Current affairs

Padma Shri Sowcar Janaki...Revisiting the legacy of a wonder woman of Indian cinema!

By alagu, 28 March, 2022
Sowcar Janaki, Padma Awards, Padma Shri

Legendary actress Sowcar Janaki has on Monday- March 28 conferred with Padma Shri Award, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India, by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Padma Awards ceremony that was hosted by the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The list of recipients of the Padma Awards was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 25 and two months later, they were now been honoured with their respective accolades.

The President has approved the conferment of 128 Padma Awards for this year and the list has consisted of four Padma Vibhushan recipients, 17 Padma Bhushan recipients, 107 Padma Shri recipients, 10 recipients under the category of foreigners and NRI, and 13 recipients who were award posthumously. The Presidential palace has hosted a series of Padma awards events and on Monday- March 28, the recipients were honoured before the national leaders. 

One of the legendary recipients who received the Padma Shri Award on Monday is veteran actress Sowcar Janaki, who won the award at the age of 90.  She has been honoured for her contribution to arts and cinema. Born as T Janaki on 12th December 1931 in Rajahmundry in the then Madras Presidency, Sowcar Janaki has appeared in over 450 movies, predominantly in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada languages. 

In a career spanning over seven decades, Janaki has also performed on stage in over 3000 shows. During her early days, she also had ventured as a radio artist. Janaki's younger sister Krishna Kumari was also an actress. Janaki has completed her earlier studies at Gauhati University in Assam and she was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Arizona. Janaki was a prominent radio artist at "Aakashvani Madras" from the age of 14.

After her marriage, she made her debut in acting in 1949, at the age of 18. Her first movie was 'Shavukaru' in Telugu and from then on, there was no turning back. She has become a popular actress with back-to-back successful hits in various languages between 1949 and 1975. She made her debut in Tamil in the movie 'Valayapathi' in 1952. Some of her notable Tamil movies include 'Naan Kanda Sorgam', 'Bhagya Lakshmi', 'Pallum Pazhamum', 'Thayikku Thalaimagan', 'Kumudham', 'Puthiya Paravai', 'Oli Villaku', 'Ethir Neechal', 'Maanavan', 'Thunaivan', 'Needhi', 'Kaliyuga Karnan', and 'Iru Kodugal'. 

After 1975, she has begun acting in supporting roles in Tamil films like 'Thee', 'Thillu Mullu', 'Vetri Vizha', and 'Puthu Puthu Arthangal'. She has been active in the film industry since 1949 and through her seven decades of career, Sowcar Janaki shares the place in the golden club of longest career span along with a few Indian actors. In Tamil films, her pairing up with Sreekanth, Gemini Ganesan, and Sivaji Ganesan was iconic and would be ever-lasting in the legacy of Indian cinema. 

In an interview about pairing up with Sivaji Ganesan, Janaki said, "He would compliment me in public using superlatives. I would be thrilled. We would always rehearse together. If my character needed a little over-acting, he would tone down his and it was a challenge working with the great actor! If they remember Sivaji Ganesan, they will remember me." On the other hand, she has also acted in supporting roles in MGR movies including 'Panam Padaithavan', 'Petralthan Pillaiya', and 'Oli Vilakku'. 

Some of the prominent actors who acted with Janaki include NT Rama Rao, A Nageswara Rao, Major Sunderrajan, AVM Rajan, Ravichandran, Dr Rajkumar, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Mammooty. One of the milestones of her legacy is that she is the living epitome who worked with superstars beyond the borders. With her acting career, she has pioneered breaking the borders and become a trend-setter for women artists in breaking the barriers. She also has appeared in the plays directed by K Balachander. She has been one of the versatile actors who had shelved a pile of awards and recognitions. 

Sowcar Janaki has received Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, Kalamamani Award by the Tamil Nadu government, Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress two times, SIIMA Lifetime Achievement Award, Rajyotsava Award by the Karnataka government, Puratchi Thalaivi Dr J Jayalalithaa Special Kalaimamani Award by the Tamil Nadu government, and now one of India's highest civilian honour, Padma Shri. 

After learning about the prestigious bestowment on the legendary actress, hundreds of thousands of fans and fraternities have been extending their wishes to Sowcar Janaki. Rashtrapati Bhavan took to Twitter and wrote, "President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Smt Sankaramanchi Janaki for Art. Known as Sowcar Janaki, she is a versatile film actress, TV, voice, radio and stage artist performing in over 450 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi in her career spanning 70 years." 

Earlier while the Union government has announced the Padma Shri Award for Sowcar Janaki, veteran Tamil actor Nassar said, "Oh our Sowcar amma...how many hundreds of unforgettable pictures in all languages, and everything is like a pearl. There have been millions of fans for your movies. Your smile transcends the eyes, your true love, and affection along the way. The prestigious Padma Shri award for you is a delight, and for us, it's pride." The legacy of Sowcar Janaki has been strong and distinct and with the award, it grows even stronger and etches a pinnacle in the art world. Janaki is a wonder woman in the history of Indian cinema. 

 

You may also like

Comments