S. Janaki’s demise: Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, singer P. Susheela pay rich tributes
If music is an art that enriches the aesthetic sphere, S. Janaki was the undisputed queen. Strangely, he preferred to be an ordinary person with his showbiz attitude. Accessible and perhaps understated of her talent and success, this woman had a saintly aura in the way she presented herself in public.
Veteran playback singer S. Janaki with singer PB Srinivas. During his career spanning over six decades, he worked with successive generations of composers like T. Chalapathi Rao, who introduced him to films, and later MD Parthasarathy, G. Ramanathan, MB Srinivasan, KV Mahadevan and MS Viswanathan. Photo: Special Editing
S. Janaki was a versatile singer who was equally at ease with classical compositions, romantic melodies, folk songs, comics and soulful duets.
Kannada film directors (from left) Bhagwan, KSL Swami (Ravi), Rajan and Shivram and playback singers S. Janaki, PB Sreenivas, P. Susheela and Vani Jayaram are felicitated by Sri Vishvesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt at an event organized by Lotus Software Park and Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamrajpet in Bangalore on May 14. 2008.
S. Janaki receiving the award from Chief Minister K. Karunakaran in Thiruvananthapuram in October 1984. He had received ten Kerala State Film Awards for Best Playback Singer in the 14-year period between 1970 and 1984. Photo: Special Editing
S. Janaki with singer Bala Saraswathy at an event to felicitate them in Hyderabad on September 8, 2011. Her career in Telugu cinema began with the film MLA in 1957, where she sang ‘Nee Aasa Adiyaasa’ and ‘Idenandi Idenandi Bhagyanagaramu’ to the music of Pendyala Nageshwar Rao. The same year, he broke the record for his songs showcasing his talents in languages including Kannada and Tamil.
S. Janaki during her stage performance with veteran singer KJ Yesudas in Kerala. Known for her versatility, Janaki has recorded more than 48,000 songs in many languages, primarily the South Indian languages of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Photo: Special Editing
When the Government of India announced the Padma awards on the eve of Republic Day 2013, S. Janaki was chosen for the Padma Bhushan. But he refused to accept it. He stated that if the government wanted recognition for his work, he should be given the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He stated that he is not interested in any awards other than the Padma awards.
Music director AR Rahman performed with playback singers Swarnalatha, Srinivas and S. Janaki at the ‘Unity of Light’ concert at Taramani in Chennai on 21 February 2003. He carved a niche for himself in the Tamil film industry at a time when P. Susheela and many other leading singers were at the peak of their careers and worked with famous music directors including KV Mahadevan and MS. Viswanathan.
Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film “Senthora Poove” from 16 Vayathinile, which was the first directorial venture of the recently deceased Bharathiraja. His remarkable journey in Tamil cinema gained further momentum with the rise of master Ilaiyaraaja, who chose him for unforgettable songs in his debut film Annakili (1976), which was a landmark in Tamil film music, which completed 50 years in 2026.
Famous playback singers presented with Chi (from right), PB Srinivas, S. Janaki and SP Balasubramaniam. Udayashankar Memorial Award winners for 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively, seen after receiving the awards at an event held in Bangalore on 19 March 2005. Janaki has lent her voice to iconic songs by every famous music composer in Kannada cinema.
S. Janaki and Dr. PB Sreenivas performs Bhajans and Ghazals charity show in aid of Ellen Sharma Memorial Primary School at Vani Mahal in Chennai on February 4, 2006. If music is an art that enriches the aesthetic field, Janaki was the undisputed queen.
S. Janaki with singer BK Sumitra. Singing so many lyrics under more than one music director and earning that overwhelming love when the All India Radio announcer says the song to be played has been sung by Janaki is a reflection of her longevity.
Playback singers S. Janaki and KJ Yesudas at an event on the occasion of Rajya Sabha member T. Subbarami Reddy’s birthday at Port Kalavani Stadium in Visakhapatnam on September 17, 2011.
S. Janaki pays tribute to deceased PB Sreenivas at his home. Be it her solo work or singing together, Janaki has remained unique. Holding her own territory while singing with SP Balasubrahmanyam (SPB) and KJ Yesudas and earning the respect of her peers throughout her career revealed Janaki’s dominance in the field of celluloid acoustics.
S. Janaki (right) with late Tamil director Bharathiraja (left) and noted music director Ilayaraja (centre). Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the film “Senthora Poove” from 16 Vayathinile, which was Bharathiraja’s first directorial venture. Be it Bharathiraja and K. Bhagyaraj, in these weeks of separation, Janaki’s march into the mists of time was the final blow.
Playback singer and composer KPUdayabhanu shares a delightful moment with S. Janaki in Thiruvananthapuram. His debut in Malayalam plays remains controversial. Minnalppadayaali, directed by G. Vishwanath and released in 1959, is often cited as his debut film. But according to music historians, the song Irul Moodukayo En Vaazhvil from the crime thriller Minnunnathellam Ponnalla, released two years ago, marked the real beginning of his Malayalam journey.
Janaki Venkataraman, wife of then President R. Venkataraman, presenting a gift to S. Janaki at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Ganamrutha Group held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan auditorium in Madras on July 2, 1989. YG Parthasarathy and others are also seen in the picture.
S. Janaki during a grand felicitation and tribute ceremony to the legendary Padmavibhushan Panditji Hariprasad Chaurasia, who celebrated his 80th birthday in Hyderabad on July 22, 2018. Janaki has also sung in Hindi and Sinhala, but has established herself in South Indian languages.
S. Janaki sings at an open-air theater organized by S. Janaki Charitable Trust in Mysuru. He spent part of his childhood in the then backward textile village of Sircilla in the erstwhile Karimnagar district of Telangana more than six decades ago. The discovery of this little-known chapter of his life has added a new emotional dimension to his connection with Telangana, making his enduring legacy even more special for the people of the State.
