Janaki Sabesh
Janaki Sabesh is an Indian media professional, actor, model, storyteller, author of children's book, theatre and voiceover artist. Throughout her film career, she has played the "screen mother" to several leading actors, appearing predominantly Tamil and Telugu films.
Janaki Sabesh

Janaki Sabesh · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Janaki Sabesh
- Birthplace
- India
- Occupation
- Storyteller, Author, Actress
- Born
- 1974 · Bengaluru.
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Janaki Sabesh is an Indian media professional, actor, model, storyteller, author of children's book, theatre and voiceover artist. Throughout her film career, she has played the "screen mother" to several leading actors, appearing predominantly Tamil and Telugu films.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q6150715 · wikipedia · Janaki Sabesh
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Janaki Sabesh • Birthplace — India • Years Active — 1992–present • Children — 1 • Occupation — Storyteller, Author, Actress
Early life
Early life
Janaki was born in Bangalore. She did her initial schooling in Carmel School, Kolkata and then from DTEA Senior Secondary School, New Delhi. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi and a master's degree in mass communication from Jamia Millia, Delhi. and Bombay Jayashri is her sister in law
Career
Career
In 1991, Janaki Sabesh assisted Simi Garewal with her documentary on Rajiv Gandhi called India's Rajiv. She made her professional acting debut in the movie Minsara Kanavu starring Kajol and Arvind Swamy, in which she played a nun. She later went on to act in Shankar's magnum opus Jeans, where she played Aishwarya Rai's mother. Since then, she has acted in over 25 movies, including the blockbuster hits Minnale and Ghilli, often playing the role of a mother. She has modelled for leading brands like Cadburys, Pepsodent, KFJ, NAC jewellers, Chakra Gold Tea, Jansons Dhoti to name a few. She has also appeared in a web series titled Black Sheep on the YouTube channel of Stray Factory, Rascalas.Janaki's work as a theatre artist includes plays with Chennai-based theatre groups, Crea- Shakti & Madras Players.Janaki Sabesh's engagement with children began when she produced an audio cassette “The Learning Train” (1995) that simplified the world of numbers through story and songs. She also runs her own storytelling initiative, Golpo - Tales Unlimited. The word Golpo in Bengali means "story". Her sessions are an interactive mix of narration, music and movement. She also conducts workshops for parents, teachers and students which centre on motivation and the productive uses of storytelling. Janaki Sabesh turned an author in 2018 with her first picture book, "The Jungle Storytelling Festival" published by Tulika in 9 languages. Her 2nd picture book Paati's Rasam (co-authored with Dhwani Sabesh) won the Best Children's Book Award at Jarul 2023, also shortlisted (top 3) at the Neev Book Awards 2022.
Web series
Web series
• Year — Title — Role — Platform • 2016 — Black Sheep — YouTube • 2025–present — Nadu Center — Thachi's mother — JioHotstar • Music video • Year — Film — Role — Ref. • 2024 — Kaadhal Alaipayuthey — Sanjana's mother
Press articles
Press articles
* • https: www.thenewsminute.com/article/ghilli-amma-childrens-writer-meet-janaki-sabesh-her-new-avatar-86615 • https: www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/karadis-tales-of-learning/article18970654.ece * • https: www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/181217/sabash-janaki.html
Works and production
Works and production
The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. Recorded with the gender female. Born on 23 September 1974. It is also recorded that janaki Sabesh is recorded as human. Institutional cataloguing adds that janaki Sabesh is recorded with the occupation actor.
Tamil films
Tamil films
• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1997 — Minsara Kanavu — Sister Agnes • 1998 — Jeans — Madhumitha's mother • 1999 — Jodi — Guest appearance • 2000 — Kushi — Jennifer's mother • 2001 — Minnale — Rajiv Samuel's mother • Poovellam Un Vasam — Chinna's mother • Shahjahan — Mahee's mother • 2002 — Run — Siva's mother • 2003 — Boys — Renuka • Enakku 20 Unakku 18 — Train passenger • 2004 — Ghilli — Velu's mother • Vaanam Vasappadum — Poongkothai's mother • Aayutha Ezhuthu — Doctor's wife • 2006 — Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu — Janaki • Vallavan — Vallavan's mother • 2008 — Dhaam Dhoom — Gautham's mother • 2009 — Ayan — Kamalesh's aide • Engal Aasan — Annalakshmi • 2010 — Singam — Kavya's mother • 2011 — Nootrenbadhu — Annalakshmi • 2012 — Billa II — David's sister • 2013 — Singam 2 — Kavya's mother • 2014 — Poojai — Divya's mother • 2017 — Si3 — Kavya's mother • 2022 — Achcham Madam Naanam Payirppu — Naidu Aunty • 2023 — Let's Get Married — Meera's mother
Other language films
Other language films
• Year — Film — Role — Language • 2001 — Kushi — Geetha — Telugu • 2003 — Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu — Train passenger • 2006 — Photographer — John's sister-in-law — Malayalam • 2007 — Shankar Dada Zindabad — Rajyalakshmi — Telugu • 2009 — Josh — Priyamvada • 2010 — Maro Charitra — Snehalatha • 2011 — 180 — Annapurna
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Janaki Sabesh”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q6150715: Janaki Sabesh
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.From 'Ghilli' amma to children's writer, meet Janaki Sabesh in her new avatar. 15 August 2018.
- 2.Deepa Venkatraman. It's all in the mind. The Hindu. 2013-06-15.
- 3.Chowdhary, Y. Sunita. Exuding positivity. The Hindu. 2010-05-24.
- 4.India's Rajiv - Credits (1:01:20).
- 5.Kaadhal Alaipayuthey | Amrit Ramnath | Sanjana K | Pranav Radee | Official Music Video. November 22, 2024.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority file
VIAF cluster 32155830628733072767 for Janaki Sabesh, aggregating national library name authorities.OCLC
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
People, houses and institutions
Knowledge graph
People, houses and institutions
Teachers, collaborators, publishers and institutions recorded against this person, each on a stated basis.
Citizenship
1- IndiaPlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
This entry is compiled from 3 catalogued sources across 3 independent registers. The registers consulted are Wikidata, Wikipedia and OCLC. Every statement above is held against the register that stated it; where the registers are silent, the entry is silent.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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