S. Janaki, the legendary singer who dominated South Indian cinema for decades, passed away in Mysuru on Saturday (July 11, 2026), aged 88.

The singer, who is known for her versatility and a huge following across regions and generations, had sung 48,000 songs in 18 languages, predominantly the South Indian languages of Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

Janaki won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for “Senthoora Poove” from 16 Vayathinile, the debut directorial venture of Bharathiraja, who passed away last month.

Here is a compilation of tributes from The Hindu, honouring the legendary nightingale whose melodies and memories will forever resonate in our hearts.