By Alakesh Maity
12/07/2026
Staff Reporter | July 12 | Mysuru: S. Janaki, a legend of the Indian music world, has breathed her last. Known as the “Nightingale of South India,” the veteran artist passed away on the night of Saturday, July 1, 2026, at a private hospital in Mysuru. She was 88 years old.
She had been suffering from age-related ailments, including respiratory issues, for some time. Her granddaughter, Apsara Vaidula, announced the news of her passing on social media.
Apsara wrote, “She left us peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. While our hearts are heavy, we are filled with gratitude for her extraordinary life and the immense joy she brought to millions through her timeless music. To the world, she was a legendary voice whose songs have become part of countless memories.”
S. Janaki’s contribution to the history of Indian cinema is undeniable. She sang for over six decades.
She recorded more than 48,000 songs across 20 Indian languages—including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi—spanning radio, television, films, and albums. This feat made her one of the most prolific playback singers in the country.
Her timeless songs include:
Tamil: ‘Senthoora Poove’
Telugu: ‘Mounamelanoyi’
Malayalam: ‘Inji Iduppazhagi’
Hindi: ‘Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re’, ‘Bol Baby Bol Rock N Roll’
She won the National Film Award four times.
Declined the Padma Bhushan
In 2013, when the Government of India sought to confer the Padma Bhushan award upon her, she declined to accept it. She stated that the honor was being offered “too late” in her career. At the same time, she called for greater recognition for artists from South India.
S. Janaki was born on April 23, 1938, in Pallapatla, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Her father, Sriramamurthy, was an Ayurvedic physician and teacher.
She spent her childhood in Sircilla. She performed on stage for the first time at the age of just nine. Although she lacked formal training in classical music, she received her initial musical lessons from the Nadaswaram player Paidiswamy.
An era has come to an end. The songs sung by her will remain in the memories of generations to come. ‘Janaki Amma’ is no more, but her melodies are immortal.
