Showing all artists born in 1931

Sankaramanchi Janaki (born 12 December 1931), popularly known as Sowcar Janaki, is a south-Indian actress who has acted in over 387 Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. She also performed on stage in over 300 shows and was a radio artist during her earlier years. Her career as film actress began after her marriage only.

She became a popular actress with hits across languages between 1949 and 1975 as the lead heroine such as Sowcar (Telugu), Valayapathy, Rojulu Marayi in Telugu, then in Tamil like Naan Kanda Sorgam, Kaviya Thalavi, Pallum Pazhamum, Paar Magale Paar, Thayikku Thalaimagan, Kumudham, Panam Paadithavan, Puthiya Paravai , Bama Vijayam, Oli Villaku, Ethir Neechal,Maan a van, Uyardha Manidhan, Nimarundhu Nil, Thunaivan, Needhi and Iru Kodugal (Tamil), with Kannada films like Devakaanika, Saaku Magalu, Sadarame, Thayige Thakka Maga and then with Malayalam debut Schoolmaster (1964) and with a film in Hindi - Teen Bahuraniyan. She worked with famous directors such as Dada Mirasee and K Balachandar. She moved to supporting roles after 1975 and her performances in Cinema Paithiyam, Thee, Thillu Mullu, Vetri Vizha, Kaanche were widely appreciated. She served as jury member for the National Indian Films awards committee and as chair person for state Telugu Films awards committee.

She made her debut at the age of 18, after her marriage, in 1949 with the film Shaukar. After this she essayed wide variety of roles for next 65 years.Only other actor to have had such long span in the field of acting in India was Dev Anand.

She was most comfortable on being paired with Gemini Ganeshan and Shivaji Ganeshan repeatedly.She quoted in an interview “He would compliment me in public using superlatives. I’d be thrilled! We would always rehearse together. If my character needed a little over-acting, he would tone down his and vice versa. It was a challenge working with the great actor! If they remember Sivaji Ganesan, they remember me,”. She has done around 387 films in Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam and Telugu.

She is the elder daughter of T. Venkoji Rao and Sachi Devi of Rajahmundry. She completed her earlier studies from Gauhati University in Assam and has received honorary Doctorate from University of Arizona. She has two daughters and a son, four grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

She was paired alongside N. T. Rama Rao in her first movie "Shavukar". She acted with A. Nageswara Rao, Jaggaiah, Sivaji Ganesan, M.G.R, Prem Nazir, V.K.Ramaswamy, Major Sunderrajan, Nagesh, AVM Rajan, Gemini Ganesan, Ravichandran and Dr. RajKumar.

María Romano  is an Argentine fencer. She competed in the women's individual foil event at the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Vaali (born 29 October 1931) is a Tamil poet and lyricist who writes Tamil poetry and film song lyrics. He has also acted in several films including Sathya, Hey Ram, Paarthale Paravasam and Poikkal Kudhirai. He was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, India'a forth highest civilian honour.
Vaali, whose real name is T. S. Rangarajan, was born in an Iyengar family at Srirangam in 1931. His father's name is Srinivasa Iyengar and his mother is Ponnammal. He was an artist and he worked at All India Radio (AIR). He holds the record for having written most number of lyrics in Tamil. He has written lyrics for over 10, 000 songs. He has authored many books such as Avathara Purushan, Pandavar Bhoomi, Ramanuja Kaviyam, Krishna Vijayam, Kalaignar Kaviyam, Krishna Bhakthan and Naanum Indha Nootrandum.

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, composer, singer, lyricist and actor, known for his works in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi films, across multiple genres.The octogenarian is widely regarded as one of the versatile directors of India.He is credited with having revolutionised the South Indian cinema with experimental films. He has garnered two National Film Awards, six state Nandi Awards, three Filmfare Awards South, and three Karnataka State Film Awards.

In 2010, Srinivasa Rao headed the Jury of the Indian Panorama at the 8th Chennai International Film Festival. In 2011, Rao received the Life Achievement Award from the Film Federation of India at the 4th Global Film Festival. Rao was also the Guest of honor alongside Barrie Osbourne at the Media and Entertainment Business Conclave 2012 hosted by FICCI and FFI.In 2012, Rao served as one of the selection committee member for the Sundance Institute's screenwriters lab.

The 2003 animation film, Son of Aladdin had 1100 shots and 125 characters.The film won Special Mention in the Competition section at the 2003 International Children’s Film Festival Hyderabad,and was subsequently premiered at the 37th International Film Festival of India.The 2008 animation film Ghatothkach, was premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week section, and was also premiered to special mention at the Grand Finale - Children's Film Festival 2014 of the 44th International Film Festival of India.

Rao served as the executive director for the 1970 Kannada film, Samskara which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film, and Bronze Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival.He made his Telugu directorial debut with Neethi Nijayithi (1972).

He then directed social problem films like Dikkatra Parvathi (1974), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, Filmfare Award for Best Film – Tamil for that year, and Tharam Marindhi, which won Nandi Award for Best Feature Film, both of which were premiered at International Film Festival of India and the Moscow Film Festival.

The 1988 silent film, Pushpaka Vimana gained international acclaim, including 1988 Cannes Film Festival premiere in the International Critics' Week. The film has received the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and Filmfare Award South for Best Film.

Charuhasan (born 1930) is an Indian film actor, acting mostly in South Indian movies. He was born in 1930 to D. Srinivasan. He is the elder brother of Kamal Haasan. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor and also the Karnataka Government's Best Actor Award for the movie Tabarana Kathe, directed by Girish Kasaravalli in 1987.

Charuhasan is the father of Indian actress Suhasini Maniratnam and the brother of Kamal Haasan.  He has also acted in several other Kannada and Tamil movies. His other notable movies include Dalapathi which was directed by his son-in-law Maniratnam. He also acted for a short time in Sun TV's serial Anandham. Charuhasan is an avid amateur radio operator (callsign - VU2SCU). He lives in Chennai.

Before entering the film industry, he was a lawyer.  He had a different schooling to other children his age; due to an accident he was unable to attend school for the first few years of his life and had a private tutor give him a basic education.