‘Sowcar’ Janaki’s twin passions: Beyond cinema, the veteran actor loved food and designing interiors

‘Sowcar’ Janaki, who passed away today at a private hospital in Chennai, was well known for the lunches and dinners she would host at her palatial home in Chennai. Her culinary skills were legendary; in fact, in the mid-1990s, Janaki hosted a cookery show called Ruchi-Abhiruchi, spread over 30 segments, on Gemini TV.

While her long-time dream to open an Indian restaurant in California did not take off, it was an advertisement in The Hindu about the shutting down of popular restaurant Coconut Grove on Harrington Road that made her realise a version of that dream in Chennai. Janaki said in an interview, “I jumped at the chance and took the place on lease for three years between 1992 and 1995. Within the next six months, there wasn’t anybody who had not eaten at my Coconut Grove. I would prepare some 25 dishes every day with a staff of 50 to 60 cooks. I would procure fresh fish from Marina beach.”

In Pictures | Remembering ‘Sowcar’ Janaki’s remarkable journey in cinema

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1956 ‘Sadarame’ (left); in 2008

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1960

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1960

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1960

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1960

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in 1960

Sivaji Ganesan and ‘Sowcar’ Janaki in ‘Pattakkaththi Bhairavan’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in ‘Nankanda Swargam’

Sivaji Ganesan, ‘Sowcar’ Janaki and Sivakumar in the Tamil film ‘Uyarndha Manithan’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in ‘Sadarame’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki and Sripriya in ‘Olimayamaana Ethirkaalam’, directed by K. Krisshnamurti.

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in`Penn Manam’ (Tamil).

‘Sowcar’ Janaki and Thengai Srinivasan in`Kaliyuga Kannan’ (Tamil).

A portrait of ‘Sowcar’ Janaki ahead of the release of ‘Parthal Pasi Theerum’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in `Kan Malar’ (Tamil).

Actors Manorama, Nagesh and ‘Sowcar’ Janaki in Tamil film ‘Edhir Neechal’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in ‘Deiva Leelai’

Sivaji Ganesan, ‘Sowcar’ Janaki and others in the Tamil film ‘Padikkatha Methai’

‘Sowcar’ Janaki in`Ninaippatharkku Neramillai’ (Tamil).

‘Sowcar’ Janaki and Thengai Srinivasan in `Kaliyuga Kannan’ (Tamil).

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Janaki loved challenges — not just in real life, but in reel life as well. In fact, for a crucial sequence in Tamil superstar Rajinikanth’s Thillu Mullu, she had to climb a pipe, which she did without rehearsals. “I requested KB sir (the director of the film) to go directly for the take,” stated the actor, who made her debut in the 1950 Telugu film Shavukaru and went on to make a mark in several notable films including Edhir Neechal and Uyarndha Manidhan.

Sowcar Janaki’s Kannada cinema journey spanned generations and iconic stars

Janaki’s other passion was interior decoration; she was keenly interested in this aspect of her Bangalore and Chennai residences. During a ‘Madras Day’ talk in 2016, the actress told the audience, “I knew that someday, I’d lose fame. So, I have always kept in touch with my interests.”