Background
She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. Her father"s younger brother was Papanasam Sivan.
She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. Her father"s younger brother was Papanasam Sivan.
Early She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist. Janaki was a successful actress in late 1940s and starred in more than 25 movies including Mohini, Raja Mukthi, Velaikaari, Aiyiram Thalaivangiya Aboorva Chintamani, Devaki and Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi. M. G. had written in his autobiography that in late 1940s and in 1950, Janaki was earning double the income he received as an actor.
Janaki became Chief minister in January 1988 after her husband"s death, but the government lasted only 24 days, the shortest in the history of Tamil Nadu.
Her party was defeated in the next elections held in 1989 and she quit politics after the unification of the two factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. She died of a cardiac arrest on 19 May 1996.
She also willed her property in Arcot Street in T.Nagar to set up the Doctor.MGR Memorial House in 1988. She gave property worth many million dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil Nadu.
She was also instrumental in setting up the Janaki Educational & Charitable Trust which is currently administering institutions.
Most of the lands in which the educational & Charitable institutions are situated are worth millions of dollars and are her gifts to charity.
Political When M. G. Ramachandran died in 1987, she succeeded him as the first woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Leader of the AIADMK party (which later split into two factions).