than 75 and in Kannada over 30. In Malayalam, I have done two films.
As far as I am concerned, all my films are good but if really pressed for an answer, I would pick my first film `Sowcar', then `Irrukodugal', `Edhir Neecchal', `Bhama Vijayam', `Kaaviya Thalaivi', `Annai', `Puthiya Paravai', `Oli Vilakku', `Kumudam', and `Rojulu Maarayi'.
My all-time favourite actors are Sivaji Ganesan and Savithri.
I have received many awards. The most memorable among them is the one received from the Tamil Nadu Government in 1969-70. I received the best actor award from Mr. Karunanidhi.
The same year, I received the Kalaimamani award. When I saw former President Dr. Radhakrishnan, he told me that he had seen `Venkateswara Mahathyam' and he repeatedly saw the portion I had acted in mainly for my brilliant performance. In that film I had done only a guest role.
Another memorable award was the lifetime achievement award instituted in the name of Nageswara Rao. I received it in his presence and was fortunate to receive the Sivaji Award, presented to me by Sunil Dutt, instituted by Prabhu and Ramkumar, sons of Sivaji Ganesan.
I have not bid goodbye to acting and will take it up if some good roles come my way. I still feel that I can do it ... after all this is my profession.
Filmography
By K. Balachandar (Tamil): Irukoduga, Edir Neechal, Baama Vujayam, Thillu mullu.
Tamil films with Sivaji Ganesan: Pudaya Paravai, Uyarnda Manidan, Pachai vilakku, Paarthal pasi therum , Motor sundaram pillai, Paar magale paar.
Tamil film with MGR: Oli Vilakku Telugu films: Dr. Chakravarthi, Manchi Manasulu, Rojulu Marayi
Kannada films: Mahi Sha Sura Mardine, Saaku Magalu, Sathi Shakthi, Thayige Thakka Maga, Shabda Vedi (with Dr Raj Kumar)
Awards
* State and Film Fare and Film Fans awards for best actress category.
* Honored with Kalai Maa Mani title as MGR award by Tamil Nadu government
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