S Janaki’s full name was Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki.
Veteran playback singer S. Janaki passed away on Saturday at a private hospital in Mysuru. She was 88. Her last rites will be held at 5 pm today at her ancestral farmhouse in H.D. Kote taluk, Mysuru.
The singer reportedly developed breathing difficulties on Friday night and was admitted to hospital for treatment. She passed away while undergoing medical care.
S. Janaki’s mortal remains were brought to Maharaja Ground in Mysuru on Sunday morning for public viewing.
Over a career spanning more than six decades, S. Janaki recorded over 48,000 songs across multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Widely regarded as one of India’s most versatile playback singers, she left an enduring mark on the country’s music industry.
Among her popular Hindi songs are Bol Baby Bol (Meri Jung), Prabhu More Avgun (Sur Sangam), O Maria (Saagar) and Gopala Gopala (Humse Hai Muqabala). Her contribution to Indian cinema earned her four National Film Awards, along with numerous honours from state governments.
In 2013, the government announced to confer the Padma Bhushan on S. Janaki, but she did not accept the honor. – File Photo
PM Modi pays tribute to S. Janaki
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the demise of S. Janaki. The Prime Minister said that S. Janaki’s voice beautifully conveyed every emotion to the people.
PM Modi’s tweet.
President Murmu called him an invaluable treasure of the Indian music world.
President Murmu’s tweet.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay also called his demise an irreparable loss to the music world. Meanwhile, actress Trisha said that his voice will always live on.
Had rejected the Padma Bhushan
Janaki began her singing career in 1957. Her first Hindi song was in the 1958 film ‘Miss 58’, for which the music was composed by G. Ramanathan.
S. Janaki’s son, Murali Krishna, also received training in Bharatanatyam.
Turned down the Padma Bhushan in 2013
In 2013, S. Janaki declined the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours. She said the recognition had come too late in her career and expressed disappointment that artists from South India often do not receive national recognition on time or in equal measure.
‘Janaki Amma’ remained the voice of generations
Fondly known as Janaki Amma, the legendary singer often described music as God’s greatest gift to her. She credited composers and lyricists for shaping her journey. Her musical partnership with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam became one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated collaborations, with the duo recording thousands of songs together.
After an illustrious career spanning nearly six decades, Janaki announced her retirement from playback singing in 2017. Saying she had sung enough and wanted to slow down, she bid farewell to the stage with a final performance in Mysuru.
Suffered a personal loss earlier this year
S. Janaki married V. Ramprasad in 1959. He passed away following a heart attack in 1997. Earlier this year, she lost her only son, Murali Krishna, who managed an audio business. He died of a heart attack in January 2026 at the age of 65.
S. Janaki’s husband fully supported her music career and often stayed with her during recordings.
