Legendary Playback Singer S. Janaki, the 'Nightingale of South India', Passes Away at 88
S. Janaki (Sistla Janaki), the legendary playback singer revered as the 'Nightingale of South India', passed away on 11 July 2026 at the age of 88 in Mysuru, Karnataka, due to age-related ailments. Over a six-decade career (1957-2016), she recorded around 48,000 songs in about 17-20 languages - the most in Kannada - and won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer four times (first in 1981 for the Malayalam film 'Oppol'). Known as the 'Queen of Expression and Modulation', she worked with composers Ilaiyaraaja, M. S. Viswanathan and A. R. Rahman, and was cremated with full state honours. S. Janaki famously declined the Padma Bhushan award in 2013.
S. Janaki: born 23 April 1938; 'Nightingale of South India' | 4-time National Film Award winner | Singing career: 1957-2016 | Sang the most songs in Kannada
Playback singer S. Janaki ('Nightingale of South India'), a 4-time National Film Award winner, died at 88 (11 July 2026) in Mysuru.
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