Sankaramanchi Janaki popularly known as Shaukar Janaki (Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

 షావుకారు జానకి; ; Kannada: ಸಾಹುಕಾರ್ ಜಾನಕಿ), is a south-Indian actress who has acted in over 385 Tamil

Tamil language

Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...

, Telugu

Telugu language

Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...

, Kannada, Hindi

Hindi

Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

 and Malayalam films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows, and performed for TANA all over the United States in 2 Telugu plays created by actor Murali Mohan

Murali Mohan

Murali Mohan Maganti is an Indian film actor, producer and a businessman from Telugu cinema. He has also been active in politics for the Telugu Desam Party of Andhra Pradesh, in India.-Early life:...

. At age 11, she was a radio artist in Telugu programs. She started her acting career when she had a three month old baby and went on to become a popular actress with hits such as Sowcar (Telugu), Pudhiya Paravai (Tamil), Iru Kodugal

Iru Kodugal

Iru Kodugal is a Tamil language film directed by the veteran director K. Balachander and released in 1969. The film starred lead actors in the Tamil industry: Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi, Nagesh, V.S...

(Tamil). She also played lead roles with famous directors such as Dada Mirasee, K Balachandar. She is the elder daughter of T. Venkoji Rao (paper technologist (England)) and Sachi Devi. She completed matriculation from Gauhati University

Gauhati University

Gauhati University, the first university of North East India, is in the Jalukbari area in the western part Guwahati city, Assam, India. It was established in 1948. It is a four-star rated university by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. It has 183 affiliated colleges.- Campus :The...

 in Assam and has received honorary Doctorate from University of Arizona

University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...

.

Shaukar Janaki served as Jury member for the National Indian Films awards committee and as chair person for State Telugu Films awards committee. She has two daughters and a son, four grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Her son and second daughter have been living in the US for more than 25 years. She loves gardening, cooking and helping the needy in her own humble way.

Film career

First movie in Telugu: "Shavukar

Shavukar

Shavukar or Sowcar is 1950 Telugu film directed by L. V. Prasad and produced by Nagireddy and Chakrapani. Veteran South Indian actress Janaki has been named after the film as Sowcar Janaki....

" by Vijaya productions. Played the leading role paired with Sri N. T. Rama Rao

N. T. Rama Rao

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...

.

Acted as heroine with A. Nageswara Rao

Akkineni Nageswara Rao

Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...

, N.T.R

N. T. Rama Rao

Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , also known as NTR and fondly referred to as Anna Garu, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and a politician...

, Jaggaiah, Sivaji Ganesan

Sivaji Ganesan

Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...

, M.G.R

M. G. Ramachandran

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....

, Gemini Ganesan

Gemini Ganesan

Ramaswami Ganesan , popularly known as Gemini Ganesan , was an Indian actor. He was nicknamed "Kadhal Mannan" of Tamil cinema for the romantic roles he played in movies....

 and many others.

Acted in 10 Kannada films opposite Dr. RajKumar. Actress Vaishnavi is her grand daughter. She's also a fabulous actress[malayalam films mrugaya.aham. mackal mahathmyam]. She is the elder sister of Telugu actress, Krishna Kumari

Krishna Kumari (actress)

Krishna Kumari is a noted Telugu actress of the 1960s and 1970s. She was a leading actress and competed Savitri and acted alongside great legendary actors N.T.R, A.N.R etc. She acted in Tamil movies too. She has done many films in Kannada too that also with the kannada veteran Dr...

.

Awards

• State and Film Fare and Film Fans awards for best actress category.
• Honored with Kalai Maa Mani
  Kalaimamani
  The Kalaimamani is an award in Tamil Nadu state, India. These awards are given by the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram for excellence in the field of art and literature....
  
   title as MGR award by Tamil Nadu government

Filmography

Telugu films with ANR: Dr. Chakravarthi, Manchi Manasulu

Manchi Manasulu

Manchi Manasulu is a 1962 Telugu Drama film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao.It is a musical hit film with score composed by K. V. Mahadevan and voiced by Ghantasala, P. Susheela and others. The song Aho Andhra Bhoja .....

, Rojulu Marayi

Rojulu Marayi

Rojulu Marayi is a 1955 Telugu film directed by Tapi Chanakya. The story is set in native village environment about the changing times. Eruvaaka Sagaroranno Chinnanna song casting Waheeda Rehman is one of the memorable songs in the film...

By K. Balachandar (Tamil): Iru kodugal

Iru Kodugal

Iru Kodugal is a Tamil language film directed by the veteran director K. Balachander and released in 1969. The film starred lead actors in the Tamil industry: Gemini Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, Jayanthi, Nagesh, V.S...

, Edir Neechal, Bama Vijayam

Bama Vijayam

Bama Vijayam is a Tamil movie directed by K. Balachander. It is a family story narrated as a full-length comedy. The cast includes T. S. Balaiah, Nagesh, Sowcar Janaki, Kanchana, Jayanthi, Rajashri, Major Sundarrajan, Muthuraman, Srikanth, Kumari Sachu. Music is by M. S...

, Thillu Mullu

Thillu Mullu

Thillu Mullu is a 1981 Tamil movie starring Rajinikanth, Madhavi, 'Thengai' Srinivasan, Nagesh, Sowkar Janaki and music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. The film is directed by noted filmmaker, K. Balachander.The film is actually a remake of the Hindi Blockbuster comedy film Gol Maal released in 1979...

.

Tamil films with Sivaji Ganesan: Pudaya Paravai, Uyarnda Manidan, Pachai vilakku, Paarthal pasi therum, Motor sundaram pillai, Paar Magale Paar

Paar Magale Paar

Paar Magale Paar is a 1963 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman and Vijayakumari.-Plot:Zamindar Sivalingam is married to Lakshmiammal and takes his family's prestige and heritage very seriously...

.

Tamil film with MGR: Oli Vilakku
Kannada films: Mahi Sha Sura Mardine, Saaku Magalu, Sathi Shakthi, Thayige Thakka Maga, Shabda Vedi (with Dr Raj Kumar)

External links