Legendary playback singer S Janaki passes away in Mysuru at 88

Legendary playback singer S. Janaki, widely regarded as the "queen of South Indian music," passed away in Mysuru on Saturday, July 11, at the age of 88. Her passing marks the end of a vital chapter in the history of Kannada cinema, leaving behind a monumental legacy of versatile and soulful melodies that defined generations of listeners in Bengaluru and across Karnataka.

Tributes poured in from the Kannada music and film fraternities, mourning the loss of the iconic artist. Director Yogaraj Bhat paid tribute, stating that Janaki displayed extraordinary talent across genres. "She used to be addressed as ‘amma’ by everyone, and today, with her death, it feels like we have heard the last line of her lullaby. However, her music is eternal," Bhat said.

Janaki was known for her exceptional versatility, spanning romantic tracks, classical melodies, and children's songs. Music composer Gurukiran described her as a meticulous performer who was a favourite of composer Ilaiyaraaja. Gurukiran noted that in an era without pitch correction, maintaining such high-quality rendering was proof of her immense talent.

Though she was not a native Kannadiga, Janaki learnt the language and became an inseparable part of Kannada culture. Lyricist V. Nagendra Prasad highlighted her ability to deliver the perfect expression for lyrics and her unique talent for singing children's songs, such as "A Aa E Ee Kannadada Aksharamale" and "Sihimuttu, Sihimuttu Innondu," in a child's voice.

Composer R.P. Patnaik recalled her unique performance style, noting that Janaki would sing without showing any expression on her face, instead generating every emotion and mimicry directly from her throat.

Her extensive career featured collaborations with every renowned music composer in Kannada cinema. Her memorable songs include "Naguva Nayana" from Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983)—a duet with S.P. Balasubrahmanyam that captured the charm of old Bengaluru—and "Jotheyali" from Geetha (1981).

According to film historian K. Puttaswamy, Janaki's retro hits like "Gaaligopura Ninnashatheera" from Nanda Deepa (1962) and "Yaava Janmada Maithri" from Gowri remain classics. She also sang challenging compositions, once confessing that "Shiva Shiva Ennada" from the 1977 film Hemavathi was one of her toughest renditions.