Legendary Playback Singer S Janaki Passes Away at 88 After Cardiac Arrest

Mysuru: Legendary playback singer and four-time National Film Award recipient S Janaki passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 88 after suffering a cardiac arrest. She breathed her last at a private hospital in Mysuru, bringing an end to an extraordinary musical journey that spanned several decades and thousands of songs.

According to a statement issued by Apollo BGS Hospitals, Janaki was admitted around 12:49 pm on Saturday in a critical condition. She was immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where a team of specialists provided intensive treatment and continuous monitoring.

The hospital said the veteran singer suffered a cardiac arrest during treatment. Doctors promptly initiated advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), but despite repeated efforts to revive her after multiple cardiac arrests, she could not be saved. She was declared dead at 7:30 pm.

The news of her demise was confirmed by her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, through an emotional Instagram post. She said Janaki passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family.

Describing her grandmother as a legendary artist whose songs became a part of millions of lives, Apsara said that to the family she was a loving grandmother remembered for her warmth, humility, kindness and grace. She also requested privacy as the family mourns the immense loss.

Fondly known as Janaki Amma, the iconic singer began her playback career at the age of 19 with the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu. She quickly established herself as one of India’s finest voices, recording around 100 songs in six Indian languages within her first year as a professional singer.

Over the course of her illustrious career, S Janaki recorded more than 48,000 songs in several Indian languages, making her one of the most prolific playback singers in the country’s history. She was celebrated not only for the sweetness of her voice but also for her remarkable versatility, effortlessly modulating her singing to suit characters ranging from young children to elderly individuals.

Her outstanding contribution to Indian music earned her four National Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards, besides the admiration of generations of music lovers.

The passing of S Janaki has left the Indian film and music fraternity in deep mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the country for the legendary singer whose timeless melodies will continue to inspire generations.