Shedding stardom and its trappings does not come easily. Many struggle to hold on to it. But not legendary singer S. Janaki, who passed away recently in Mysuru. She recorded over 48,000 songs across 18 languages, yet remained the person she was — warm, gentle and unbelievably simple. A fortnight before her demise, she was in Mangaluru, visiting her niece. She also met fans, friends and children who were invited to her home to sing. Videos shot during the time show that Janaki retained her spirit almost until the end.When an iconic artiste passes, everyone speaks of their craft. But, with Janaki, the discourse has been about her love and allowing others to bloom. Singer Mano, who has known Janaki from 1979 — he was 14 and an assistant to the legend M.S. Viswanathan — says: “I was a nobody then, yet she would speak with affection. She would encourage co-singers, appreciate improvisations and ensure younger artistes were not stressed.”
Mano with his Janaki ‘amma’
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy: Mano
Janaki might have hit her peak in the 1980s, but her voice continued to captivate a new generation of listeners — Malayalam films Manjummel Boys (2024) and Lokah (2025) used ‘Kanmani anbodu’ (Guna, 1991) and ‘Kiliye kiliye’ (Aa Rathri, 1983) to telling effect. Mourning fans in every language she worked in have been putting out listicles of her hit songs. And, debating which language she sang the maximum number of songs in. Everyone wants her to be theirs. Janaki has always said that her fans define her. Mano recalls she began the practice of staying with her fans sometime in 2010 or 2011. She would not bother how comfortable the space was. “I once invited her home. She made her famous green chilli pickle, mixed it with hot rice and ghee, made small roundels and fed us.She did the same when I met her in Hyderabad about two months ago,” he says. Almost all singers who interacted with her have a food story to narrate.
