Sowcar Janaki: Memories of an artiste

Art has this power of documenting time, and creating memories that stay beyond time.

Key points

• That's probably why, in the 71st year of her cinema career, Sowcar Janaki decided to work in R Kannan's Biskoth (2020).
• One character that would definitely stand the test of time is Sowcar Janaki's role as Chilakamma in Samsaram Oka Chadurangam (1987).
• Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar met the veteran on the sets of her third film ever, Vetri Vizha (1989).
• This behaviour not just gained her respect from peers but additionally residents who were decades junior to her.

Art has this power of documenting time, and creating memories that stay beyond time. Sowcar Janaki created art for 74 years, throughout 400 films in all the major South Indian languages. Imagine the memories she has created on her own, and through her association with individuals spanning generations, and various departments of this wonderful world of cinema. CE catches up with a few of them to know a bit more regarding Sowcar Janaki. This person passed away on Friday, and understand what makes her art timeless.

Actor-politician Khushbu Sundar met the veteran on the sets of her third film ever, Vetri Vizha (1989). And even back then, Khushbu asserts that Sowcar Janaki was ahead of her time. "I did not know Tamil at all, back then. Though she was warm, the best thing regarding her was that she was brutally honest. This honesty was never haughty. Being a woman you were projected to be nice, but respect is a two-way street, and she would ensure residents around her knew it, too, " notes Khushbu.

"This honesty, without malice, is something you learn from them (veterans). For a long-standing career you need to accept who you are, only then others will accept you and understand where you are coming from, " notes Khushbu. This person additionally weighs in on the veteran actor's professional outlook that never thought screentime mattered for an actor. "She conquered people with her roles, and she was very mindful of the impact of her role."

That's probably why, in the 71st year of her cinema career, Sowcar Janaki decided to work in R Kannan's Biskoth (2020). It was, incidentally, her 400th film. She played a grieving grandmother seeking a companionship. "Yesteryear actresses wouldn't get to play roles which had socially unacceptable characteristics, but in Puthiya Paravai (1964), taking on a character who is always inebriated was brave of her, as other minds would have thought of how this will affect their future work, " points out Kannan, reminiscing what she shared with him regarding working in the 1964 classic. While shooting for 'Partha Nyabagam Illayo' from Puthiya Paravai (1964), everything was ready, but she did not like the costumes as she felt that these costumes wouldn't fit her character, "She informed me that. As in her mind this song would stand the test of time, " recalls the director, so she had to convince Sivaji Ganesan and others to let her go back home to obtain the right sari.

One character that would definitely stand the test of time is Sowcar Janaki's role as Chilakamma in Samsaram Oka Chadurangam (1987). It was this character that inspired director BV Nandini Reddy to cast her in what became the veteran's last onscreen role in Anni Manchi Sakunamule (2023). Since they carry themselves with a sense of honesty and integrity, "In Telugu, there is a word called chanuvu which is attributed to anyone who is given a lot of respect. When I met her, the character aligned with how she was in real life: Calling a spade, a spade, " recalls Nandini. Notably, the director adds, "Her passion for her work beats everyone. When another actor was performing, she would think of how she can perform a notch better. She was the absolute professional, by way of being meticulous. She was punctual and passionate regarding her work, and even outside of her work that meticulousness didn't fade. She lived her life that way."

This behaviour not just gained her respect from peers but additionally residents who were decades junior to her. Divya Vijay, at present a vice president at Zee Studios, was the executive producer on Anni Manchi Sakunamule (2023), and she uses the best label to describe Sowcar Janaki: a trooper. "Janaki amma had to travel alone on a car, from Mysuru to Coonoor, and that involved travelling through the Bandipur National Park, where there was a risk of encountering the major cat predators. But when she arrived, the first thing I noticed was the bright smile she had. As she cooked her own food anywhere, her independent nature additionally resulted in her bringing her own utensils. But this additionally resulted in the team consuming some of the tastiest dishes ever. One could write songs regarding her rasam, " states Divya, recalling how Sowcar Janaki's life was a lesson in how to be in cinema. "When I began my career back in 2018, there weren't numerous woman executive producers in the business, and I was reminded of the times when Janaki amma entered cinema, where it was considered an anomaly. In fact, she was married when she entered cinema, and even that was an continued anomaly. From her I was able to learn that until and unless you ask for a seat at the table, you wouldn't be given one. I learnt that I had to be my strongest voice, and to be my strongest supporter, and that it was okay to take up space. And at that age, she did not have to work for funds, it was purely her passion for cinema."

This passion was something that was seen in all the languages she worked in. As well, known for her collaborations with the late Kannada legend Dr Rajkumar, she extended the relationship with his son, the late Puneeth Rajkumar. In director Dinesh Baboo-Puneeth's Abhi (2003), Sowcar Janaki portrayed the role of Ramya's grandmother. As only she would be able to portray the pious faith of a Muslim woman, the director explains that he wanted to cast actor Janaki in the film. "For her, cinema was cinema. She didn't bother regarding the kind of role she played as long as it had a robust impact, and it was something that would be remembered, " he notes.

Art has the power to not just create memories, but additionally keep such creators in memory, and it is safe to say that Sowcar Janaki will always be remembered for this highly thing. She saw cinema as cinema. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Taken together, the developments around sowcar Janaki: Memories of an artiste point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.