S Janaki’s passing has left an irreplaceable void in the world of music. Revered voices, from Ilaiyaraaja to AR Rahman, have paid tribute to her extraordinary legacy. Music composer and singer Anu Malik also shared his heartfelt condolences with Filmfare, reflecting on the lasting impact of the legendary singer. In his words:
I am deeply saddened by the passing away of Janki Amma. She was a divine soul, a great singer and a human being beyond compare. She was always smiling, and always happy. She never spoke much, but when she sang, she just sang.
I remember one incident clearly. We were recording for the film Mard (1985), starring Amitabh Bachchan. I composed all the songs for Manmohan Desai Saheb. She heard the mukhda and antra of Sun Rubia Tumse Pyar Ho Gaya and asked me the meaning of the mukhda – Mein Teri tangewali, Tu mera tangewala. And she told me, “Anu ji, you have melody ingrained in you.”
Just out of curiosity, I asked Janki Amma what she meant by that, and she said, “Recording is over, still I guarantee you that I shall be humming the last lines of the Mukhda for sure.” I was overwhelmed. She congratulated Manmohan ji and also blessed the film. Mard turned out to be a superhit. I was launched. I surely feel it was Janki amma’s blessings.
Her tonal quality and expressions can’t be matched by anyone. She was truly one of the greatest of our times. May Janki amma’s soul rest in everlasting peace. Om Shanti.
With a career spanning more than six decades, S Janaki recorded thousands of songs across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and several other Indian languages. Her ability to breathe emotion into every composition made her one of the country’s most celebrated playback singers.
Also Read: Mohanlal Remembers S Janaki: ‘I Have An Unforgettable Debt To Janaki Amma’
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