S. Janaki (1938-2026)— the voice that belonged to every State | In pictures
Legendary playback singer S. Janaki passed away at the age of 88 in Mysuru. Known for her immense versatility across 18 languages, she leaves behind a legacy of thousands of songs spanning six decades.
Why it matters
S. Janaki was a cultural icon in South Indian cinema, and her passing marks the end of a significant era in Indian film music history.
S . Janaki, the legendary singer who had sung in 18 languages, predominantly in South Indian languages, passed away in Mysuru on Saturday (July 11, 2026), aged 88.
Well-known for her versatility, S. Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Senthoora Poove” from 16 Vayathinile, the debut directorial venture of Bharathiraja, who passed away last month.
During a career spanning more than six decades, she worked with successive generations of composers, beginning with T. Chalapathi Rao, who introduced her to films, and later M.D. Parthasarathy, G. Ramanathan, M.B. Srinivasan, K.V. Mahadevan and M.S. Viswanathan.
Having sung thousands of songs in multiple languages for nearly half a century, S. Janaki rejected the Padma Bhushan when it was conferred upon her in 2013, describing the award as having come too late for her.
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