Veteran playback singer S Janaki, fondly known as the "Nightingale of South India," died on Saturday at a private hospital in Mysuru following age-related health issues. She was 88.
Her family confirmed the news, with her granddaughter sharing an emotional note saying the legendary singer passed away peacefully.
Born as Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki in Andhra Pradesh, Janaki enjoyed an illustrious career spanning more than six decades, during which she recorded over 40,000 songs in around 20 Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Odia, Tulu, Urdu and Punjabi. Widely regarded as one of India's greatest playback singers, she was celebrated for her extraordinary vocal range, emotional depth and remarkable versatility.
Janaki made her playback singing debut in the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu and went on to become one of the most prolific voices in Indian cinema. She is also credited with recording the highest number of songs in the Kannada film industry.
Throughout her career, she collaborated with some of India's most celebrated composers, including M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, G. K. Venkatesh, Hamsalekha, Ashwath, A. R. Rahman and Johnson Master. Her duets with legendary singers P. B. Srinivas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Dr Rajkumar remain among the most enduring classics in Indian film music.
Known for her ability to effortlessly adapt her voice to suit a wide range of characters and emotions—including child voices—Janaki earned admiration across generations of listeners.
She received four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, in addition to numerous state honours, recognising her immense contribution to Indian music.
Janaki retired from playback singing in 2016, ending an extraordinary career with the song "Ammapoovinu" from the Malayalam film Pathu Kalpanakal, starring Anoop Menon and Meera Jasmine.
Her death marks the end of an era in Indian playback singing, leaving behind a musical legacy that has shaped generations of cinema and music lovers across the country.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan said her songs would keep resounding forever, adding on X that her demise had caused inconsolable sorrow to millions of her fans.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved family and fans, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth said she had delighted generations with her honey-sweet voice.
“The passing away of 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 C Joseph Vijay said.
Having sung thousands of songs across languages, she left an indelible mark on the world of music, Vijay said in a message on X.
A recipient of countless prestigious awards, including National Film Awards, she will forever remain etched in the hearts of fans for her sweet voice, her exceptional ability to convey emotion, and her unwavering dedication to music, he said.
"Her demise is an irreplaceable loss to the Indian music world," Vijay said, extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, fans and film fraternity.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu condoled S. Janaki's demise, describing her as the "beloved Nightingale of South India" and a "daughter of Telugu soil." "Deeply saddened by the passing of veteran playback singer Janaki Amma Garu, the beloved Nightingale of South India. A daughter of Telugu soil, she built an unparalleled musical legacy spanning over six decades, touching generations with her timeless voice. Her immense contribution to Indian music will be cherished forever. Heartfelt condolences to her family, fans, and the music fraternity," Naidu said in a post on X.
