Legendary playback singer S Janaki, fondly known as the "Nightingale of South India," died at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru on Saturday following age-related health complications. She was 88.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute, saying, "Her passing is an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture. Her songs, filled with emotion and versatility, will continue to resonate for generations. Om Shanti."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences, saying, "With her mesmerizing voice, she created timeless classics through her songs. One of our country's most respected cultural icons, she has left behind an irreplaceable void in the field of music. Om Shanti."
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, chief ministers and members of the film fraternity also paid homage, remembering her extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema.
Tributes also poured in from top politicians and film stars across South India. Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar called her voice "immortal" and announced full state honours for her last rites, noting she'd chosen to settle and be cremated in Mysuru out of love for Kannada.
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu called her "a daughter of Telugu soil," while YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy and BRS's KTR mourned her as an irreplaceable musical legend. Actors Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Trisha and Karthi, along with composer Anirudh Ravichander, also paid emotional tributes.
Janaki's career spanned more than six decades, during which she recorded over 40,000 songs in nearly 20 Indian languages. A recipient of four National Film Awards and the Padma Vibhushan, she remains one of India's most celebrated and prolific playback singers.
Her mortal remains will be kept for public homage at Maharaja's College Grounds in Mysuru before the last rites.
