MYSORE, July 12 — India’s entertainment world is mourning the loss of veteran playback singer S. Janaki, whose honey-sweet voice became the soundtrack to generations of moviegoers across South India, with a career that produced more than 48,000 songs over six decades.
Janaki, touted the “Nightingale of South India” and “Janaki Amma”, died at the age of 88 in Mysore yesterday, local media reported with tributes pouring in from politicians and film superstars including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi.
“The passing of Mrs S Janaki, the legendary playback singer who has won the hearts of multiple generations with her unique voice in the Indian film music world, brings immense sorrow,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay wrote on X.
The singer’s death was an “irreplaceable loss to the Indian music world”, Vijay added, offering condolences to her family, fellow artists and fans around the world.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tribute, describing her passing as “an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture”.
“Her songs in various languages were popular across generations. They gave voice to every emotion with unparalleled grace as well as versatility. Her melodies will continue to enchant listeners in the years to come,” Modi wrote on X.
Rajinikanth also paid tribute to the singer, saying: “May her soul, who delighted generations of people with her honey-sweet voice, attain peace.”
Known for her ability to sing in multiple Indian languages, Janaki reportedly recorded more than 48,000 songs across film, albums, television and radio, becoming one of India’s most prolific playback singers.
She began her playback singing journey at 19 with the 1957 Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu and went on to record songs in several languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi, during a career that spanned more than 60 years.
Kamal Haasan remembered the singer’s lasting impact, writing: “The song will forever keep resounding. Where shall I seek that love, Mother? An inconsolable sorrow exists for many. My deepest condolences to them all”.
Born in Andhra Pradesh in 1938, Janaki discovered her passion for music early and performed on stage for the first time at just nine years old, despite never receiving formal classical music training.
Her extraordinary career earned her four National Film Awards and 33 state-level awards, cementing her place among India’s most celebrated playback singers.
She officially retired from film recordings and live performances in 2016 after a remarkable six-decade career, though she briefly returned in 2018 to record a song for the Tamil film Pannaadi.
Chiranjeevi said Janaki’s voice had brought emotions to life on screen throughout her career, writing: “Janakamma garu… your voice is immortal. Om Shanti.”
Janaki, who declined India’s Padma Bhushan award in 2013 while saying her contributions deserved the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, leaves behind a legacy that continues to resonate with music lovers across generations.
