Rajinikanth, CM Vijay, Kamal Haasan and others pour tributes as S Janaki passes away
Legendary Indian playback singer S. Janaki has passed away at the age of 88, prompting an outpouring of tributes from the Indian film industry. Known for her vast vocal range and work in over 20 languages, she is remembered as a transformative figure in South Asian music.
Why it matters
S. Janaki was a cultural icon whose career spanned decades and thousands of songs, making her death a significant loss for the Indian entertainment industry.
Legendary playback singer S Janaki, passed away on Saturday at the age of 88. Heartfelt tributes from across the Indian film industry have started pouring in, as soon as the news of her demise came in. Celebrated for a career spanning more than 20 languages and over 48,000 songs, Janaki's extraordinary musical legacy touched generations of listeners through her work in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and several other languages.Among the first to pay tribute was Rajinikanth, who shared a message in Tamil on X (formerly Twitter): “May her soul, who delighted generations of people with her honey-sweet voice, attain peace (folded hands emoji) #JanakiAmma.”Singer Chinmayi Sripaada also honoured Janaki with a deeply personal remembrance, recalling the first time she witnessed her perform live. "She was a Goddess. I once had the chance to sing with her in a show in Australia perhaps 20-23 years ago.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in