Veteran actress Sowcar Janaki (94) passed away in Chennai on Friday! She was admitted in a hospital in Chennai and was undergoing treatment for age-related issues.

Nadigar Sangam President Nassar and actor Nassar had confirmed the development through an official statement. He described her as a legendary star and announced that her mortal remains would be kept at Centoph Road in Teynampet from 5 PM allowing fans, friends and members of the film fraternity to pay their last respects.

Over seven decades of career

A pioneer in natural acting, Janaki has left behind a monumental legacy as one of Indian cinema’s finest leading ladies. She began her stellar acting journey with breakthrough role in her debut film Sowcar (1950) itself. The film was a hit and the actress has since been called Sowcar Janaki. Between 1949 and 1975, she became a prominent actress with blockbusters in various languages.

In a career spanning over seven decades, Sowcar Janaki has worked in over 400 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema. Some of Sowcar Janaki’s notable Telugu films include Rojulu Marayi, Jayam Manade, , Kanyasulkam, Panduranga Mahatyam, Doctor Chakravarty, , Badi Panthulu, Akka Chellelu, Samsaram Oka Chadarangam and Tayaramma Bangarayya. Her last film appearance was in the Telugu movie, Anni Manchi Sakunamule.

Awards and recognitions

Apart from several state awards, Sowcar Janaki was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022. She also won Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South for outstanding contributions to South Indian cinema. She was also the recipient of multiple accolades including Nandi Awards and a Kalaimamani Award.

Born as Sankaramanchi Janaki in 1931 in Rajahmundry, East Godavari district, she entered the entertainment industry as a radio artist. Before making her film debut, she also performed in more than 300 stage plays. Janaki was the elder sister to celebrated actress is Krishna Kumari who passed away in 2018.

Also Read: Veteran Actor Pradeep Rawat of Ghajini and Lagaan Fame, Passes Away After Battling Cancer

Gandhari is a tale of grit, determination and a will to put beliefs to action that plays out in the fictional town of Joypurra. Bani (Taapsee Pannu), a mother has her courage and resiliency tested to the limits as she embarks on a relentless pursuit to rescue her kidnapped daughter.

Two years after the OTT launch of Phir Aayi Hasseen Dillruba, both Taapsee Pannu and Kanika Dhillon will be reuniting for Gandhari. The writer and producer, Kanika Dhillon, said, “Reuniting with Taapsee once again has been incredibly special. There is a deep creative trust and understanding that we have built over the years. Watching her bring Bani to life with such commitment and intensity was truly rewarding.” Inspired by the mythological figure, Gandhari, the wife of King Dhritarashtra from the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, Taapsee Pannu will be bringing this character to life in a more modern setting.

Kanika reveals her determination on bringing Gandhari to the world of OTT. She said, “With Gandhari, we wanted to tell the story of a woman who refuses to be defined by her circumstances. Bani’s (Taapsee Pannu) journey is raw, relentless and deeply personal. This is what drew me to her from the very beginning.”

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Devanish Makhija, the director of Gandhari, has an impressive portfolio of patriotic and artistic work. Kanika spoke on how important his directive experience has been for bringing Bani to life. She said, “Collaborating with Devashish and an exceptional cast made this journey all the more fulfilling. Our partnership with Netflix has once again given us the opportunity to being this story to life on the scale and canvas it deserves.” The elaborate cast also includes a tight list of talented actors including Ishwak Singh, Chhaya Kadam, Swastika Mukherjee, Mita Vashisht and Jatin Sarna.

Gandhari is set to premiere on Netflix, September 3

Also Read: Exclusive: Taapsee Pannu’s Gandhari Inspired By The Mahabharata?

Sai Abhyankkar is continuing to build his independent music catalogue even as his film career gathers momentum. After collaborating with Kayadu Lohar for the widely popular Pavazha Malli, the singer-composer has announced Radhimaa, his next independent track, which will feature Bhagyashri Borse, the actor associated with Kaantha.

Sai first revealed the title of Radhimaa on August 18, announcing the song without revealing the identity of its female lead. The composer has now followed it up with a new poster featuring himself alongside Bhagyashri. “Hi Radhimaa,” he wrote in the caption, confirming the actor’s involvement in the upcoming song.

The announcement brings together two young names who have been steadily attracting attention in South Indian entertainment. Bhagyashri is set to be seen in Kaantha, while Sai has emerged as one of the more recognisable new voices in the Tamil independent music space. His songs have also increasingly become a pathway for young actors to reach audiences outside their film projects.

Radhimaa marks Sai Abhyankkar’s seventh independent outing

Radhimaa will be Sai’s seventh independent song, following Valam Varavendum, Katchi Sera, Aasa Kooda, Sithira Puthiri, Vizhi Veekura and Pavazha Malli. While Valam Varavendum marked an early stage in his journey, Katchi Sera was the song that turned Sai into a widely recognised name. Aasa Kooda subsequently strengthened that momentum, with both tracks continuing to remain among his most popular independent releases.

Pavazha Malli, released with Kayadu Lohar, became another major success and further established Sai’s ability to turn his independent releases into audience-driven hits. The song followed the momentum of Katchi Sera and Aasa Kooda, making his indie catalogue an important part of his growing musical identity.

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Interestingly, Sai had previously indicated that his next independent song would arrive soon. At the time of announcing the title, he also revealed that he planned to release an unplugged version of Radhimaa first, giving listeners a stripped-down introduction to the track before the full song arrives.

From indie success to one of Tamil cinema’s busiest young composers

Sai’s rise has happened alongside an expanding filmography. He made his feature-film debut as a composer with Balti, the 2025 Shane Nigam and Preethi Asrani starrer. He subsequently composed the music for Dude, starring Pradeep Ranganathan and Mamitha Baiju. He is now attached to several upcoming projects, including Om, Benz, Baththa, Suriya 48, Thamizh Murugan, Marshal and Raaka.

His association with Mamitha Baiju is also set to continue after Dude. The upcoming project also features Oh My Kadavule and Dragon director Ashwath Marimuthu and comes from first-time producer Pradeep Ranganathan.

With Radhimaa, Sai appears to be returning to the space that helped establish his identity beyond conventional film soundtracks. The song is expected to release in the near future, with the unplugged version set to arrive first. Bhagyashri Borse’s presence adds another point of interest, particularly as the actor prepares for greater visibility through Kaantha.

For a composer whose biggest breakthroughs have often come through songs outside conventional film soundtracks, Radhimaa could become another significant addition to Sai Abhyankkar’s rapidly expanding independent music catalogue.

Also Read: Raaka: Composer Sai Abhyankkar Plans Global Album for Allu Arjun–Atlee Film