MYSORE, July 12 – The golden voice of South Indian cinema has gone quiet. Legendary playback singer S Janaki, fondly known to millions as ‘Janaki Amma’, passed away yesterday in Mysore, Karnataka, due to age-related illnesses. She was 88 years old.
Her extraordinary musical journey began in 1957 with the film Vithin Vilayattu. Over a career spanning more than six decades, singer S Janaki breathed life into over 40,000 songs across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi cinema. Her unique vocal range and ability to capture pure emotion made her an irreplaceable force in the Indian music industry.
A four-time National Award winner, singer S Janaki left behind timeless masterpieces like “Senthura Poove” and “Inji Iduppazhagi” that continue to resonate across generations. Beyond her artistic brilliance, she was a woman of immense self-respect. In 2013, she famously turned down the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, stating that the recognition arrived far too late in her historic career.
Tributes have poured in from across the globe as news of her demise shook the entertainment fraternity. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed profound grief, calling the loss of singer S Janaki an irreparable blow to the world of music.
Cinema icons also shared their heartbreak online. Superstar Rajinikanth noted on X that her nectar-like voice would continue to entertain generations, praying for her soul to rest in peace. Actor Kamal Haasan echoed this sorrow, sharing that her songs would play on forever even as fans grapple with this immense grief.
While singer S Janaki is no longer with us, her unparalleled legacy lives on through the tens of thousands of melodies that will forever echo in the hearts of music lovers.
