Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, Durgesh mourn S. Janaki’s demise

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and Minister for Cinematography Kandula Durgesh on Saturday expressed profound grief over the passing of veteran playback singer S. Janaki, paying tributes to her extraordinary contribution to Indian music.

In a post on X, Mr. Naidu described Ms. Janaki as the beloved “Nightingale of South India” and said that, as a daughter of Telugu soil, she had built an unparalleled musical legacy spanning more than six decades, touching generations with her timeless voice. Her immense contribution to Indian music would be cherished forever, he said, while conveying his heartfelt condolences to her family, fans and the music fraternity.

Mr. Pawan Kalyan said he was deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary singer, whom he described as a gem among Telugu female playback singers. In a post on X, he said her voice was exceptionally melodious and noted that she had won four National Film Awards and 10 Nandi Awards for Best Female Playback Singer.

He said Ms. Janaki had rendered more than 50,000 songs in Telugu and several other Indian languages and observed that Telugu people would forever cherish her memorable songs in films such as Nireekshana, Srivariki Premalekha, Swathi Muthyam, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, Pratighatana and Anthapuram. He conveyed his deepest condolences to her family.

Mr. Durgesh said he was deeply saddened by the passing of the iconic singer whose melodious voice had captivated audiences across generations and languages for several decades. He said her remarkable musical journey, during which she sang more than 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, had earned her a permanent place in the hearts of millions.

Describing Ms. Janaki as “Gaana Kokila” and the “Nightingale of South India”, the Minister said her extraordinary talent and soulful voice had brought her numerous prestigious awards and honours. Her demise was an irreparable loss to the Indian film industry and the world of music, he said, while praying for eternal peace to her soul and conveying his condolences to her bereaved family and millions of admirers.

Mr. Durgesh also expressed grief over the deaths of tourists from the Telugu States in the boat accident in Vietnam and assured that the State government would extend all necessary assistance to the affected families.