In Pictures | Remembering Sowcar Janaki's remarkable journey in cinema

Updated - August 21, 2026 04:43 pm IST

Veteran actor ‘Sowcar’ Janaki passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Friday (August 21). She was 94.

Janaki, whose filmography spans seven decades and more than 400 films, is known for countless performances in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films,

She made her debut in the 1950 Telugu film Shavukaru, directed by veteran director LV Prasad, which also got her the name ‘Sowcar’

The actor went on to act in several notable films, like Panam Paduthum Padu (1954), Puthiya Paravai (1964), Neerkumizhi (1965), Edhir Neechal (1968), Iru Kodugal (1969), Uyarndha Manithan (1968), Kaviya Thalaivi (1970), Thillu Mullu (1981), and Vettri Vizhaa (1989) in Tamil; and Rojulu Marayi (1955), Kanyasulkam (1955), Panduranga Mahatyam (1957), Doctor Chakravarty (1964), Akka Chellelu (1970), and Badi Panthulu (1972) among other films in Telugu.

Here are some rare snaps of the actor over the years:

Sowcar Janaki in 1956 'Sadarame' (left); in 2008

Sowcar Janaki photographed on 10/11/1960

Sowcar Janaki photographed on 10/11/1960

Sowcar Janaki photographed on 10/11/1960

Sowcar Janaki photographed on 10/11/1960

Sowcar Janaki photographed on 10/11/1960

Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki in `Pattakkaththi Bhairavan'

Sowcar Janaki in 'Nankanda Swargam'

Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki and Sivakumar in the Tamil film 'Uyarndha Manithan'

Sowcar Janaki in 'Sadarame'

Sowcar Janaki and Sripriya in 'Olimayamaana Ethirkaalam', directed by K. Krisshnamurti.

Sowcar Janaki in`Penn Manam' (Tamil).

Sowcar Janaki and Thengai Srinivasan in`Kaliyuga Kannan' (Tamil).

A portrait of Sowcar Janaki ahead of the release of 'Parthal Pasi Theerum'

Sowcar Janaki in `Kan Malar' (Tamil).

Actors Manorama, Nagesh and 'Sowcar' Janaki in Tamil film 'Edhir Neechal'

Sowcar Janaki in 'Deiva Leelai'

Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki and others in the Tamil film 'Padikkatha Methai'

Sowcar Janaki in`Ninaippatharkku Neramillai' (Tamil).

Sowcar Janaki and Thengai Srinivasan in `Kaliyuga Kannan' (Tamil).

Jaisankar and Sowcar Janaki in `Manavan' (Tamil).

Sowcar Janaki and Satyanarayana in 'Nippulanti Nijam' (Telugu)

Sowcar Janaki, Sujatha and Gemini Ganesan in 'Idhaya Malar'

Sowcar Janaki and Master Sekhar in `Thangadorai' (Tamil)

S.S. Rajendran and Sowcar Janaki in 'Kumudham'

T.R. Mahalingam and Sowkar Janaki in 'Thiruneelakantar'

Sowcar Janaki at an interaction session with members of Vizag Film Society at Visakhapatnam on December 01, 2006.

Actors Sowcar Janaki and Rajinikanth at the 75th year celebrations of Kannada cinema held at Palace Grounds in Bangalore on 04/03/2009.

Actors Sowcar Janaki and Bharati (right) at the 75th year celebrations of Kannada cinema held at Palace Grounds in Bangalore on 04/03/2009.

Actors Malashree, Hema Chaudari and Sowcar Janaki at the 60th birthday celebration of actor Ambareesh at Palace Grounds, organised by Kannada Film Industries, in Bangalore on May 29, 2012.

Parvathamma Rajkumar, wife of late Thespian Dr. Rajkumar, and actor Sowcar Janaki greet each other on the occasion of 86th birth annivarsary of late Dr. Rajkumar at Ravindra Kalakestra in Bangalore on April 24, 2014.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa presenting an award to Sowvar Janaki at the Indian Cinema Centenary Celebrations at Nehru Indoor Stadium on 21/09/2013

Renowned cine personality Sowkar Janaki going around Film Photography Exhibition at the inauguration of 100 Years of Indian Cinema at Sulochana, Vartha Soudha in Bangalore on December 21, 2012.

Renowned cine personality Sowkar Janaki going around Film Photography Exhibition at the inauguration of 100 Years of Indian Cinema at Sulochana, Vartha Soudha in Bangalore on December 21, 2012.

Actors Bharati, Jayanthi, Hema Chaudhari, Krishna Kumari and Sowcar Janaki during the inauguration of the 6th Bangaluru International Film Festival at Jnana Jyothi auditorium in Bangalore on December 26, 2013.

Veteran actor Sowcar Janaki at an interaction, in Bangalore on June 06, 2011.

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit presenting an award to Sowcar Janaki at the golden jubilee celebrations of The Mylapore Academy in Chennai on 07-08-2019. Also seen are Industrialist Nalli Kuppuswami Chetty and Justice S. Jagadeesan, President of the Academy.

Sowcar Janaki at the Madras Week celebration at Savera Hotel in Chennai on August 18, 2015.

Published - August 21, 2026 04:00 pm IST

Tamil cinema / Indian cinema

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