Awards AppointmentsSaturday, 22 August 2026·Hindu Tamil Thisai
Sowcar Janaki, veteran actor with 400+ films, dies in Chennai at 94
Veteran actor Sowcar Janaki died in Chennai at 94; she acted in more than 400 films across Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In August 2026, veteran actor Sowcar Janaki died in Chennai at the age of 94, after a career spanning more than 400 films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema.
Key specifics
- Sowcar Janaki’s original name was Sankaramanchi Janaki.
- She was introduced in Telugu cinema through the film “Sowcar”, which gave her the screen name Sowcar Janaki.
- Her Tamil film debut came in 1952 with “Valayapathi”.
- She was born to Venkojirao and Sachi Devi and married Srinivasa Rao in 1947 at the age of 15.
- She acted with major stars including M.G. Ramachandran, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Nageswara Rao and N.T. Rama Rao.
Exam lens
Question type: Arts and culture current affairs, veteran personalities, film history, and Tamil cinema milestones. TNPSC may ask: who was called Sowcar Janaki, what was her original name, and in which year did she debut in Tamil films?