Legendary Playback Singer S Janaki Passes Away at 88: The Story Of The Singer Who Said No To The Padma Bhushan

In the latest development, veteran playback singer S Janaki, fondly known as the "Nightingale of South India," passes away at the age of 88.

It is for more than six decades, Janaki entertained audiences with her soulful voice and recorded thousands of songs in several Indian languages. She was not just loved and admired for her voice but also her dedication to music.

The music world has lost one of its most iconic voices. Legendary playback singer S. Janaki passed away at Apollo Hospital in Mysuru at the age of 88 after battling health complications. Her timeless songs and extraordinary legacy will continue to inspire generations. Rest in… pic.twitter.com/rrUbhrnrsQ

— Oneindia News (@Oneindia) July 11, 2026

A well known artist has a history of one of the most iconic decisions - when she declined Padma Bhushan.

Early Life and Family

S Janaki was born on April 23, 1938, in Pallapatla village, in Andhra Pradesh, which was the then part of Madras Presidency under British India. Her father, Sistla Sreeramamurthy, was an Ayurvedic doctor and teacher.

One must know that Janaki had interest in music since her childhood and gave her first stage performance at the age of nine. She educated herself from Nadaswaram artist Paidiswamy, but never received formal training in the specifications.

Her Married Life:

The singer married V. Ramaprasad in 1959. He became a supporter of her musical journey and often accompanied her in recording sessions. He passed away in 1997 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Interestingly, the singer could not only speak Telugu but could fluently speak- Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi that helped her make remarkable career across Indian Industries.

A Musical Journey That Lasted Six Decades

Janaki started her playback singing career when she was only 19 years old, with the Tamil movie Vidhiyin Vilayattu in 1957. Her work in several Indian languages ensured that she became one of the greatest voices in South Indian movies.

In 2016, she officially retired from playback singing and live concerts.
But in 2018, she came back for one last time to sing in the Tamil movie Pannaadi.

Why She Declined the Padma Bhushan

In her career, S Janaki received several prestigious awards including four National Film Awards for best female playback singer and 33 State film awards making her one of the cherished singers in Indian Cinema.

It was in 2013, when S Janaki refused to receive the national honour after the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri. She stated that she waited for this recognition too long instead of all her contributions in the music industry.