Janaki Garu Was the Queen of Music, Says Playback Singer Sunitha
Veteran playback singer S. Janaki, fondly known as the “Nightingale of South India”, passed away today at the age of 88, leaving the Indian music community in deep mourning.
In an emotional tribute, Telugu singer Sunitha described Janaki as the “Queen of the Music World”. “With her incredibly versatile voice, Janaki garu has transcended generations and worked with almost every legendary music director in South India, from S. Rajeswara Rao, KV Mahadevan, MS Viswanathan and P. Dakshina Murthy to Ilaiyaraaja and AR Rahman. She was truly the queen of the music world,” he said.
Recalling his personality, Sunitha said, “He was a kid at heart and would burst into hearty laughter whenever he heard a good joke. He has mesmerized music lovers for over six decades with his soulful voice and has recorded thousands of songs in various Indian languages. People admired not only his extraordinary singing but also his unwavering dedication to music.”
Sunitha said Janaki always lived life on her own terms. “If he didn’t like a song, he would politely reject it without hesitation. He always followed his heart and went on to sing thousands of unforgettable songs in Telugu cinema,” he added.
Calling Janaki an “excellent singer”, Sunitha praised her unique versatility. “He had an extraordinary talent for imitation that enabled him to sing effortlessly in the voices of children, old women and different characters; something very few singers could achieve.”
Sharing a fond personal memory, Sunitha said, “Whenever someone called ‘Janaki’ in a funny tone, she would instantly imitate that voice. She was cheerful, humorous and an extremely warm person.”
One of Sunitha’s most precious memories was Janaki’s caring gesture.
“Just a month ago, during a performance, she called me to her room, gave me money and asked me to buy a sari of my choice. Later, when I wore it, she was very happy to see me in it,” she recalled, her voice choking with emotion.
Sunitha also recalled the invaluable advice she received from the legendary singer. “Whenever I would complain about not getting enough songs, he would tell me to live in the moment and not worry unnecessarily. If I said I didn’t like the lyrics of one of my songs, he would gently tell me that a singing singer should never blame a song, because it was our responsibility. This wisdom stuck with me.”
He added that Janaki was leading a quiet life after her son’s tragic death. “She was deeply affected by the loss and carried this pain inside. She was never the same again and preferred to stay away from the limelight,” Sunitha said.
Noted filmmaker and music composer SV Krishna Reddy described Janaki as a “unique singing genius”. “He was always smiling, even at public ceremonies. This reflected his innocence and goodness. A true smile only comes from a pure heart,” he said.
Although Janaki did not get the opportunity to sing in any of his films, Krishna Reddy considers her to be one of India’s greatest playback singers.
“He stood shoulder to shoulder with legends like Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. His versatility was unmatched and his repertoire was full of timeless classics. He was a disciplined and extensively trained singer. Young singers have a lot to learn just by listening to his songs,” he concluded.
