Legendary playback singer S Janaki passed away on Saturday in Mysuru following a cardiac arrest, aged 88, leaving the Indian film and music world in profound grief. Tributes poured in from across regions and languages, with Telugu Megastar Chiranjeevi, Tamil actor and parliamentarian Kamal Haasan, and veteran producer Boney Kapoor among the scores who mourned her passing.

Chiranjeevi's Tribute

Chiranjeevi posted an emotional tribute on X, writing in Telugu: 'The news of Janakamma garu's passing has left me deeply shaken.' He recalled how Janaki's voice had breathed life into countless emotions that he and his co-stars portrayed on screen across decades of his film career.

Noting that several songs audiences fondly associate with his films were rendered in her voice, Chiranjeevi wrote that every time those songs played, the memories of those days came alive before his eyes. 'Today, we have lost a towering pinnacle in the world of music. But her songs will forever resonate as an inspiration for generations and as the background score to our lives,' he said, extending condolences to her family and the millions of music lovers who admired her. 'Janakamma garu... your voice is immortal,' he added.

Kamal Haasan's Condolence

Kamal Haasan took to his X timeline to share a deeply personal message in Tamil: 'Paadal endrum olithukonde irrukum. Andha Anbai yengae theduven amma?' — meaning, 'The song will keep resounding forever. But where will I find the love, mother?'

He acknowledged the grief that many would carry silently: 'Irakki vaika mudiyaadha sogam palarukkum irrukum. Avarkellam Aazhndha Irangalkal' — 'There will be many who cannot lay the burdens in their hearts down. Deepest condolences to them all.'

Boney Kapoor Pays Homage

Producer Boney Kapoor also took to X to mourn the singer he described as the 'timeless Nightingale of South India.' He wrote: 'The voice that gave life to countless emotions has fallen silent, but its echo will resonate for generations.'

Kapoor highlighted that over six decades, Janaki had touched millions of hearts with a voice capable of expressing joy, love, devotion, longing, and sorrow with unmatched grace. 'Her songs transcended languages, generations, and borders, becoming an inseparable part of India's musical heritage. India has lost one of its greatest musical treasures,' he said, signing off with 'Om Shanti. Rest in eternal peace, Janaki Amma.'

A Voice That Transcended Generations

S Janaki is widely regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema, with a career spanning more than six decades and recordings in multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi. Her passing marks the end of an era for South Indian music. She is survived by her family and an enduring catalogue of songs that continue to define the emotional landscape of Indian cinema.