S Janaki, the voice of south Indian cinema, passes away at 88
Legendary South Indian playback singer S. Janaki has passed away at the age of 88. Known for her immense versatility, she was a defining voice in Tamil cinema for over six decades.
Why it matters
Her death marks the end of an era for Indian film music, as she was a central figure in the evolution of the industry's soundscape.
CHENNAI: Few playback singers have shaped Tamil cinema the way S Janaki did. For nearly six decades, she wasn’t merely a singer lending her voice to heroines, she was the emotional fulcrum of Tamil films. Whether it was romance, sorrow, devotional, folk music or a light comedy, Janaki could alter the texture of her voice to suit the character on screen, making audiences forget there was a singer behind the actor.Janaki died at a private hospital in Mysuru due to age-related ailments, sources said on Saturday. She was 88. She developed breathing issues on Friday night and was subsequently hospitalised. Born in Andhra Pradesh, Janaki moved to Chennai in the mid-1950s on her uncle’s advice and joined AVM Studios. Her playback journey began in 1957 with the Tamil film ‘Vidhiyin Vilayattu’.
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