'Nightingale of South India' legendary singer S. Janaki dies at 88
S. Janaki declined the Padma Bhushan award in 2013, saying national recognition came too late
Veteran playback singer S. Janaki has died at the age of 88 after suffering a heart attack in Mysuru.
The legendary singer affectionately known as Janaki Amma and the "Nightingale of South India" was admitted to a private hospital on Saturday afternoon after experiencing age-related health complications.
She passed away later that evening according to hospital sources. Over more than six decades she recorded over 48,000 songs in 20 Indian languages, singing for films, albums, television and radio.
She made her playback debut with the Tamil film Vidhiyin Vilayattu in 1957 and went on to become one of the most recognisable voices in South Indian cinema.
Although she announced her retirement in 2016 she briefly returned to record a song for the Tamil film Pannaadi in 2018.
In 2013 she declined the Padma Bhushan saying national recognition had come too late in her career.
Her family will hold the funeral in Mysuru on Sunday in keeping with her final wish. The Karnataka government has announced that the last rites will be conducted with full state honours after members of the public pay their final respects.
