Veteran actress and Padma Shri awardee Sowcar Janaki died in Chennai on August 21 at the age of 94 due to ill health. She had been briefly hospitalised at a private hospital before her death. Janaki, who worked extensively across Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema, had a career spanning several decades.
Following her death, filmmaker Nandini Reddy, who directed Janaki in her final film, remembered the veteran actress with an emotional tribute on social media. Reddy shared memories from the sets of the 2023 Telugu film Anni Manchi Sakunamule, which marked Janaki’s last appearance on the big screen.
Nandini Reddy remembers Sowcar Janaki
Nandini Reddy shared a picture on her Instagram Stories featuring herself, actress Malvika Nair and the team of Anni Manchi Sakunamule posing with Janaki on the sets. She simply wrote, “RIP Amma”, along with a folded hands emoji.
The filmmaker also shared pictures of Janaki dubbing for her role in the film. In her Instagram post, Reddy posted a handwritten note that the veteran actor had sent to her. For the caption, Reddy wrote, “This grand old lady of Indian cinema was the most affectionate and most professional artist I have ever had the privilege of working with. She told us stories, cooked and fed us all while doing her work as immaculately as she spoke. Independent, outspoken, articulate and most benevolent….. amma we were blessed to share a small part of your journey…… farewell (sic).”
Anni Manchi Sakunamule: About Sowcar Janaki’s final film
Anni Manchi Sakunamule featured Santosh Sobhan and Malvika Nair in the lead roles, alongside Rajendra Prasad, Rao Ramesh, Naresh and Gautami. In this film, Janaki played the role of Rishi’s grandmother. Those who haven’t watched the Telugu family drama can stream it on Prime Video.
Sowcar Janaki’s acting debut
For the unversed, Janaki made her Telugu film debut with LV Prasad’s directorial Shavukaru in 1950. She went on to appear in several films across multiple languages over the course of her decades-long career. Janaki was also honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022 for her contribution to Indian cinema.
About Sowcar Janaki’s death
Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki breathed her last in Chennai on Friday, August 21, aged 94. She was admitted to a private hospital after complaining of severe chest pain and was undergoing treatment. The news of her death was confirmed by Nadigar Sangam president Nassar, who revealed that she died at 1.59 pm.
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Sowcar Janaki dies at 94 in Chennai due to age-related health issues
