The Padma Shri recipient and star of over 380 films across seven decades passed away following age-related complications at a private hospital.
CHENNAI, August 21, 2026:Sowcar Janaki, a towering figure of South Indian cinema whose acting career spanned nearly seven decades and nearly 400 feature films, died in Chennai on Friday afternoon. She was 94.
The veteran actor passed away at 1:59 PM at Kauvery Hospital in Alwarpet, where she had been receiving intensive medical treatment since August 19 following a sudden decline in her health due to age-related ailments.
Actor Nassar, president of the South Indian Artistes’ Association (Nadigar Sangam), confirmed her passing in an official statement.
“Legendary star Sowcar Janaki (94) passed away,” Nassar stated, adding that her mortal remains would be kept for public tribute at Cenotaph Road in Teynampet. Film fraternity members, political leaders, and admirers gathered to pay their final respects.
Born Sankaramanchi Janaki in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, she began her professional journey as a radio announcer at All India Radio in Madras. Her cinematic debut came in 1950 with the Telugu film Shavukaru, directed by L.V. Prasad. The commercial success of the project earned her the lifelong screen moniker “Sowcar” Janaki. Two years later, she made her Tamil screen debut in Valayapathi (1952).
Throughout the golden age of South Indian cinema, Janaki held her ground as a dynamic lead and character actor alongside legends across multiple languages, including Sivaji Ganesan, M.G. Ramachandran, N.T. Rama Rao, A. Nageswara Rao, and Dr. Rajkumar. Her long-standing collaboration with director K. Balachander produced some of Tamil cinema’s most acclaimed works, including Neerkumizhi, Edhir Neechal, Kaviya Thalaivi, and Thillu Mullu.
Beyond Tamil and Telugu, Janaki made a lasting mark in Malayalam and Kannada cinema. She made her Malayalam debut with School Master (1964) and delivered an indelible performance as the mother in the 1992 Malayalam classic Surya Manasam alongside Mammootty. In Kannada cinema, she starred alongside Dr. Rajkumar in Mahishasura Mardini (1959), regarded as one of the earliest pan-Indian productions from the region.
Even into her ninth decade, Janaki remained active on set. Her final film appearances included the Tamil parody Biskoth (2020) and the Telugu feature Anni Manchi Sakunamule (2023), directed by Nandini Reddy.
The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour, upon her in 2022. Her career achievements were also recognized with the Tamil Nadu government’s Kalaimamani award, multiple Andhra Pradesh Nandi Awards, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South.
