K'taka: Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy express grief over playback singer Janaki's death
Mysuru, July 11
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy have expressed profound grief over the demise of legendary playback singer S. Janaki, who passed away at the age of 88 at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru on Saturday.
In a condolence message, the Chief Minister said the news of the iconic multilingual playback singer's death, fondly known as the "Nightingale," came as a deep shock.
He said that as long as the Kannada language exists, S. Janaki's songs will remain immortal, adding that they are a generation that grew up listening to her soulful Kannada songs.
He said she enriched the beauty of the Kannada language with the sweetness of her voice.
Remembering the veteran singer's immense contribution, he said Janaki's extraordinary voice would remain etched forever in Karnataka's cultural history.
Shivakumar said Janakamma was the embodiment of simplicity and that although she hailed from Andhra Pradesh, her affection for Kannada led her to make Mysuru her home.
He noted that she recorded more than 48,000 songs in over 20 languages and that, with her passing, one of the world's greatest voices has fallen silent.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy said he was deeply shocked to learn of the death of the iconic multilingual singer, fondly remembered as the "Nightingale."
He said S. Janaki was a legendary singer whose melodious voice earned her a permanent place in the hearts of millions of music lovers, and that though she made Mysuru her home, she was immensely loved and cherished by the people of Karnataka.
The Union Minister said Janaki's demise marked a great loss to the music fraternity, but added that the rich musical legacy she leaves behind would remain immortal.
He said her contribution to Indian music will continue to inspire generations, and that while her physical presence is no more, the treasure of songs she gifted to the nation will live on forever.
S. Janaki, one of India's most celebrated playback singers, recorded more than 48,000 songs in over 20 languages during a career spanning several decades.
She was admired for her extraordinary versatility, emotive singing, and impeccable diction across multiple Indian languages. Born on April 23, 1938, in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, she won the hearts of Kannada audiences through thousands of memorable songs.
Her demise marks an irreparable loss to the Indian music industry.
— IANS
Reader Comments
She may have been born in Andhra, but she adopted Karnataka as her home and gave us so many timeless melodies. It's heartwarming to see both CM Shivakumar and Union Minister Kumaraswamy paying such heartfelt tributes. That unity across parties for a cultural icon is what India should always be like.
Honestly, what strikes me is her versatility. From Kannada to Tamil to Malayalam, she sang in so many languages and people from each state claim her as their own. That's the power of music 🎵 48,000 songs is a Guinness World Record feat. A true pan-Indian icon.
As someone who isn't from Karnataka, I still know her songs. Her voice transcended language barriers. It's a sad day for Indian music. May her soul rest in peace. My condolences to her family and millions of fans.
Janaki's songs were the soundtrack of my mother's youth—she used to hum "Baa Baa Nanna Preethi" while cooking. I'm glad the leaders acknowledged her simplicity and affection for Kannada. My only wish is that more young people discover her incredible discography. True legends never die.
While the tributes are well-deserved, I hope the government also does more to preserve and promote such cultural heritage. How many of her recordings are digitized and accessible? We lost a gem, and the younger generation needs to know her work.
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