PM Modi Mourns Singer S Janaki's Demise, Calls It 'Irreparable Loss' To Music World
PM Modi Mourns Singer S Janaki's Demise, Calls It 'Irreparable Loss' To Music World Published By, Last Updated: July 12, 2026, 07:28 IST S Janaki
PM Modi Mourns Singer S Janaki's Demise, Calls It 'Irreparable Loss' To Music World Published By, Last Updated: July 12, 2026, 07:28 IST S Janaki, fondly known as the ‘Nightingale of the South’, passed away in Mysuru on Saturday, at the age of 88. Her family confirmed the news through a statement on social media. Rapid Read Over a career spanning several decades, Janaki received four Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the demise of legendary playback singer S. Janaki, describing her passing as an “irreparable loss" to the world of music and culture. In a post on X, PM Modi said Janaki’s songs, rendered in multiple languages, resonated across generations and captured every emotion with unmatched grace and versatility. “The passing of the distinguished playback singer S. Janaki Amma is an irreparable loss to the world of music and culture. Her songs in various languages were popular across generations. They gave voice to every emotion with unparalleled grace as well as versatility.
Her melodies will continue to enchant listeners in the years to come," the Prime Minister wrote. He also extended his condolences to Janaki’s family, admirers and the music fraternity. “My heartfelt condolences to her family, countless admirers and the entire music fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," PM Modi said. Veteran playback singer S Janaki, fondly known as the ‘Nightingale of the South’, passed away in Mysuru on Saturday, July 11, at the age of 88. Her family confirmed the news through a statement on social media. Sharing the news on Instagram, Janaki’s granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, announced that the singer passed away peacefully while surrounded by her loved ones. She wrote, “Dear everyone, It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved grandmother and legendary singer, Smt. S. Janaki. She left us peacefully, surrounded by the love of her family. While our hearts are heavy, we are also filled with gratitude for the extraordinary life she lived and the immeasurable joy she brought to millions through her timeless music." Janaki’s granddaughter remembered her not just as a legendary singer but also as a beloved grandmother, and requested privacy for the family during this period of grief.
Born as Sistla Janaki on April 23, 1938, in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, she developed a passion for music early in life. Her father, Sreeramamurthy, was an Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher. Janaki spent much of her childhood in Sircilla, where she made her stage debut at the age of nine. Though she never underwent formal classical training, she learnt the fundamentals of music from Nadaswaram exponent Paidiswamy. In her twenties, Janaki moved to Chennai on the advice of her uncle and began working with music composer R. Sudarsanam at AVM Studios. She made her playback singing debut with the 1957 Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu before going on to sing for the Telugu film M.L.A. Her career soon flourished, with recordings in 20 Indian languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Sanskrit, Odia, Tulu, Urdu, Punjabi, Badaga, Bengali and Konkani. She also recorded songs in English, Japanese, German and Sinhala. Over a career spanning several decades, Janaki received four Film Awards and 33 State Film Awards, earning recognition as one of India’s most celebrated playback singers.
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