Adithya Varma

Sistla Janaki, popularly known as S. Janaki is respectfully referred to as 'Janakiamma' and is one of India's best-known playback singers. She is referred to as 'Gaana Kogile' (Singing Cuckoo) in Karnataka. S. Janaki has recorded over 48,000 songs in films, albums, TV and Radio including solos, duets and chorus songs in more than 17 languages including those native to India. Widely celebrated as one of the most versatile singers and dubbed 'The Nightingale of South India,' her association with singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and composer Ilaiyaraaja is most talked about.

While in her twenties, Janaki moved to Chennai to work with Music composer R. Sudarsanam in AVM Studios as a singer. She started her career as a playback singer in the Tamil movie Vidhiyin Vilayattu in 1957. Subsequently, Janaki performed in the Telugu film M.L.A. She sang film songs in 6 languages in her very first year. Throughout the 70s and 80s, Janaki remained the number one female playback singer in Kannada films. Her solos and duets, with P B Srinivas, S P Balasubramanyam and Dr Rajkumar are considered evergreen. She picked a Malayalam lullaby 'Amma Poovinum' from 10 Kalpanakal as the swansong of her 60-year singing career and retired in 2017 with a concert held at Mysuru.

Best Female Playback Singer - National Film Awards - 1977

Lifetime achievement award – South - Mirchi Music Awards - 2015

MS Subbulakshmi National Award - Tamil Nadu State Government - 2019

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