Remembering S Janaki through songs that will live on forever

"Thumbi vaa... thumbakkudathin thunjathayi oonjaalidaam..." As S Janaki's voice falls silent, what remains is a lifetime of songs that continue to breathe through the people who grew up listening to them.

Across her career, she sang over 25,000 songs in multiple languages, yet she approached every recording often insisting on learning the meaning and pronunciation of word before stepping into the studio.

Perhaps that is why her songs felt as though they belonged to the language itself.

Here are 10 Malayalam songs that she gave her heart to:

1. Malarkodi Pole – Vishukkani (1977)

Few lullabies in Malayalam cinema are as beloved as ‘Malarkodi Pole’. Written by Sreekumaran Thampi and composed by Salil Chowdhury, the song compares a sleeping child to a delicate flower blooming in gentle moonlight.

Janaki makes listeners feel its warmth. Even decades later, it remains the lullaby many Malayalis instantly associate with childhood. "Sleep like a flower, embraced by the moon."

2. Thumbi Vaa – Olangal (1982)

Ilaiyaraaja's magical composition with ONV Kurup's poetic lyrics created one of Malayalam cinema's most enchanting children's songs.

The melody feels playful, almost like a conversation with nature itself. Janaki's youthful voice makes every invitation to the dragonfly feel real, making listeners back to carefree afternoons of imagination.

The song somehow grows with you from childhood to adulthood without ever losing its innocence.

3. Kiliye Kiliye – Aa Raathri (1983)

Soft, intimate and emotionally layered, ‘Kiliye Kiliye’ remains one of Janaki's finest romantic performances.

Than expressing love dramatically, she sings with quiet restraint. The emotions slowly unfold through subtle shifts in her voice, making every line feel deeply personal.

Its recent revival in popular culture introduced the song to a younger generation, proving that timeless music always finds new listeners.

4. Sandhye... Kannirithenthe Sandhye – Madanolsavam (1978)

Evening often symbolises endings and loneliness, and this song have all two beautifully talking.

Salil Chowdhury's haunting composition allows Janaki's voice to float between melancholy and acceptance. She never over-sings the emotion, making the sadness feel honest.

5. Mizhiyoram Nananjozhukum – Manjil Virinja Pookkal (1980)

Built around quiet longing, ‘Mizhiyoram’ is one of Malayalam cinema's most memorable emotional melodies.

Jerry Amaldev keeps the orchestration simple, allowing Janaki's voice to carry the weight of the story. Every note mirrors the feeling of memories that refuse to fade.

Its enduring popularity shows that emotional honesty never goes out of style.

6. Nadha Nee Varum – Chamaram (1980)

There are love songs, and then there are songs of waiting.

‘Nadha Nee Varum’ is the anticipation of someone listening for the footsteps of a loved one who may or may not arrive. Janaki fills every phrase with hope, making the wait itself become the emotion.

The line that translates to "I wait to hear your footsteps" says almost everything the song needs to.

7. Aadi Vaa Katte – Koodevide (1983)

Johnson's unforgettable melody combined with ONV Kurup's lyrical imagery gave Malayalam cinema one of its most comforting songs.

Janaki's voice feels as the breeze the lyrics invite. There's a lightness to the composition that matches its youthful spirit.

It remains one of those songs that brings nostalgia with just its opening notes.

8. Kannu Kannum Thammil Thammil – Angadi (1980)

A classic duet with KJ Yesudas, this romantic favourite shows the excitement of two people discovering love.

Janaki balances sweetness with maturity, complementing Yesudas. Their voices blend, making the chemistry feel entirely natural.

Even today, it's considered one of defining love songs.

9. Thenum Vayambum – Thenum Vayambum (1981)

Among Janaki's greatest vocal performances, ‘Thenum Vayambum’ is both technical brilliance and emotional depth.

Raveendran's rich composition demands extraordinary control, yet Janaki makes every difficult phrase sound effortless. The song flows naturally, never drawing attention to how challenging it actually is.

10. En Poove – Pappayude Swantham Appoos (1992)

Perhaps no song carried unconditional love quite like ‘En Poove’.

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja, it explores the unbreakable bond between a mother and child with emotional honesty.

One translated line stays with listeners long after the song ends, "From the moment you were born until the moment I left you..." In just a few words, it talks the lifelong, selfless love of a parent.