India (Commonwealth Union)_ Veteran playback singer S. Janaki, one of India’s most celebrated voices, passed away at the age of 88 after suffering age-related health complications. Family members said she developed breathing problems and was admitted to a private hospital, where she died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones. Announcing the news, her granddaughter Apsara Vydyula said the legendary singer lived an extraordinary life and brought immeasurable joy to millions through her timeless music, adding that the family would forever cherish her remarkable legacy.
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The news of her death triggered an outpouring of grief from across the country, with political leaders, musicians and film personalities remembering the singer whose voice defined generations of Indian cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Janaki’s voice beautifully expressed every human emotion and touched millions of hearts across languages. President Droupadi Murmu described her as an invaluable treasure of Indian music whose rich legacy would continue to inspire future generations. Condolences also came from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi, superstar Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and producer Boney Kapoor, all of whom hailed her unmatched contribution to Indian film music.
Music composer Ilaiyaraaja, who gave numerous hit songs with S. Janaki, called her death deeply saddening and shocking, describing it as a monumental loss to the Indian film music industry. He praised her extraordinary talent, tireless dedication and lasting contribution, while also recalling her work as a composer of devotional songs. Veteran playback singer P. Susheela said no singer in Tamil cinema could match Janaki’s versatility and expressive voice. She noted that Janaki had effortlessly sung songs of every emotion and genre, adding that artists of her calibre are rarely seen today. Tributes also poured in from the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi film industries.
Several younger artists also shared heartfelt tributes. Singer Shweta Mohan called Janaki her queen, saying she had lost a piece of her heart and musical soul. She described Janaki’s songs as her lifelong textbook and called her the greatest singer the world had ever seen. Singer Chinmayi recalled performing alongside Janaki years ago in Australia and marvelled at her ability to transform her voice, singing like a child, a woman and even a man in the same performance. Actress Trisha said carrying Janaki’s name in one of her films was a great honour, but knowing and receiving affection from the singer was even more special. Actress Simran remembered Janaki as a voice that became part of people’s lives, giving life to emotions and creating memories that generations would treasure.
Born on April 23, 1938, in Pallapatla in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, Janaki began her playback career at the age of 19 with the 1957 Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu. Fondly known as “Janaki Amma” and widely called the “Nightingale of South India,” she built an unmatched career spanning more than six decades. She recorded over 48,000 songs in nearly 20 Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Odia, Urdu and Tulu, besides singing in English, Japanese, German and Sinhala. Her duets with legends such as P. B. Srinivas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Dr. Rajkumar remain evergreen classics. She won four National Film Awards, 33 state film awards, the Kalaimamani Award, the Rajyotsava Prashasti and an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore.
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In 2013, Janaki declined the Padma Bhushan award, saying the honour had come too late and publicly expressed that her contribution deserved the Bharat Ratna. Janaki was cremated with full state honours at her farmhouse in Kaniyanahundi near Mysuru. Her mortal remains were kept for public homage at Maharaja College Grounds, where thousands of fans, artists and public figures paid their final respects. In a touching moment, her granddaughter Apsara Vydyula performed the last rites, breaking long-standing tradition by lighting the funeral pyre herself as Vedic hymns filled the air, bringing the final chapter of a legendary musical journey to a dignified close.
