After the passing of legendary playback singer S Janaki, Mohanlal shared a heartfelt tribute remembering the iconic artiste whose voice became the soundtrack to countless lives across India. Taking to Facebook on Sunday, the actor reflected on her extraordinary musical legacy while recalling the personal bond they shared over the years.
“The Nightingale of India has left us. Janaki Amma is an ocean of love that gifted so many heart-touching songs in languages including Malayalam and Hindi throughout an era,” Mohanlal wrote in a moving note.
Describing her as one of the greatest voices Indian cinema has ever produced, the actor said Janaki enriched generations of listeners with songs that continue to resonate even today. He also referred to her as the singer who filled the hearts of Malayalees with “Thenum Vayambum,” invoking the beloved title track from the 1981 Malayalam classic Thenum Vayambum.
For Mohanlal, however, the tribute was deeply personal. The actor expressed his gratitude to Janaki for lending her voice to songs in Manjil Virinja Pookkal, his first released film, which arrived in 1980 and marked the beginning of one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated careers.
“As a singer who sang the songs in my first film Manjil Virinja Pookkal, I have an unforgettable debt to Janaki Amma,” he wrote.
A voice woven into Mohanlal’s cinematic journey
S Janaki’s voice became closely associated with several memorable moments in Mohanlal’s filmography. In Manjil Virinja Pookkal, she rendered timeless numbers such as ‘Manjani Kombil’ and ‘Mizhiyoram Nananjozhukum’, both of which remain cherished by Malayalam cinema lovers. The latter continues to enjoy enduring popularity and was famously reimagined for Jeethu Joseph’s 2018 directorial Aadhi, starring Pranav Mohanlal, introducing the melody to a new generation of listeners.
Their musical association continued through films such as Ninnistham Ennishtam, where she sang ‘Ilam Manjin Kulirumayoru’ alongside KJ Yesudas, and Onnaman, which featured the song ‘Mizhiyithalil’. Beyond Mohanlal’s films, Janaki’s Malayalam repertoire includes evergreen classics like ‘Thumbi Vaa’ from Olangal and ‘Aadi Vaa Katte’ from Koodevide, songs that remain benchmarks of melody and emotion decades after their release.
Reflecting on her artistry, Mohanlal wrote, “Janaki Amma gave her sweet voice to all human emotions including happiness, depression and childish innocence. Even after the first film, I was fortunate to be a part of many songs sung by her. She was a calm mother’s heart who treated everyone with impartiality. Personally, I was very close to Janakiyamma. May her soul rest in peace.”
Mohanlal was not alone in mourning the legendary singer. Mammootty also paid tribute to S Janaki following her passing, joining countless actors, musicians, filmmakers, and fans who remembered the immense contribution she made to Indian cinema.
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. While generations will continue to discover her music, Mohanlal’s tribute serves as a reminder that for many artistes, Janaki was not merely a legendary singer but also a cherished collaborator and a beloved presence whose voice became inseparable from some of Indian cinema’s most unforgettable moments.
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