Legendary Playback Singer S. Janaki, 'Nightingale of South India', Passes Away at 88

14 July 2026National

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.

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S. Janaki's 4 National Awards: 16 Vayathinile (1977), Oppol (1981), Sitara (1984), Thevar Magan (1992)

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Playback singer S. Janaki ('Nightingale of South India'), a 4-time National Film Award winner (48,000+ songs), died at 88 in Mysuru.

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