S. Renowned singer Janaki, who sang in 18 languages, mainly South Indian languages, died in Mysore on Saturday (July 11, 2026) at the age of 88.
Known for her versatility, S Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Seenthura Poov” from 16 Vayathinile, the directorial debut of Bharathiraja, who died last month.
During a career spanning more than six decades, he worked with successive generations of composers, starting with T. Chalapathi Rao, who introduced him to films, and later with MD Parthasarathy, G. Worked with Ramanathan, MB Srinivasan, KV Mahadevan and MS Vishwanathan.
After singing thousands of songs in multiple languages ​​for almost half a century, S. When Janaki was awarded the Padma Bhushan award in 2013, she rejected it and said that the award had come too late for her.
Janaki also sang in Hindi and Sinhala, but made her mark in South Indian languages. His presentation was full of love and compassion and often reminisced about times gone by.
Photo: The Hindu Archives
If music is an art that enriches the aesthetic sphere, then S Janaki was the undisputed queen. Strange that in the showbiz arena, she preferred to be a normal person in her conduct. Accessible and perhaps taking his talent and success for granted, the way he presented himself in the public sphere had the aura of a saint.
Photo: HANDOUT_E_MAIL
Veteran playback singer S Janaki with singer PB Srinivas. During a career spanning more than six decades, he worked with successive generations of composers, starting with T. Chalapathi Rao, who introduced him to films, and later with MD Parthasarathy, G. Worked with Ramanathan, MB Srinivasan, KV Mahadevan and MS Vishwanathan. Photo: Special Arrangement
Photo: Nagara Gopal
S. Janaki was a versatile singer with equal ease in classical compositions, romantic tunes, folk songs, comedy songs and emotionally charged duets.
Photo: K. fate light
Kannada film directors (from left) Bhagavan, KSL Swamy (Ravi), Rajan and Sivaram and playback singers S. Janaki, PB Srinivas, P. Susheela and Vani Jayaram were honored by Sri Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejavar Math at a function organized by Lotus Software Park and Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet in Bangalore on May 14, 2008.
In October 1984 in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister K. S receiving the award from Karunakaran. Janaki. She received ten Kerala State Film Awards for Best Playback Singer during a 14-year period between 1970 and 1984. Photo: Special Arrangement
Photo: G Krishnaswami
S. with singer Bala Saraswati at a function organized in his honor in Hyderabad on 8 September 2011. Janaki. Her career in Telugu cinema began in 1957 with the film MLA, when she sang ‘Nee Aas Adiyasa’ and ‘Idenandi Idenandi Bhagyanagaramu’ in the music of Pendyala Nageswara Rao. The same year he recorded songs in various languages, including Kannada and Tamil, showcasing his linguistic ability.
S Janaki during a stage performance with veteran singer KJ Yesudas in Kerala. Known for her versatility, Janaki recorded over 48,000 songs in multiple languages, primarily the South Indian languages ​​of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Photo: Special Arrangement
Photo: S. Shiva Sarwan
When the Government of India announced the Padma Awards on the eve of Republic Day in 2013, S. Janaki was selected for the Padma Bhushan. However, he refused to accept it. He said that if the government wanted to recognize his work, it should have given him the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna. He said that he is not interested in any other award apart from Padma awards.
Playback singers Swarnalatha, Srinivas and S. at the ‘Unity of Light’ concert at Taramani, Chennai on 21 February 2003. Music director AR Rahman performed with Janaki. In the Tamil film industry, he carved a niche for himself at a time when P. Susheela and many other leading singers were at the peak of their careers, and worked with renowned music directors including KV Mahadevan and MS Vishwanathan.
Photo: N Sreedharan
Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Seenthura Poov” from 16 Vayathinile, the first directorial debut of Bharathiraja, who passed away recently. His remarkable journey in Tamil cinema gained further momentum with the rise of maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who chose him for memorable songs in his debut film Annakili (1976), a landmark achievement in Tamil film music, which completed 50 years in 2026.
Photo: K. fate light
Famous playback singers (from right), PB Srinivas, S Janaki and SP Balasubramaniam, who were presented with Chi. Udayashankar Memorial Awards for 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively, seen after receiving the award at a ceremony in Bangalore on 19 March 2005. Janaki lent her voice to iconic songs for every famous composer of Kannada cinema.
Photo: The Hindu
S. Janaki and Dr. P.B. Srinivas was performing a bhajan and ghazal benefit show at Vani Mahal, Chennai on 4 February 2006 in aid of Ellen Sharma Memorial Primary School. If music is an art that enriches the aesthetic sphere, then Janaki was the undisputed queen.
Photo: HANDOUT_E_MAIL
S Janaki with singer BK Sumitra. Singing so many songs under so many music directors, and receiving that tremendous affection whenever the All India Radio announcer mentioned that the song being played was sung by Janaki, is a reflection of his longevity.
Photo: CV Subramaniam
Playback singer S. Janaki and K.J. Yesudas.
Photo: R Ragu
S Janaki paying tribute to PB Srinivas, who passed away, at his residence. Be it a solo effort or singing together, Janaki remained incomparable. Holding her own while singing with SP Balasubramaniam (SPB) and KJ Yesudas and commanding the respect of her peers throughout her career reflects Janaki’s dominance in her acoustic field in celluloid.
Photo: The Hindu Archives
S Janaki, right, late Tamil director Bharathiraja, left, and renowned music director Ilayaraja, centre. Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Senthura Poov” from Bharathiraja’s directorial debut 16 Vayathinile. In these weeks of departure, whether it was Bharathiraja or K. Bhagyaraj, Janaki’s departure into the mist of time is the latest shock.
Photo: KG Santosh
Playback singer and composer, KP Dayabhanu, sharing a light moment with S Janaki in Thiruvananthapuram. His debut in Malayalam playback remains controversial. Often g. Minnalappadayali, directed by Vishwanath and released in 1959, is cited as his debut film. But according to music historians, the song Irul Moodukayo En Vaazvil from the crime-thriller Minnunnathelam Ponnalla, released two years earlier, marked the real beginning of his Malayalam journey.
Photo: The Hindu
S. at the silver jubilee celebration of the Ganamrit Group held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium, Madras on July 2, 1989. Presenting a gift to Janaki, the then President R. Janaki Venkataraman, wife of Venkataraman. YG Parthasarathy and others are also seen in the picture.
Photo: G. Ramakrishna
S Janaki during the grand felicitation and tribute to the great Padmavibhushan Panditji Hariprasad Chaurasia who is celebrating his 80th birthday, in Hyderabad on July 22, 2018. Janaki also sang in Hindi and Sinhala, but made her mark in South Indian languages.
Photo: The Hindu
S Janaki singing in Mysore at an open-air theater organized by the S Janaki Charitable Trust. He spent part of his childhood six decades ago in Sircilla, a backward textile village in Telangana’s old Karimnagar district. The discovery of this little-known chapter of his life has added a new emotional dimension to his relationship with Telangana, making his enduring legacy even more special to the people of the state.
Ghantasala, Kendra, and P. Sushila with S. Janaki. His presentation was full of love and compassion and often reminisced about times gone by.
Photo: The Hindu
It was a coincidence that Janaki, a lifelong fan of Lata Mangeshkar, had her Malayalam debut with a song to the tune of Hemant Kumar’s popular “Mera Dil Yeh Pukare Aaj”, sung by Lata herself. While Lata was hailed as the Nightingale of India, her ardent fan following was later crowned the Nightingale of South India.
Photo: G Krishnaswami
S. Janaki (centre) receives the first P. Sushila National Award in Hyderabad on November 13, 2008. Dr. Balamurali Krishna is also visible. Be it Thenam Vayambam in Malayalam, Chinna Thayaval in Tamil, Naguva Nayana in Kannada or Puvvu Navennu in Telugu, he captured the emotion, context and relevance of the songs in the script and made them timeless.
Photo: The Hindu
S. Janaki, with her co-singers KS Chitra, left, Padmabhushan awardee, and playback singer P. Susheela, centre. When Chitra, another stalwart of female playback singing, speaks about Janaki, the respect and affection becomes abundantly clear.
Photo: G Krishnaswami
S. at a felicitation ceremony organized at Lalita Kala Thoranam, Hyderabad to commemorate his 50 years in playback singing. Janaki became emotional as her counterparts P. Sushila and LR Ishwari looked on. As Kokila departs at the age of 88, she has memories to enjoy, and songs to cherish, though some solace may come from the fact that the best art is eternal, and through her magical vocals, Janaki lives on forever.
published – July 12, 2026 04:42 PM IST
