Legendary singer S Janaki has passed away, her granddaughter Apsara Vydyula revealed through social media earlier this Saturday. Apollo Hospital in Mysuru, where she was undergoing treatment for age-related health complications, said that Janaki experienced a cardiac arrest during the treatment. She was 88 years old.
"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," wrote Apsara Vydyula in a note shared on Instagram.
The note further added, "To the world, she was an iconic voice whose songs became part of countless memories. To us, she was a loving grandmother whose warmth, humility, kindness, and grace will remain with us forever."
Born as Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest singers in the country. Countless songs that encapsulate the singer's vocal range, emotional depth and versatility earned her the nickname "The Nightingale of India". The singer's ability to adapt her voice to suit children, in particular, is noteworthy, contributing to her nationwide popularity.
S Janaki's discography reportedly spans 20 languages and over 40,000 songs, which include tracks in Tamil, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Telugu. Reportedly, Janaki made her playback singing debut with multiple songs in the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu, and she is also credited for the highest songs in the Kannada film industry. Some of the legendary singer's duets with PB Srinivas, SP Balasubrahmanyam, and Dr Rajkumar are still regarded as evergreen classics.
Her collaborations include an extensive array of music directors in India, such as the likes of Ilaiyaraaja, GK Venkatesh, Ashwath, Hamsalekha, AR Rahman, and Johnson Master.
Janaki retired from playback singing in 2016, capping off her decades-long career with a song titled 'Ammapoovinu' in the Malayalam film Pathu Kalpanakal, starring Anoop Menon and Meera Jasmine. Janaki has won four National Film Awards and countless state-level accolades for the contributions she has made to the field of music.
