Legendary playback singer S Janaki, the "Nightingale of South India," died at 88 on Saturday due to age-related ailments, family sources confirmed. She leaves behind a record of over 48,000 songs across 20 Indian languages, cementing her legacy as one of the most prolific voices in Indian cinema.

S Janaki’s Unmatched Career in Indian Music

Janaki’s six-decade career began with the 1957 Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu at age 19. She dominated South Indian languages—Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam—while also lending her voice to Hindi, Odia, Urdu, and even Japanese and German tracks. Her duets with icons like S P Balasubrahmanyam and Dr. Rajkumar remain cultural touchstones.

Her accolades include:

  • 4 National Film Awards
  • 33 state film awards
  • Honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore
  • Kalaimamani award (Tamil Nadu) and Rajyotsava Prashasti (Karnataka)
In 2013, she declined the Padma Bhushan, stating it was "too late," and had publicly expressed she deserved the Bharat Ratna.

Tributes Pour In From Political Leaders

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar called her a "multilingual singing legend" whose voice would "remain immortal." Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Kerala CM V D Satheesan also issued condolences, with Satheesan noting her songs in Malayalam—despite it not being her mother tongue—were "inseparable" from the state’s culture.

Janaki’s last rites will be held in Mysuru’s Kaniyanahundi village, per her wishes, with state honors. Her mortal remains will be placed at Maharaja’s College Grounds for public homage on Sunday.