Legendary Singer S. Janaki (88) Passes Away at Mysore Hospital; Granddaughter Confirms Officially
A glorious era in Indian cinema and music has come to an end. Legendary playback singer Smt. S. Janaki (88), affectionately known as the ‘Nightingale of the South’ and ‘Gana Kogile,’ passed away at Apollo Hospital in Mysore.
According to hospital sources, the veteran singer had been admitted to the hospital due to age-related ailments. Despite receiving advanced treatment, her condition deteriorated, and she breathed her last following a massive cardiac arrest.
Granddaughter Apsara Vydyula Confirms Officially:
The news of the iconic singer’s demise was officially shared by her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, through a heartfelt post on her official social media account:
“Dear everyone, It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved grandmother and legendary singer, Smt. S. Janaki. She left us peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. While our hearts are heavy, we are also filled with gratitude for the extraordinary life she lived and the immeasurable joy she brought to millions through her timeless music. We kindly request that you respect our family’s privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and come to terms with this loss. Thank you for your love, prayers, and understanding.”
A Timeless Musical Journey:
Born on April 23, 1938, in Repalle, Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, S. Janaki went on to become one of the most prolific playback singers in Indian cinema history. Over a career spanning more than five decades, she recorded over 48,000 songs across 17 languages, including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi.
Her exceptional collaborations with musical stalwarts like Ghantasala, Dr. Rajkumar, P.B. Sreenivas, and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam remain evergreen classics. Her classical renditions in films such as Sankarabharanam, Siri Siri Muvva, and Sagara Sangamam are etched permanently in Indian musical history. She was honored with four National Film Awards and numerous State Awards from various state governments. She officially retired from singing in 2016.
The sudden demise of S. Janaki has sent shockwaves across the Indian film industry. Several actors, filmmakers, politicians, and millions of her fans have expressed their deepest condolences over the loss of the musical maestro.