Kerala remembers the divine voice of S. Janaki
The Kerala music community pays tribute to legendary playback singer S. Janaki following her passing. Prominent composers and singers reflect on her divine vocal quality, professional discipline, and immense influence on Indian cinema.
Why it matters
S. Janaki was a cultural icon whose career spanned decades, representing a significant chapter in the history of South Indian film music.
As the mellifluous voice of S. Janaki slipped into memory, tributes poured in from Kerala’s music world, where she reigned over film and devotional music for decades.
Music composer Vidhyadharan, who had Janaki sing for his debut film Aagamanam, directed by Jeassy, as well as five devotional songs, described her as “immortal.” “To hear her sing was divine. The quality of her voice was such that it was hard to believe she had never undergone formal training. It was nothing short of a miracle. I still recall the recording of my devotional songs. After rendering the first one, she was so moved by the melody that she insisted on singing the second only in the evening, saying it was not to be sung casually back-to-back,” he said.
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