Renowned playback singer S Janaki passed away in Mysuru on July 11, 2026, at the age of 88, as confirmed by her granddaughter on social media. The news
of her death sent shockwaves through the music industry and her legion of fans, prompting an outpouring of condolences from prominent figures in the film world. Esteemed actors such as Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan expressed their grief, describing the loss of ‘Janaki Amma’ as irreplaceable. Following the announcement of her passing, Rajinikanth took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay tribute, stating in Tamil, “May her soul, who delighted generations of people with her honey-sweet voice, attain peace.” Kamal Haasan echoed similar sentiments, tweeting, “The song will forever keep resounding. Where shall I seek that love, Mother? An inconsolable sorrow exists for many. My deepest condolences to them all.” Music composer Anirudh Ravichander also shared his sorrow, writing, “Rest in peace Janaki Amma. Will forever remember your blessings. Om Shanti.” Actor Simran reflected on Janaki's profound impact, stating, “Some voices become a part of our lives forever, and Janaki Amma's was one of them. She gave life to emotions through her music and created memories that generations will cherish.” She added that Janaki's absence leaves an irreplaceable void, but her songs will continue to resonate in the hearts of many. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada referred to Janaki as a ‘goddess,’ recalling a memorable performance they shared in Australia, highlighting Janaki's extraordinary vocal range and versatility. A press release from Apollo Hospital in Mysuru detailed the circumstances surrounding Janaki's hospitalization. She was admitted on July 11, 2026, at 12:49 PM in critical condition and was promptly moved to the Intensive Care Unit for urgent care. Despite the efforts of a multidisciplinary medical team, she suffered a cardiac arrest during treatment. Advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated, but unfortunately, she experienced multiple cardiac arrests and could not be revived, being declared deceased at 7:30 PM the same day. Throughout her illustrious career, S Janaki recorded over 48,000 songs across various languages, primarily in South Indian languages such as Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. Her six-decade-long journey in the music industry saw her lend her voice to films, albums, television, and radio in approximately 20 Indian languages, including Hindi, Odia, Tulu, Urdu, Punjabi, and Bengali, solidifying her legacy as one of India's most versatile and beloved playback singers.
