S Janaki, Nightingale of South India, dies at 88
The news was announced by her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, through an emotional statement shared on Instagram
Veteran playback singer S Janaki, widely known as the “Nightingale of South India”, died at the age of 88 in Mysore.
The news was announced by her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, through an emotional statement shared on Instagram. The family said the veteran singer died peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, and requested privacy as they mourned the loss.
Apollo BGS Hospitals confirmed that S Janaki passed away at 7.30 pm following multiple cardiac arrests.
Sharing the note on behalf of the family, Apsara wrote, “It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved grandmother and legendary singer, Smt. S. Janaki.”
She added, “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.”
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Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest playback singers, S Janaki enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades. She recorded more than 40,000 songs in multiple Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, making her one of the most prolific playback singers in Indian cinema.
She received four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, along with numerous state honours in recognition of her contribution to Indian music.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan expressed sorrow over her passing.
In a social media post, he said, “Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary playback singer S. Janaki Amma, whose extraordinary voice enriched Indian music and touched countless hearts across generations.”
“Her songs transcended linguistic and regional boundaries, uniting millions through the universal language of music. S. Janaki Amma’s passing is an irreparable loss to the world of music and to the nation’s artistic heritage. Through her immense contribution to Indian music, she left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire artists and music lovers alike,” he added.
Deeply saddened by the passing of legendary playback singer S. Janaki Amma, whose extraordinary voice enriched Indian music and touched countless hearts across generations.
Blessed with a uniquely expressive voice and exceptional versatility, S. Janaki Amma enthralled audiences…
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 11, 2026
Actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan and Chiranjeevi also paid emotional tributes to the late singer.
Kamal Haasan, in a post on X, wrote, “The song will forever keep resounding. Where shall I seek that love, Mother? An inconsolable sorrow exists for many. My deepest condolences to them all (sic).”
பாடல் என்றும் ஒலித்துக்கொண்டே இருக்கும். அந்த அன்பை எங்கு தேடுவேன் அம்மா?
இறக்கி வைக்கமுடியாத சோகம் பலர்க்கும் இருக்கும். அவர்க்கெல்லாம் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்கள்.
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) July 11, 2026
In 2013, Janaki declined the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour.
At the time, she said the recognition had come too late and expressed the view that she should instead be considered for the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian award, in recognition of her extensive contributions to Indian music.
Although Telugu was her mother tongue, Janaki was remarkably multilingual and could speak and write fluently in Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi.
