Legendary playback singer S Janaki Passes Away at 88
Sistla Janaki was born on April 23, 1938, in Repalle village of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
Bengaluru: Legendary playback singer S. Janaki, fondly known as the “Nightingale of South Indian Music,” has passed away at the age of 88. She had been suffering from age-related ailments and breathed her last today at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru.
Sistla Janaki was born on April 23, 1938, in Repalle village of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. From a young age, she displayed a deep passion for music and received her early classical training under Guru Janinathan.
A victory in an All India Radio music competition became the turning point in her life. Encouraged by her brother-in-law, she moved to Chennai and began her professional singing career at the renowned AVM Studios.
S Janaki made her playback debut in the 1957 Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu. From then on, there was no looking back. Over a career spanning nearly six decades, she recorded more than 48,000 songs in around 22 languages, including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, and several others, making her one of India’s most accomplished playback singers.
Her melodious voice effortlessly brought life to lullabies, devotional songs, romantic melodies, and emotional compositions, earning her millions of admirers across the country.
S Janaki shared a special bond with Karnataka and the Kannada film industry. Her flawless Kannada pronunciation and expressive singing made her one of the most cherished voices in Kannada cinema.
She delivered unforgettable duets with legendary singers and actors such as Dr. Rajkumar, P. B. Srinivas, and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Songs like “Baala Bangara Neenu,” “Jotheyali Jothe Jotheyali,” “Kannallide Savinenapu,” and “Aadona Neenu Naanu” remain timeless classics loved by generations.
Despite achieving immense fame and receiving numerous prestigious honours, S. Janaki remained humble and lived a simple, disciplined life.
She was married to V. Ramaprasad, who was one of the biggest pillars of support throughout her musical journey. Tragically, he passed away due to a heart attack in 1992, leaving her deeply devastated.
She is survived by her only son, Murali Krishna, and had been living a peaceful life with his family in Mysuru in recent years.
Awards and Recognition:
S. Janaki received four National Film Awards and more than 33 State Film Awards, making her one of the most decorated playback singers in Indian cinema.
Declined the Padma Bhushan:
In 2013, when the Government of India announced the Padma Bhushan for her, S. Janaki respectfully declined the honour. She stated that the recognition had come too late after more than six decades of service and remarked that South Indian artists had not received timely recognition from the Central Government.
Retirement from Singing:
In 2016, at the age of 78, S. Janaki officially retired from playback singing due to age-related reasons. Though she stepped away from the microphone, her extraordinary voice continues to live on through thousands of immortal songs that remain etched in the hearts of millions of music lovers.
With her passing, Indian music has lost one of its most iconic and irreplaceable voices. Her timeless melodies will continue to inspire generations to come.
