Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki honoured with Padma Shri, says this award tops everything

Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki was bestowed with the Padma Shri award on January 25. She has been recognised for her contribution to cinema for seven decades.

On January 25, the Home Ministry announced the Padma awards - one of the highest civilian awards in the country. Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki has been honoured with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award. She made her acting debut in the Telugu film, Shavukaru in 1950 and shared screen space with legendary actor-politician NTR. On winning the coveted award, Janaki said that this tops every award she has ever won.

This year, 128 people from different walks of life have been honoured with Padma Awards. In the field of art, Sowcar Janaki was bestowed with Padma Shri for her contribution to cinema for seven decades.

In an interview with The Times of India, Sowcar Janaki said that this award tops everything. Sharing her joy in winning the award, she said, "I am quite elated because I did not expect this honour. But I have never expected any awards. I might have received numerous awards in the 73 years of my career, but this tops everything because it is a national honour."

Sowcar Janaki took to cinema for survival and went on to act in over 450 films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. She also performed in over 300 stage shows. During her formative years, she was a radio artist. She made her Tamil debut in 1952 with Valayapathi.

Some of her famous films include Panam Paduthum Paadu, Mahakavi Kalidas, Neerkumizhi,Ethir Neechal, Rangarattinam, Thillu Mullu, Vetri Vizha, Devi, Hey Ram, among others. She was last seen in Santhanam's Biskoth in Tamil.

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