Obituaries Current Affairs 2026 for Government Exams

Legendary playback singer S. Janaki (Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki), the "Nightingale of South India", passed away at 88 in Mysuru, Karnataka. Born 23 April 1938 in Repalle, Guntur (AP), she recorded over 48,000 songs in nearly 20 languages across a six-decade career (1957–2017). She won 4 National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and 33 State Film Awards, and famously declined the Padma Bhushan in 2013.

Renowned Tamil writer Poomani - the pen name of Poolithurai Manickavasagam - passed away on 12 July 2026 at the age of 79 due to age-related illness in Chennai. Born in 1947 at Andipatti near Kovilpatti (Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu), he was one of the most significant voices in Tamil literature, chronicling the lives of people in the state's dryland (karisal) regions. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award (2014) for his novel Anjaadi (Agnaadi), and his novel Vekkai was adapted into the acclaimed 2019 film Asuran (directed by Vetrimaaran, starring Dhanush). Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay announced state honours for his final rites. His novel 'Vekkai' inspired the National Award-winning film 'Asuran'.

Clive Davis, the legendary Grammy-winning American record producer and music executive who shaped the careers of numerous global artists, died on 22 June 2026 at the age of 94.

Suman Kalyanpur, the legendary Hindi and multilingual playback singer known for her melodious voice across the 1950s-70s, passed away on 31 May 2026 at the age of 89.

Veteran film and television actress Pravina Deshpande passed away, mourned across the Marathi and Hindi entertainment industries.

Film and television producer-director Anand Sagar, associated with popular mythological TV serials, died in Mumbai at the age of 84.

Veteran film music director S.P. Venkatesh, known for his work in Malayalam and Tamil cinema, died at his residence in Chennai.

The renowned Malayalam actor, screenwriter and director, celebrated for his satirical writing, died at Thrippunithura, Kerala.

The veteran Bengali and Hindi film actor died in Kolkata at the age of 83.

The veteran film producer and owner of AVM Studios (India's oldest surviving film studio) died in Chennai at the age of 86.

C.D. Gopinath, India's oldest living Test cricketer and the last surviving member of the team that secured India's first-ever Test victory (vs England, 1952), passed away in April 2026.

The industrialist, aviator and former Raymond Group chairman Vijaypat Singhania (Padma Bhushan, 2006) died in Mumbai aged 87. He once held the world record for the highest hot-air-balloon altitude.

Former Jammu & Kashmir MLA Qamar Ali Akhoon, 68, who served multiple terms in the erstwhile state assembly, died in February 2026.

N. Sundaram, 72, a Tamil Nadu politician and former MLA (1996-2001, 2006-11), died following a fall in January 2026.

Kabindra Purkayastha, 94, a long-serving former Member of Parliament (1991-2014) from Assam, passed away in January 2026.

L. Ganesan, 91, a veteran Indian politician and former Member of Parliament (1980-86, 2004-09), passed away in January 2026.

The eminent Urdu writer and Padma Shri awardee (2001) Jeelani Bano, known for her social realism depicting Deccan society, died in Hyderabad aged 89.

Indian-origin anesthesiologist Dr Seshagiri Mallampati, 85, known for the globally used 'Mallampati score' for airway assessment, died in February 2026.

Jayashree Kabir, 73, a Bengali actress known for films including 'Pratidwandi' and 'Simana Periye', passed away in January 2026.