S. Janaki’s Last Rites to Be Conducted With Full State Honours in Mysuru

The music is gone. S. Mysuru, Oct 16 (PTI) Legendary singer Janaki, popularly known as “Nightingale of South India”, died here today following a cardiac arrest. Her granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, confirmed the news in a deeply personal social media post, saying the iconic singer died peacefully surrounded by her family.  

Death of “Janaki Amma” marks the end of a golden era in Indian cinema. In a career that spanned nearly seven decades, she sang close to 48,000 songs in several languages including Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. She was known for her incredible vocal range and emotional capabilities. She could switch her voice to sound like a little girl, a lover with soul or an old lady.  

Final Journey & State Tribute

The government has said her last rites will be performed with full state honours to recognise her huge contribution to art and culture.

Public Homage: The mortal remains of the actress are being taken to the Maharaja’s College Ground in Mysuru, where fans, film industry stalwarts and the general public can assemble to pay their last respects.  

Funeral Details: Last rites will be performed on Sunday evening (July 12, 2026) at Kaniyyanahundi village with full state protocols.  

An Unmatched Musical Heritage

Janaki Amma had no formal training in classical music, but she had pure intuition, flawless diction and an unparalleled gift for emotional expression.  
Wikipedia.

Powerhouse Collaborations: Her career was filled with collaborations with musical maestros like Ilaiyaraaja and A.R. Rahman, as well as her frequent legendary duet partner, the late S.P. Balasubrahmanyam.  

In her life, she was awarded four National Film Awards and a staggering 33 State Film Awards. She famously refused the Padma Bhushan in 2013, saying with characteristic candour that the recognition had come too late in her life and that the central government should have honoured her much earlier.  

She retired from public performance and recording in 2016 and decided to spend her quiet later years in Mysuru, where her journey finally ended. She’s not around anymore, but her voice is still woven into the everyday memories, lullabies, and heartbreaks of millions of listeners across generations.