S. Janaki

Telugu films

S Janaki started her career in Telugu films in 1957 in the film M.L.A. Movies like Bava Maradallu, Pooja Phalam and Bangaru Panjaram had songs by S. Janaki which were immensely popular. She sang continuous hits throughout the 1960s and 70s, continuing this streak until about the mid 90s. S Janaki has won 12 Nandi awards, 10 for films and 2 for television serial songs. A few of her solos are:

• "Nee Aasa Adiyaasa" and "Idenandi Idenandi Bhagyanagaramu" - M.L.A. (1957)
• "Podamu Ravoi Bava" - Kutumba Gowravam (1957)
• "Anukunadanta" - Anna Thammudu (1958)
• "Gaajulamma Gaajulu" - Karthavarayuni Katha (1958)
• "Le Le Le" - Sobha (1958)
• "Aakashamele Andala Raje" - Rakta Sambandham (1962)
• "Ee Pagalu" - Siri Sampadalu (1962)
• "Venugaanammu Vinipinchene" Siri Sampadalu (1962)
• "Puvvu Navvenu" Siri Sampadalu (1962)
• "Pilichi" in Simharasi (2001)

Kannada films

S. Janaki's has sung the most songs in her career in Kannada.^[15] Her solos and duets with legends such as P B Srinivas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Dr. Rajkumar are considered evergreen hits.

Janaki sang her first Kannada song in 1957. By the early 60s, she had started working with many prominent music composers. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, she remained the number one go-to female playback singer in Kannada films. Most of the music directors, from G. K. Venkatesh, Rajan–Nagendra to Hamsalekha, offered her most of their top compositions.

She has a record number of duets with P B Srinivas, S P Balasubrahmanyam, and Dr Rajkumar. She was awarded the Rajyotsava Prashasti in 2014. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore for her tremendous contribution to Kannada film and music.

Some of her top hit solos in Kannada cinema are:

• "Shiva shiva ennada naaligeyeke" Hemavathi (film) (1977)
• "Poojisalende Hoogala" Eradu Kanasu (1974)
• "Gaganavu Ello" Gejje Pooje (1969)
• "Omme Ninnanu" Gaali Maathu (1981)
• "Gaaligopura Ninnashatheera" Nanda Deepa (1963)
• "Nambide Ninna" Sandhya Raga (1966)
• "Barede Neenu" Seetha (1970 film)
• "Banallu Neene" Bayalu Daari (1976)
• "Karedaru Kelade" Sanaadi Appanna (1977)
• "Deepavu Ninnade" Mysore Mallige (film) (1992)
• "Bharatha Bhooshira" Upasane (1974)
• "Sukhada Swapna Gaana" Mareyada Haadu (1981)
• "Thangaliyalli Naanu" Janma Janmada Anubandha (1980)
• "Akasha Deepavu Neenu" Pavana Ganga (1977)
• "Aaseya Bhava Olavina Jeeva" Mangalya Bhagya (1976)
• "Mahalaksmi Manege" Lakshmi Kataksha (1985)
• "Hoovondu Beku Ballige" Pavana Ganga (1977)
• "Ragavendra- Bidenu Ninna Pada" Naa Ninna Bidalare (1979)
• "Kangalu Thumbiralu" Chandanada Gombe (1979)
• "Olavina Gelayane" Naniruvude Ninagagi (1979)
• "Manase Nagaleke" Namma Makkalu (1969)
• "Nagisalu Neenu" Gaali Maathu (1981)

Malayalam films

Janaki sang her first Malayalam song in 1957. She practiced the correct accent and the nuances of the language, which made her the most sought-after singer in the industry throughout 1970s until mid 80s. She was the favorite of many popular music composers like V Dakshinamoorthi, MS Baburaj, Shyam, MB Sreenivasan, A.T.Ummer and Salil Choudhary.

Janaki went on to sing thousands of songs from the early 1960s to the mid-80s. She received her first Kerala state film award for best singer in 1970 and went on to win the same award almost every year for the next 15 years.

Some of her hit solo tracks in Malayalam films are:

• "Thaliritta Kinaakkal" Moodupadam (1963)
• "Sooryakaanthi" Kattuthulasi (1965)
• "Keshaadipadam Thozhunnen" (Pakal Kinavu) (1966)
• "Oru Kochu Swapnathin" (Tharavattamma) (1966)
• "Ezhuthiyathaaraanu" (Udhyogastha) (1967)
• "Thenum Vayambum" Thenum Vayambum (1981)
• "Ettumanoor Ambalathil" (Oppol) (1981)
• "Ente Janmam Neeyeduthu" (Itha Oru Dhikkari) (1981)
• "Thumbi Vaa Thumbakudathin" Olangal (1982)
• "Swarna Mukile" Ithu Njangalude Katha (1982)
• "Oru Vattam Koodiyen" (Chillu) (1982)
• "Aadi Vaa Katte" (Koodevide) (1983)
• " Mizhiyithalil" (Onnaman) (2002)
• "Aazha Kadalinte" (Chanthupottu) (2005)
• "Thazhampoo Thottilil" (Mizhikal Sakshi) (2008)
• "Amma Poovinum" 10 Kalpanakal (2016)^[16]

Tamil films

Janaki sang her first Tamil song in 1957. The song Singaravelane Deva from the movie Konjum Salangai brought her into the limelight in Tamil films. M. S. Viswanathan gave her many hit songs every year throughout the 60s and early 70s. It was the song Unnidathil ennaik kodutthen from Avalukendru Or Manam (1971) that consolidated her position among the most promising singers in the Tamil industry.

She sang many songs under many famous composers. Ilaiyaraaja, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, and Janaki produced songs together from 1970s till the 1990s. Janaki is the only singer who has won state awards under the oft-called top three music composers of the state (M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman).

Some of her best solos in Tamil cinema are:

• "Singara Velane Deva" Konjum Salangai (1962)
• "Oho Endhan Baby" (Thennilavu) (1961)
• "Adichirukku Nallathoru Chansu" (Nallavan Vazhvan) (1961)
• "Indha Mandrathil Odi Varum" Policekaran Magal (1962)
• "Kannan Mananilayai" Deivathin Deivam (1962)
• "Pakalil Pesum Nilavinai Kanden" (Sengamala Theevu) (1962)
• "Pandhal Irundhaal" (Bandha Pasam) (1962)
• "Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (Avalukendru Or Manam) (1971)
• "Konduvaa Innum Konjam" (Neerum Neruppum) (1971)
• "Amma Amma" Velaiilla Pattadhari (2014)

Hindi films

Composer Bappi Lahiri was impressed by a Hindi song sung by S Janaki for a Tamil movie, when he visited Prasad Studio. He decided to have songs sung by her in his upcoming Hindi movies and introduced her to Bollywood.^[7] She sang many duets with singer Kishore Kumar.

Some of her notable Hindi songs are

• "Prabhu more awgun chit na dharo" and "Ayo prabhat sab mil gaayo" - Sur Sangam (1985)
• "Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re" and "Jawan Hai Dil Jawan Hain Hum" - Saaheb (1985)
• "Aayaa jab se tu dil mein" - Jhoothi (1985)
• "Sun Rubia Tumse Pyar Ho Gaya" - Mard (1985)
• "Mamla Gadbad Hai" and "Aankhen do" - Dharm Adhikari (1986)
• "Tune mera doodh piya" Aakhree Raasta (1986)
• "Pag Paadam" Naache Mayuri(1986)
• "Dil mein ho tum" Satyamev Jayate (1987)
• "Main tere liye" Main Tere Liye (1989)
• "Poocho Na Kaisa Maza" Awwal Number (1990)
• "Gopala Gopala* Humse Hai Muquabala (1994)

Odia films

Janaki sang many evergreen songs in Odia. She has sung about 68 songs in Odia films. Her songs are still popular today, and she also won 1 Orissa State Film Award for Odia film Sata Kebe Luchi Rahena (1986)

Other languages

Janaki also sang a few songs in other languages.

• One Japanese song in Adutha Veettu Penn (1960)
• One German song in Puthu Paatu (1990)
• One English song in Swayamkrushi (1986)
• One French song (uncredited)
• One Sinhala song in (Mal Peedi Prema Wrukshaye) (1959).

A. R. Rahman

During the '90s, Janaki sang many great Tamil and Telugu songs for A. R. Rahman at the early stage of his career. Songs like "Ottagatha Kattiko", "Gopala Gopala", "Nenjinele", "Kadhal Kaditham Theetave", "Mudhalvane", "Endhan Nenjil", and "Margali Thingal" are still popular. She won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for "Margazhi Thinkal Allava" from the film Sangamam under his composition.

G. K. Venkatesh

G. K. Venkatesh was one of the early composers who brought a renaissance in Kannada film music. He started composing for more films from the early 1960s and went on to give some remarkable songs to Janaki. Two songs that need special mention from this combination are "Nambide ninna naadhadevate" from Sandhya Raga and "Karedaru kelade" from Sanaadi Appanna: both became very popular. Dr. Rajkumar, who had begun his acting career in the 1950s, got to sing his first duet with Janaki – "Tumbitu Manavaa" – for the film "Mahishasura Mardini" in which he played the villain.

Hamsalekha

By the end of 80s Hamsalekha established himself as the top music composer in Kannada cinema pushing all the veteran composers to the background. His strong association with actor Ravichandran resulted in many hit songs. Janaki was his first choice during the initial days of his career. SPB-SJ-HL created some of the evergreen duets in movies like Premaloka and Ranadheera. Janaki worked in more than 40 films with Hamsalekha and sang all-time hit solos and duets.

Ilaiyaraaja

Ilaiyaraaja knew about Janaki's vocal range and versatility when he worked with G. K. Venkatesh. When he got a chance to compose music for his debut film Annakkili (1976) he asked Janaki to sing 3 songs which became immensely popular, beginning an era in Tamil cinema. This combination churned out hits after hits pushing S Janaki to the numero uno position for at least the next 2 decades. S Janaki won 4 state awards in Tamil in his compositions. He explored her voice in wide variety of songs, and she became the first choice for songs with village background.

She sang most of her duets with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan, Mano, K. J. Yesudas, and Jayachandran. Ilaiyaraaja himself sang around 200 duets with Janaki; most were chart busters. After Ilaiyaraaja started giving more songs to S. Janaki, other music composers followed by making her sing their top hits.

M. Ranga Rao

M. Ranga Rao was one of the composers who contributed memorable songs to Kannada film music. He collaborated with Janaki for many films, including Edakallu Guddada Mele ("Sanyasi Sanyasi") directed by Puttanna Kanagal. Ranga Rao composed memorable duets sung by Dr. Rajkumar and Janaki for "Vasanta Geeta", "Hosabelaku", and "Samayada Gombe".

For Hosabelaku, Ranga Rao composed a melodious tune for a poem by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu "Teredide Mane O Baa Atithi" and Janaki sung this along with another legendary singer, Vani Jayaram.

M. S. Baburaj

The earliest recognised collaboration of Janaki's was with the Malayalam composer MS Baburaj, who specialised in Hindustani music. Under his direction, Janaki was able to give voice to some of Kerala's best loved film songs of all time during the 1960s and early 1970s. The songs they've worked on have been known for their outward expressions, both in voice and the composition by itself. Some of Janaki's best known solos come from this collaboration, including Vasantha Panchami Naalil (Bhargavi Nilayam), Anjana Kannezhuthi (Thacholi Othenan) and Thaane Thirinjum Marinjum (Ambalapravu).

Rajan–Nagendra

Janaki was a part of almost all their albums. During the initial days, RN gave many duets to PBS-SJ. Later their main singers were SPB and Janaki. Radios called the pair of SPB and S Janaki as "Love Birds" and are termed to be the "Best singing pair" in Kannada cinema, owing mainly to their romantic duets composed by Rajan–Nagendra in the 1970s and 80s.^[17] In terms of numbers, it was Rajan–Nagendra who gave maximum songs to Janaki after Ilaiyaraaja. Some top hit songs came from movies such as Eradu Kanasu, Hombisilu, Gaali Maathu, Pavana Ganga, Avala Hejje, Chandana Gombe, Naa Ninna Bidalare and the list continues.

Vijaya Bhaskar

Though his main singers were P Susheela in 60s and Vani Jayaram and Chitra in 70s and 80s, he gave some of his best compositions to Janaki in movies like Gejje Pooje, Bellimoda, Upasane, and Seetha (1970 film). "Gaganavu ello bhoomiyu ello" remains one of the most memorable songs of Janaki.