The voice of the south

A melody-filled voice engraved in the collective memory of millions fell silent on Saturday. S. Janaki, always referred to as Janaki Amma, a suffix born out of respect and self-inherited over the years, breathed her last in Mysuru.

Be it Bharathiraja and K. Bhagyaraj, in these weeks of separation, Janaki’s march into the mists of time was the final blow. His voice remained in the core of most Indians, especially those south of the Vindhyas. Be it Tamil, Kannada, Telugu or Malayalam, every fan from these Dravidian languages ​​will have a favorite Janaki song that has made them believe that it belongs to their State.

Janaki has also sung in Hindi and Sinhala, but has established herself in South Indian languages. His comment was full of love and emotion and was often a hint of times past. Be it Thenum vayambum in Malayalam, Chinna thayaval in Tamil, Naguva nayana in Kannada or Puvvu navennu in Telugu, he captured the emotion, context and relevance of the song in the script and immortalized them.

Be it her solo work or singing together, Janaki has remained unique. Along with Kamal Haasan, she sang the 1990 blockbuster Michael Madana Kama Rajan’s duet Sundari neeyum; This track attracts the attention of listeners even now.

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. If music is an art that enriches the aesthetic field, 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.

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. Being an integral part of the lead singer line-up of music composer Ilaiyaraaja’s Annakili debut is another feather in his glittering cap.

SPB’s death was personal for many people; So will Janaki’s. When KS Chithra, another legend in female singing, speaks about Janaki, the respect and affection are extremely evident. As Nightingale leaves at 88, there are memories to savor and songs to cherish, although some relief comes from the fact that the best art is eternal and Janaki lives on forever thanks to her magical vocal chords.