Playback legend S. Janaki died on Saturday in Mysuru at the age of 88. The music world is mourning his death. Affectionately called the ‘Nightingale of South India’, Janaki’s glorious legacy spanned six decades. With his unforgettable voice, he sang thousands of songs that touched millions of hearts across generations. His versatile skills ranging from melodious songs to folk songs earned him great respect as a playback singer in India. Many tributes have come to him from all over the country in appreciation of his enormous contributions to Indian music.
PM Modi calls S. Janaki’s death an “irreparable loss”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the veteran singer through a heartfelt message on social media. His statement read, “The death of distinguished playback singer S. Janaki Amma is an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture. Her songs in various languages were popular across generations. They gave voice to all emotions with unmatched grace and versatility. Her melodies will continue to enchant listeners in years to come. My deepest condolences to his family, countless admirers and the entire musical fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.” The Prime Minister’s message reflected the great respect that S. Janaki earned through her phenomenal musical journey and the indelible mark of her timeless songs.
A voice that crossed languages and generations
S. Janaki was born on April 23, 1938 in Guntur district of present day Andhra Pradesh. From an early age, she showed extraordinary musical talent. He trained professionally in music and had won a singing competition organized by All India Radio when he was only 18 years old. She made her playback singing debut in Tamil through the song ‘Vidhiyin Vilayattu’ but soon expanded to Telugu and many other languages. Interestingly, he sang in six languages during his debut year and has recorded more than 40,000 songs in 17 different languages to date.
Unforgettable legacy of S Janaki that will continue to inspire
Some of the perennial songs of S. Janaki are “Singara Velane Deva” from the movie “Konjum Salangai” and the perennial song “Annakili Unnai Theduthe” from the movie “Annakili”. Some of the top music composers who worked with her are MS Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, AR Rahman and Anirudh Ravichander. S. Janaki kept rejuvenating himself with each new generation he sang for. He not only rendered songs but also composed songs for a Telugu film. Though he may no longer be with us, his immortal voice and invaluable contribution to Indian music will remain with us forever through the songs we cannot do without.