S. Janaki

Biography:

Sistla Janaki was an Indian playback vocalist and sporadic composer who lived from April 23, 1938, until July 11, 2026. Known affectionately as Janaki Amma, or Mother Janaki, she is referred to be the Nightingale of South India. Janaki is regarded as one of the best and most significant vocalists in South Indian film music history. She was dubbed the “Queen of Expression and Modulation” by many.

Over 48,000 songs, including solos, duets, choruses, and title tracks in more than 20 Indian languages as well as a few international languages, were recorded by Janaki for use in movies, albums, television, and radio. The majority of these songs were in Kannada, She was among India’s most diverse vocalists.

At the age of 19, Janaki made her singing debut in the Tamil movie Vidhiyin Vilayattu (1957). That same year, she recorded songs in six different languages. Before announcing her retirement from singing for movies and theater shows in 2016, she had a career spanning more than 60 years. But in 2018, she made a comeback and sang in the Tamil movie Pannaadi. She spent nearly 60 years working in the music business.

She received 33 State Film Awards in addition to four National Film Awards. She received the Rajyotsava Prashasti award from the Government of Karnataka, the Kalaimamani award from the State Government of Tamil Nadu, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore. She declined to accept India’s third-highest civilian honor, the Padma Bhushan, in 2013. The distinction, in her opinion, came “too late” in her career. She also expressed dissatisfaction over South Indian artists’ underrepresentation and lack of recognition on the national awards list.