S. Janaki

April 23, 1938

Sishtla Sreeramamurthy Janaki,commonly known as S. Janaki, is an Indian playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Tamil and Telugu

Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has recorded over 35,000 songs, won four National Film Awards and 31 different State Film Awards. Her association with singer S. P. Balasubramanyam and composer Ilaiyaraaja is among the most popular musical combinations in South India.She is fondly better known as, “The Nightingale of the South”.She is a recipient of a Honorary doctorate from University of Mysore and the Kalaimamani award from Tamil Nadu State Government.

In 2013, the Government of India announced the Padma Bhushan award for her, at the age of 74. The singer refused to accept the award, because it came too late and because South Indian artists were not given their due recognition.