Pallapatla mourns its illustrious daughter S. Janaki

Legendary playback singer Sistla Janaki, popularly known as S. Janaki, whose voice has captivated generations of music lovers in India, spent part of her childhood in Pallapatla village near Repalle in present-day Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh. The famous singer passed away on Saturday, leaving behind a unique musical legacy spanning more than six decades.

Residents of Pallapatla remembered their association with the iconic singer with pride and nostalgia. Sambasiva Rao Vogiboyina, 50, told The Hindu that S. Janaki spent his early childhood in the village before his family moved to another place. He said the family had a large ancestral house in Pallapatla, which was in a dilapidated state until it was demolished about a decade ago. According to him, the family continues to own some property in the village.

Mr. Rao said S. Janaki was planning to visit Pallapatla to attend the consecration ceremony following the renovation of a village temple. However, the visit did not take place due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Telugu film director Dileep Raja, a native of Tenali in Guntur district, said S. Janaki is the only legendary playback singer from the coastal belt around Repalle, making him an enduring source of pride for the locals.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he was deeply saddened by the demise of the master playback singer, whom he described as the beloved “South India Nightingale”. In a post on X, Mr. Naidu said that as a daughter of Telugu soil, S. Janaki has built a unique musical legacy spanning over six decades, touching generations with her timeless sound. While expressing his heartfelt condolences to his family, fans and the music community, he said his immense contribution to Indian music will be remembered forever.