Tributes are pouring in from across the country following the death of legendary playback singer S Janaki on Saturday at the age of 88. The celebrated singer died at a private hospital in Mysuru due to age-related ailments, according to family sources, bringing to a close a musical journey that influenced generations of listeners.

While the nation remembers Janaki's extraordinary contribution to Indian music, her passing has also brought renewed attention to a series of celebrity death hoaxes that falsely claimed she had died years before her actual death.

False death rumours surfaced repeatedly

Janaki became the target of several false death reports over the years, with two major incidents in 2016 and 2020 spreading widely across social media.

In 2016, reports that she was retiring from playback singing were misread online as news of her death. In an interview with The Times of India, Janaki had said she wished to step away from singing after recording what she described as her final song for a Malayalam film.

The retirement announcement was soon distorted into claims that she had died. The misinformation spread rapidly across social media and messaging platforms before friends and family intervened, confirming that she was alive and in good health. Kannada television channels also aired reports debunking the false claims.

Singer and family repeatedly dismissed misinformation

The rumours resurfaced in June 2020 when another wave of posts falsely claimed that the veteran singer had died. The reports once again prompted concern among fans and well-wishers. Her family dismissed the reports, explaining that she had undergone surgery and was recovering. During a verification call with a major national media outlet, Janaki remarked, "This is the sixth time it is happening." She added that she was in good health but tired of repeatedly answering phone calls to deny the recurring rumours surrounding her health.

Born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, on April 23, 1938, Janaki built one of the most prolific careers in Indian playback singing. Over six decades, she recorded more than 48,000 songs in nearly 20 Indian languages, including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Odia, Tulu, Urdu, Punjabi and Bengali. Her remarkable versatility earned her the title of the "Nightingale of South India", a legacy that continues to resonate long after her passing.