S Janaki

Sistla Janaki, born on April 23, 1938, in Repalle, Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most celebrated and versatile playback singers in Indian cinema history. With a career spanning over five decades, she has recorded more than 48,000 songs in multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and several other Indian languages.

S. Janaki began her singing career in 1957 and quickly established herself as one of the premier female voices in South Indian cinema. In Tamil cinema, she was the voice behind countless iconic songs, working with legendary composers including Ilaiyaraaja, M.S. Viswanathan, and A.R. Rahman. Her collaboration with Ilaiyaraaja produced some of Tamil cinema’s most beloved melodies.

Her remarkable vocal range and ability to modulate her voice to suit different moods, characters, and genres set her apart from her contemporaries. From classical melodies to peppy folk numbers, devotional songs to playful duets, S. Janaki excelled across every style.

She has won four National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and has received numerous state film awards. The Government of India honoured her with the Padma Bhushan in 2013 for her contributions to Indian art. S. Janaki announced her retirement from playback singing in 2016, bringing to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in Indian music history. She remains a towering figure whose voice defined generations of South Indian cinema.