Legendary playback singer S Janaki dies at 88; granddaughter shares emotional note

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 11, 2026 09:42 PM IST

S. Janaki, one of India's most celebrated playback singers, dies at 88. (Photo: Instagram/Apsara Vydyula)

Legendary playback singer S Janaki died at the age of 88 at Apollo BGS Hospitals in Mysuru on Saturday. The news was announced by her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, through an emotional statement shared on Instagram. The family said the veteran singer died peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, and requested privacy as they mourn the loss. The hospital later confirmed that the veteran singer passed away at 7.30 pm following multiple cardiac arrests.

Sharing the note on behalf of the family, Apsara wrote, “It is with profound sadness that I share the passing of my beloved grandmother and legendary singer, Smt. S. Janaki.”

She added, “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.”

‘To us she was a loving grandmother’

Remembering Janaki not only as an iconic artiste but also as a grandmother, Apsara wrote, “To the world, she was an iconic voice whose songs became part of countless memories. To us, she was a loving grandmother whose warmth, humility, kindness, and grace will remain with us forever.”

The family concluded the statement by requesting privacy during this difficult time.

“We kindly request that you respect our family’s privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and come to terms with this loss. Thank you for your love, prayers, and understanding.”

Apollo BGS Hospitals issues statement

Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, said Janaki was admitted to the hospital at 12.49 pm on July 11 in a critical condition and was immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

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According to the hospital, despite intensive medical care and continuous monitoring by a multidisciplinary team, she suffered a cardiac arrest during treatment. Doctors initiated advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in accordance with standard medical protocols. However, despite resuscitative efforts, she suffered multiple cardiac arrests and could not be revived.

The hospital confirmed that S. Janaki was declared dead at 7.30 pm on July 11.

About S Janaki

Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest playback singers, S Janaki enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades. She recorded over 40,000 songs across multiple Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi, making her one of the most prolific singers in Indian cinema. She received four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and numerous state honours for her contributions to music.

Fondly known as the “Nightingale of South India,” Janaki collaborated with legendary composers such as M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, K. V. Mahadevan, A. R. Rahman and M. M. Keeravani. Her vast repertoire included timeless classics across romance, devotional music and folk traditions, earning her an enduring place in Indian music history.

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After an illustrious career, Janaki gradually stepped away from playback singing, choosing to make only occasional appearances in later years.