Playback legend S. Janaki, the "Nightingale of South India," passes away in Mysuru after a cardiac arrest. CM Vijay joins tributes from across politics and cinema, calling her death an irreplaceable loss.
Legendary playback singer S. Janaki, revered across South India as the "Nightingale of South India," passed away on Saturday at Apollo BGS Hospitals in Mysuru at the age of 88. She had been admitted earlier that day after her health deteriorated, and suffered a cardiac arrest during treatment despite intensive medical care. Her granddaughter confirmed the news, describing a peaceful passing surrounded by family.
Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, in 1938, Janaki began her playback career in 1957 with the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu, recording songs in six languages in her very first year. Over a career spanning more than 60 years, she went on to record an estimated 48,000 songs across roughly 20 languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi, working with composers from Ilaiyaraaja and M. S. Viswanathan to A. R. Rahman. She won four National Film Awards and 33 state film awards, and had famously declined a Padma Bhushan earlier in her career.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, himself a veteran of Tamil cinema before entering politics, joined the outpouring of grief, describing Janaki's death as an irreplaceable loss to the Indian music world and extending condolences to her family, fellow artists and fans around the world.
Tributes poured in from across the political and film spectrum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called her passing "an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture." Actor Rajinikanth wrote that her honey-sweet voice had delighted generations, while Kamal Haasan offered a poetic tribute recalling her enduring melodies. Actress Trisha Krishnan, who shares her name with one of Janaki's most cherished songs, shared an emotional personal note remembering the singer's warmth.
Janaki had spent her final years living quietly in Mysuru, largely away from public attention, with many residents of the city unaware that one of India's most celebrated voices had made it her home. She officially retired from performing in 2016 after a six-decade career, closing with a Malayalam lullaby as her swansong, though she briefly returned to the studio in 2018. She was laid to rest with full state honours in Mysuru on Sunday.
S. Janaki Tribute Tamil Cinema CM Vijay July 11, 2026