Legendary playback singer S. Janaki, whose melodious voice graced thousands of songs in multiple Indian languages, passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday. She was 88.
Final Moments and Family
Janaki, who had been battling age-related ailments, breathed her last around 4:30 PM. Her son, Murali Krishna, was by her side. The veteran singer had been hospitalized for the past few days due to respiratory issues and was under intensive care.
Career Spanning Decades
Born on April 23, 1938, in Pallapatla village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, Janaki made her playback singing debut in 1957 with the Telugu film "M.L.A." Over her six-decade-long career, she recorded over 48,000 songs in 17 languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and Bengali. She was particularly known for her collaborations with music directors like Ilaiyaraaja and M.S. Viswanathan.
Accolades and Recognition
Janaki was honored with the Padma Shri in 2013, one of India's highest civilian awards. She also won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu" from the Tamil film "Sindhu Bhairavi" (1985). In 2016, she was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, and in 2017, she received the prestigious Swaralaya Yesudas Award for her contributions to Indian music.
Tributes Pour In
Condolences poured in from across the film and music industry. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed his grief, calling Janaki's death an "irreparable loss" to the music world. He recalled her melodious voice that ruled the hearts of millions. Actor Rajinikanth described her as an "iconic singer" whose songs would remain immortal. Music composer Ilaiyaraaja said, "Her voice was a gift to the world. She made every song a masterpiece."
Legacy
Janaki's renditions of devotional and folk songs were equally popular. Her voice was known for its versatility, ranging from classical-based numbers to peppy folk tunes. She retired from playback singing in 2013, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire generations of singers. Her last rites will be performed on Thursday in Chennai.
