G Venugopal Pens Heartfelt Birthday Note For Veteran Singer S Janaki

Veteran singer S Janaki is hailed as one of the most versatile playback singers in the Indian music industry. She has been captivating millions across the nation with her voice for over a decade. Widely respected and affectionately referred to as Janaki Amma and the Nightingale of South India, she has recorded approximately 48,000 songs throughout her illustrious career. She turned 86 on April 23 and received wishes from all corners on the occasion. Her junior colleague from the playback singing industry, G Venugopal penned a heartfelt note on the occasion of her birthday.

G Venugopal wrote, “Janaki amma stands among the celestial beings who kept me company in solitude, wrapping me in songs like silk. I’ve seen her in person, and sang alongside her for a recording once. Managed to sing along with her in concert three times. Janaki amma possessed a motherly affection and the mischievousness of an elder sister. I’ve visited their old bungalow in Abhiramapuram and their splendid new house on East Coast Road. During our journeys together for concerts, I’ve sung along to S Janaki’s songs with the same emotional intensity as when they were recorded, never missing a single word.”

He continued, “Janaki amma’s songs from the sixties and seventies speak of rejuvenation! Two of my favourite songs by S Janaki are Thedunnathare Shoonyathayil Eeran Mizhikale and Oru Kochu Swapnathin. I can’t quite express the exact emotions these two songs evoke in me. If there were a path between grief, loss, love, and separation, it would be found there, but these songs take me there. These songs always give me goosebumps, like beautiful birds fleeting through distant memories, sadness, and long paths. Thank you, dear voice”.

Venugopal also shared a photo of himself with the legendary singer along with this heartfelt note.

S Janaki is one of the few artists who openly talked about how artists from South are neglected. Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of representation of individuals from South in the Padma awards list for 2013, renowned southern playback singer Sreeramamurthy Janaki announced her refusal to accept the Padma Bhushan award bestowed upon her on the eve of the 64th Republic Day.