Legendary singer S Janaki, fondly known as the “Nightingale of South India,” died in Mysuru on Saturday. She was 88.
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Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, issued a statement on S Janaki’s death. The statement read, “Mrs. S. Janaki was admitted to Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, on 11 July 2026 at 12:49 PM. On admission, her condition was critical, and she was immediately evaluated and shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further management. Despite intensive medical care and continuous monitoring by a multidisciplinary team, she suffered a cardiac arrest during the course of treatment. Advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated immediately in accordance with standard medical protocols. Despite resuscitative efforts, she experienced multiple cardiac arrests and could not be revived. Mrs. S. Janaki was declared deceased at 7:30 PM on 11 July 2026.”
In a career spanning more than six decades, S Janaki recorded over 40,000 songs across multiple Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. She received four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and numerous state honours.
Also Read – The nightingale who sang in twenty languages: The life and legacy of S Janaki
The who’s who of the Indian film industry took to social media to pay tribute to S Janaki.
