Everyone’s Janaki: The singer’s enduring legacy of love and mentorship

“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.”Mano

Many have pointed out Janaki’s poker face while singing. She preferred to let her voice do the talking. It turned into that of a girlfriend who beseeches, a woman with desire, a wife in grief, a mother who caresses and a child discovering life. Many girls stepped into teenage listening to Janaki, and adulted to the accompaniment of her voice. “She was quite the expert in miming while singing,” says Mano. 

That is something Apsara Vydula, Janaki’s granddaughter, agrees with. “She always spoke about how the voice should communicate the spirit of the song. She was particular about lyrics and pronunciation, because all of that added to the effect.”

Actresses immensely benefited from Janaki’s voice. Daughter-in-law and Kuchipudi dancer Uma Murali recalls how ‘Silk’ Smitha once ran up to Janaki, hugged and told her acting was easier when she sang. “But then, amma always said that she was an actor too, just that she acted with her voice. A thorough professional, she would request a change in lyrics only in case of sexual innuendos. But, she was also the person who sang the sensual ‘En deham amutham’ from Oru Odai Nadhiyagirathu. She was clear about her role as a singer, and would give what the music composition demanded of her.” 

Janaki worked hard on her singing. Uma shares Janaki considered the Kannada ‘Shiva shiva’ from the film Hemavati to be the most difficult, because it was a fusion of two ragas. 

Chithra loved singing Janaki amma’s favourite bhajans
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy: K.S. Chithra instagram

The legendary singer also taught with kindness. Says singer KS Chithra: “She taught me how to bring expression into my voice, and insisted we all learn the languages we were singing in. In fact, Ilaiyaraaja sir once told me to listen to Janaki amma’s songs, especially ‘Raasave unnai nambi’ to emote better, because she took his simple instruction of ‘sound like an innocent girl speaking of her love’, and ran with it.”

Says Uma, who had a ringside view of her mother-in-law’s life, “She did not like jewellery and preferred dressing casually. She loved collared shirts. Her characteristic high-neck blouse took off from that. It went well with her choice of saris.”

While Janaki did not have any formal students, she was a teacher to many. Says singer Sujatha Mohan: “She might not have been the guru we learnt from, but she has been the textbook of how to sing various genres. All we had to do was imagine how Janaki amma would have sung a particular song.” 

Chithra reiterates this. “She was the encyclopedia we all reached out to. She sang many landmark songs without reference. But, we were lucky to have her.”

Janaki amma helped Sujatha and Shweta Mohan put together a collection of Meera bhajans
| Photo Credit:
Shweta Mohan instagram

Over the past two years, Sujatha and her singer-daughter Shweta had been in touch with Janaki for a collection of Meera bhajans. “Janaki amma wrote and composed the songs and asked Shweta to record them. She wanted that to be made in Tamil too, with lyrics by Gangai Amaren. She was happy with the output.”

When she sang bhajans, Chithra would always include the hugely popular ‘Koi kahiyo re’ composed by Janaki. She would send me bhajans to sing. In fact, for her son’s memorial concert that she had planned for December 2026, she had sent us all the songs that she wanted us to sing. I found some complex, but she told me she would guide me over the phone.”

Sujatha, who stepped back from live singing a few years ago, says Janaki was the first to do that. “She then focussed on supporting young singers. Very few can carry the weight of their success so well.”

Chithra fondly remembers Janaki’s innocence that popularity could not touch. “When she stayed with me, I observed her beautiful routine where she was kind to all, including the virtual cat in My Talking Tom. It was endearing.”

Among the younger generation of singers, Chinmayi Sripada had the rare opportunity of singing Janaki’s seminal songs in the film 96, where the lead character is named Janaki. 

Director Prem’s film 96 had Janaki appear as herself on screen
| Photo Credit:
Courtesy: Madras Enterprises

Chinmayi, who began with reality shows, says they could impress judges with Janaki’s songs as they had brighas, swaras and gamakas. “‘Singaravelane deva’ was a song I sang often in the early part of my career,” she recalls. 

Janaki was a trailblazer who was secure about her place, but she also knew her worth. Which is why she refused the Padma Bhushan that came her way in 2013, when she had been singing for 55 years. She was among those responsible for the Karnataka State film awards introducing a category for singers. She paved the path for others to stand up for themselves.

Director Prem, whose 96 saw Janaki appear as herself on screen, says he wanted to capture her sheer magic on screen. “I was pacing outside her Hyderabad house, having reached early for our appointment. She insisted I come in, made me sing, assured she would be there for the shoot and sent me off with food. You felt like a child in her presence.”