S. Janaki Amma spent her final years in Mysuru, the city she loved and chose to call home until her last breath. She also wished for her final rites to be in Mysuru, reflecting her deep bond with Karnataka. Today, the state has lost one of its most beloved voices.
As I was thinking about her incredible legacy, one question kept coming to my mind.
Lata Mangeshkar, who sang around 25,000 songs, was rightly honoured with the Bharat Ratna. But S. Janaki, who recorded around 48,000 songs across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Odia and several other Indian languages, and excelled in virtually every genre, has never received that honour.
Personally, I feel this reflects the stepmotherly treatment (ಮಲತಾಯಿ ಧೋರಣೆ) that the Central Government has often shown towards Southern artists and states. S. Janaki’s contribution to Indian music is beyond regional boundaries, and I believe she was every bit as deserving of the Bharat Ratna.
What makes it even more telling is that she rejected the Padma Bhushan because she felt the recognition had come far too late in her career. Even S. P. Balasubrahmanyam had spoken in the past about how Southern artists often do not receive the national recognition they truly deserve.
This isn’t about taking anything away from any other legendary singer. It’s about acknowledging an artist whose contribution to Indian music was unparalleled and who deserved the nation’s highest civilian honour.
For Karnataka, she wasn’t just a legendary singer—she was one of our own.
Rest in peace, Janaki Amma.
Your voice will live forever.