Geeton ka Sangrah
Popular:
Data Ek Ram (दाता एक राम)
— Hari Om Sharan
Popular:
Ram Bhajan Kar Man (राम भजन कर मन)
— Lata Mangeshkar
Popular:
Hari Ka Dhyan Laga Man Mere (हरि का ध्यान लगा मन मेरे)
— Mohammed Rafi
Trending:
Bhajo Re Man Raam Govind Hari (भजो रे मन राम गोविंद हरि)
— Mohammed Rafi
Popular:
Ramcharitmanas (रामचरितमानस)
— Lata Mangeshkar
New:
Ram Ramaiya Gaye Ja (राम रमैया गाए जा)
— Anup Jalota
Trending:
Sitaram Sitaram Kahiye (सीताराम सीताराम कहिये)
— Anup Jalota
New:
Thumak Chalat Ramchandra (ठुमक चलत रामचंद्र)
— Lata Mangeshkar
Added:
Jag Main Sundar Hain Do Naam (जग में सुन्दर है दो नाम)
— Anup Jalota
Classic:
Yeh Pyasi Jawaani (यह प्यासी जवानी)
— Alka Yagnik
S. Janaki Songs Lyrics
S. Janaki, popularly known as Janaki Amma and the “Nightingale of South India,” was one of India's most celebrated playback singers. Her extraordinary career spanned more than six decades, during which she recorded an estimated 48,000 songs in nearly 20 Indian and foreign languages. She was particularly prominent in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema.
Known for her extraordinary voice modulation, emotional expression and versatility, S. Janaki could effortlessly sing romantic melodies, classical compositions, folk songs, devotional music, lullabies, comic songs and emotionally intense numbers. She worked with some of India's greatest music directors, including Ilaiyaraaja, M. S. Viswanathan, K. V. Mahadevan, A. R. Rahman and M. M. Keeravani.
S. Janaki received four National Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards during her career. She was also honored with the Kalaimamani, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore.
About S. Janaki
Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki, popularly known as S. Janaki, was born on 23 April 1938 in Pallapatla, near Repalle in present-day Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. She was born into a Telugu-speaking family. Her father, Sistla Sreeramamurthy, was an Ayurvedic doctor and teacher.
Janaki developed an interest in music during childhood. She gave her first stage performance at the age of nine. Her early musical education included learning the basics of music from Nadaswaram vidwan Paidiswamy. Unlike many classical singers, she did not undergo extensive formal classical vocal training.
Early Life and Musical Journey
S. Janaki spent much of her childhood in Sircilla, where her musical talent became apparent at a young age. Her family encouraged her interest in music, and she began performing on stage while still a child.
In her early twenties, Janaki moved to Madras (now Chennai) on the advice of her uncle. She joined AVM Studios as a singer and began working with music composer R. Sudarsanam. This opportunity became an important turning point in her career.
Playback Singing Debut
S. Janaki made her professional playback singing debut in 1957 with the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu. She was only 19 years old at the time.
In the same year, she also began recording songs in multiple languages, demonstrating the extraordinary multilingual ability that would become one of the defining features of her career.
Her career quickly expanded from Tamil cinema into Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and other Indian film industries.
Rise to Fame
During the 1960s and 1970s, S. Janaki became one of the leading female playback singers in South Indian cinema.
Her voice was particularly admired for its ability to express subtle emotions. She could alter her pronunciation, tone, pitch and expression according to the character and situation in a film.
Her collaborations with leading male singers such as:
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- P. B. Srinivas
- Dr. Rajkumar
- K. J. Yesudas
produced many memorable duets.
Association with Ilaiyaraaja
One of the most important musical partnerships in S. Janaki's career was her association with legendary composer Ilaiyaraaja.
Their collaboration produced numerous memorable songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam cinema.
Janaki's exceptional ability to adapt to complex melodies and changing musical arrangements made her an ideal voice for Ilaiyaraaja's compositions.
Their partnership became one of the defining musical collaborations of South Indian cinema.
Association with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
S. Janaki and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam formed one of Indian cinema's most beloved playback-singing partnerships.
Their duets became particularly popular in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam films.
Their voices complemented each other naturally, allowing them to perform romantic, playful, emotional and dramatic songs with remarkable ease.
Their collaboration remains an important part of the history of South Indian film music.
Multilingual Singing Career
One of S. Janaki's greatest achievements was her ability to sing naturally in a remarkable number of languages.
She recorded songs in nearly 20 Indian languages, including:
- Telugu
- Tamil
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Hindi
- Bengali
- Odia
- Tulu
- Urdu
- Punjabi
- Sanskrit
- Konkani
- Badaga
She also recorded songs in foreign languages including English, Japanese, German and Sinhala.
This extraordinary linguistic versatility earned her admiration throughout India.
Popular Songs
Some of S. Janaki's widely remembered songs include:
- “Senthoora Poove”
- “Singara Velane Deva”
- “Chinnanchiriya Vannaparavai”
- “Naguva Nayana”
- “Jotheyali Jothe Jotheyali”
- “Chinnada Mallige Hoove”
- “Kaatril Enthan Geetham”
- “Inji Iduppazhagi”
- “Vaan Megam”
- “Oho Megham Vandhadho”
- “Yamuna Nadhi Inge”
- “Azhage Azhagu”
Her repertoire covered romantic, classical, folk, devotional and emotional songs.
National Film Awards
S. Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer four times.
Her National Award-winning performances established her as one of India's most accomplished female playback singers.
She received the award for performances including “Senthoora Poove”, which came from Bharathiraja's directorial debut.
State Film Awards
S. Janaki was also one of the most awarded regional playback singers in Indian cinema.
She received 33 different State Film Awards, reflecting her immense popularity and contribution to regional film music.
Her awards came from different South Indian film industries, particularly Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema.
Other Honors
S. Janaki received several important honors during her lifetime, including:
- Kalaimamani
- Karnataka Rajyotsava Award
- Honorary Doctorate from the University of Mysore
- Numerous State Film Awards
- Four National Film Awards
She was widely recognized as one of the greatest female voices in Indian playback music.
Padma Bhushan Controversy
In 2013, S. Janaki was selected for the Padma Bhushan, but she declined to accept the honor.
She expressed the view that the recognition had come too late and that South Indian artists had not received adequate recognition for their contributions to Indian music.
Her decision generated considerable discussion in the Indian music industry.
Singing Style
S. Janaki was particularly famous for her exceptional ability to modulate her voice.
Her singing could be:
- Soft and romantic
- Deeply emotional
- Playful
- Childlike
- Classical
- Devotional
- Folk-inspired
- Dramatic
- Powerful
This ability to change her voice according to the character and mood of a song earned her the nickname “Queen of Expression and Modulation.”
Contribution to South Indian Cinema
S. Janaki's contribution to South Indian film music is enormous.
For more than six decades, her voice became associated with generations of actors, composers and filmmakers. She sang for different generations of stars and remained relevant even as musical styles changed dramatically.
Her career crossed several eras—from the early days of studio-based film music to modern digital recording.
Retirement
S. Janaki gradually reduced her playback singing activities after an extraordinary career lasting more than six decades.
She remained connected to music through occasional appearances and recordings, while her older songs continued to be celebrated by audiences across India.
Her recorded legacy remains one of the largest in Indian playback music.
Death
S. Janaki passed away on 11 July 2026 in Mysuru, Karnataka, at the age of 88. Her family confirmed her death, and the Government of India issued a statement mourning the loss of the legendary singer.
She died after age-related health issues. Reports stated that she passed away peacefully while receiving medical care in Mysuru.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described her passing as an “irreparable loss” to the world of music and culture and praised her grace and versatility across languages and generations.
Birth Details
Full Name: Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki
Popular Name: S. Janaki / Janaki Amma
Profession: Playback Singer / Occasional Music Composer
Date of Birth: 23 April 1938
Birth Place: Pallapatla, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Nationality: Indian
Years Active: 1957–2019
Languages: Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and many others
Popular Title: Nightingale of South India
Death Details
Date of Death: 11 July 2026
Place of Death: Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Age at Death: 88 years