Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru
Mysuru, July 11: The golden voice that enchanted millions of music lovers for over six decades has fallen silent. Legendary playback singer S Janaki, fondly known as the ‘Nightingale of South India’, passed away at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru on Saturday due to age-related ailments. She was 88.
One of India’s most celebrated playback singers, Janaki carved an unparalleled place in the world of music with her mellifluous voice, emotional depth and remarkable versatility. From rustic folk melodies and romantic duets to devotional songs and classical compositions, she mastered every genre with effortless ease, becoming a household name across generations.
Born on April 23, 1938, in Repalle village of Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, Janaki showed an early passion for music. She began her musical training at the age of three under Paidiswamy.
Her journey into the world of playback singing gained momentum in 1956, when she won a music competition conducted by All India Radio and received the award from then President Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad. Later, after moving to Chennai, she appeared for an audition where she sang Lata Mangeshkar’s popular song ‘Rasik Balma’. Her performance impressed the renowned AVM Productions, which offered her a contract and paved the way for her illustrious career in cinema.
Over a remarkable career spanning nearly 59 years, Janaki lent her voice to more than 48,000 songs in 17 languages, including Kannada, Hindi, Telugu and other major Indian languages. Her repertoire extended beyond Indian languages, with songs in Sinhala, Japanese, Latin and Arabic, highlighting her extraordinary range and versatility.
Fondly admired for her ability to bring life to every song she rendered, Janaki became one of the most respected voices in Indian film music. Her career remained closely associated with some of the biggest names in the industry, including legendary playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam and acclaimed music composer Ilaiyaraaja.
During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Janaki enjoyed memorable collaborations with celebrated singer P B Srinivas, S P Balasubrahmanyam and Kannada cinema icon Dr Rajkumar. Her voice featured in almost every Dr Rajkumar film, making her one of the defining playback voices of Kannada cinema.
Janaki’s extraordinary contribution to music earned her several prestigious honours. She received four National Film awards and around 30 State film awards from various states. The University of Mysore honoured her with an honorary doctorate, while the Karnataka Government conferred the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award on her in 2014.
In 2013, the Government of India announced the Padma Bhushan award for S Janaki. However, she declined to accept the honour, expressing disappointment that the recognition had come late in her career spanning more than five decades. She also voiced her concern that artistes from South India were not receiving adequate recognition despite their significant contribution to Indian cinema and music.
In her later years, Janaki had suffered injuries after slipping and falling. Following the accident, she had been using a wheelchair while dealing with age-related health issues.
With her passing, Indian cinema and music have lost one of their most iconic and beloved voices. Yet, the countless melodies she immortalised over an extraordinary career will continue to echo across generations, ensuring that the legacy of the ‘Nightingale of South India’ remains timeless.