Veteran playback singer S. Janaki was cremated with full State honours on Sunday near Mysuru, where family members, admirers and dignitaries gathered to pay their final respects to one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated voices.
Her last rites were conducted at a farmhouse in Kaniyanahundi village, in accordance with her wishes. Earlier in the day, members of the public paid homage after her mortal remains were placed at Maharaja’s College Grounds before the funeral procession made its way to the cremation site. Her granddaughter, Apsara, performed the final rituals following family traditions.
Janaki passed away on Saturday evening at the age of 88 after being admitted to a private hospital in Mysuru with age-related health complications. Doctors said she suffered multiple cardiac arrests despite intensive medical care.
Condolences poured in from across the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing her passing as a significant loss to Indian music. Political leaders, members of the film fraternity and thousands of fans also remembered her immense contribution to playback singing.
Those close to the singer said she had developed a strong attachment to Mysuru during the last few years of her life and had expressed a wish for her final rites to be performed there.
Born in Andhra Pradesh in 1938, Janaki began her musical journey at an early age before making her playback debut in 1957. During a career spanning more than six decades, she recorded over 48,000 songs in nearly 20 languages and received numerous honours, including four National Film Awards and several State awards, cementing her place among India’s greatest playback singers.