'Every Malayali household knew her voice': Kerala CM VD Satheesan mourns S Janaki

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Saturday condoled the demise of veteran playback singer S Janaki, describing her as one of the greatest personalities in South Indian film music whose timeless songs would continue to resonate across generations.

In a condolence message, Satheesan said Janaki's voice had the rare ability to express every human emotion - devotion, love, joy and sorrow - with unmatched depth and grace.

He said that despite Malayalam not being her mother tongue, every song she rendered in the language, marked by impeccable pronunciation and emotional intensity, had become an "inseparable part" of the lives of Malayalis.

Recalling her contribution to Indian cinema, the chief minister said Janaki mesmerised audiences for over six decades, and that music directors often received performances that surpassed their expectations.

He said the singer was much more than a playback artiste and had become a member of every Malayali household through the warmth and affection reflected in her songs.

Calling her his favourite singer, Satheesan fondly recalled several of her evergreen Malayalam songs, including "Malare Then Malare," "Thumbi Vaa," "Aadi Vaa Kaatte," and "Nirangal Than Nritham."

He said Janaki's songs were an invaluable treasure that had transcended time, and that there would hardly be a day when Malayalis would not remember at least one of her melodies.

Janaki died at a private hospital in Mysuru on Saturday due to age-related ailments. She was 88.

According to family sources, she developed breathing difficulties on Friday night and was admitted to the hospital, where she passed away.

Known for her versatility, Janaki recorded more than 48,000 songs in over 20 languages, predominantly Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. PTI