S. Janaki

S Janaki's highest number of songs are in Kannada.[21] Her solos and duets, with P B Srinivas, S P Balasubramanyam and Dr. Rajkumar are considered evergreen.

Janaki sang her first Kannada song in 1957. By the early 60s, she had started working with many prominent music composers. Through out 70s and 80s she remained the number one female playback singer in Kannada films. Most of the music directors, from G K Venkatesh, Rajan-Nagendra to Hamsalekha gave 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 Karnataka Rajyotsava awarded in 2014. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore for her contributions 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)
• "Devara Aata" Avala Hejje (1981)
• "Hoovinda Hoovige" Hombisilu (1978)
• "Nagu Endhidhe" Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983)
• "Panchama Veda" Gejje Pooje (1969)
• "Kareye Kogile" Navajeevana (1964)
• "Yava Janmadha Maithri" Gowri (1963 film)
• "Pogadirelo Ranga" Haalu Jenu (1982)
• "Naa Mechchidha" Naa Mechida Huduga (1972)
• "Hele Gelathi" Kesarina Kamala (1973)
• "Thanu Ninnadu" Ibbani Karagithu (1983)
• "Maguve Ninna Hoonage" Gejje Pooje (1969)
• "Nee Yaro Enosaka" Hasiru Thorana (1970)
• "Nodu Baa Nodu Baa" Miss Leelavathi (1965)
• "Baagila Theredhiruve" Premanubandha (1981)
• "Bhuvaneshwariya Nene" Mareyada Haadu (1981)
• "Indu Enage Govinda" Eradu Kanasu (1974)
• "Kamalada Mogadole" Hosa Ithihaasa (1984)
• "Mahalaksmi Manege" Lakshmi Kataksha (1985)
• "Oh Panduranga" Sathi Sakkubai (1985)
• "Hagalo Irulo" Mayura (film) (1975)
• "Aadona Baa Baa Gopala" Malli Maduve (1963)
• "Kandu Kandu Nee" Bhale Adrushtavo Adrushta (1971)
• "Aacharavilladha Nalige" Upasane (1974)
• "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)

S Janaki and Malayalam songs are inseparable, she sang her first Malayalam song back in 1957. She practiced the correct accent and the nuances of the language which later made her one of the most sought after singers in the industry. She was the favorite of many popular music composers like V Dakshinamoorthi, MS Baburaj, Shyam, MK Arjunan, Johnson Master, Raveendran Master, MB Sreenivasan, A.T.Ummer, and Salil Choudhary.

S Janaki went on to sing thousands of songs from early 1960s to mid 80s. She received her first Kerala state film award for best singer in 1970 and went on to win the same almost every year for the next 15 years. It was her command over the language and perfect diction that took her to great heights in Malayalam films. S Janaki is perhaps the only non-Malayali artist who has won maximum awards in Malayalam films.

Some of her hit solo tracks in Malayalam films are:

• "Thaliritta Kinaakkal" Moodupadam (1963)
• "Sooryakaanthi" Kattuthulasi (1965)
• "Aa Nimishathinte" Chandrakantham (1974)
• "Unni Arariro" Avalude Ravukal (1978)
• "Mazhavil Kodi Kavadi" Swapnam (1973)
• "Unaroo Vegam Nee" Moodalmanju (1970)
• "Vasantha Panchami Naalil" Bhargavi Nilayam (1964)
• "Sandhye Kanneerithende" Madanolsavam (1978)
• "Malarkodi Pole" Vishukanni (1977)
• "Mouname Nirayum" Thakara (1980)
• "Naadha Neevarum Kaalocha" Chamaram (1980)
• "Thumbi Vaa Thumbakudathin" Olangal (1982)
• "Moham Kondu Njan" Shesham Kazhchayil (1985)
• "Thenum Vayambum" Thenum Vayambum (1981)
• "Olathumbathirunnu" Pappayude swantham Appose (1992)
• "Swarna Mukile" Ithu Njangalude Katha (1982)
• "Konchi Karayalle" Poomukha padiyil ninneyum kaathu (1986)
• "Kaikkudanna Niraye" Mayamayooram (1993)
• "Sarapoli Mala" April 19 (1996)
• "Amma Poovinum" 10 Kalpanakal (2016)[22]

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

She sang many songs under many famous composers. Ilaiyaraaja - SP Balasubramanyam- S Janaki combination gave hit after hit from mid 1970s till 1990s. S Janaki is the only singer who has won state awards under the oft-called top three music composers of the state (MS Vishwanathan, Ilaiyaraaja and AR Rahman).

Some of her best solos in Tamil cinema are:

• "Singara Velane deva" Konjum Salangai (1962)
• Sendhoora Poove" 16 Vayathinile (1977)
• "Kuyile Kavikkuyile" Kavikkuyil (1977)
• "Annakkili Unnai" Annakkili (1976)
• "Kaatril Endhan" Johnny (1980)
• "Ponmeni Urugudhe" Moondram Pirai (1982)
• "Azhagu Malaraada"Vaidhegi Kaathirunthaal (1984)
• "Chinna Chinna Vannakuyil" Mouna Ragam (1986)
• "Ooru Sanam" Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu (1986)
• "Chinna Thayaval" Thalapathi (1991)
• "Aasai Athigam Vechu"Marupadiyum(1993)
• Margazhi Thingal Allava" Sangamam (1999)

S Janaki started her career in Telugu films in 1957. Movies like Bava maradalu, Pooja Phalam and Bangaru Panjaram had songs by S Janaki which were immensely popular. She gave continuous hits throughout 1960s and 70s. She continued to give hits till mid 90s. S Janaki has won 12 Nandi awards, 10 for films and 2 for television serial songs.A few of her solos are:

• "Neeli Meghalalo" Bava Maradallu (1961)
• "Naravara O Kuruvara" Nartanasala (1963)
• "Pagale Vennela" Pooja Phalam (1964)
• "Pagalaite Doravera" Bangaru Panjaram (1970)
• "Sirimallepoova" Padaharella Vayasu (1978)
• "Nemaliki Nerpina" Saptapadi (1981)
• "Om Namah Shivaaya" Sagara Sangamam (1983)
• "Ee Dhuryodhana" Pratighatana (1985)
• "Narudaa O Narudaa" Bhairava Dweepam (1994)

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.[14] She sang many duets with Kishore Kumar.

Some of her notable Hindi songs are

• "Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re" Saaheb (1985)
• "Aayaa jab se tu dil mein" Jhoothi (1985)
• "Jawan Hai Dil Jawan Hain Hum" Saaheb (1985)
• "Sun Rubia Tumse Pyar Ho Gaya" Mard (1985)
• "Mamla Gadbad Hai" Dharm Adhikari (1986)
• "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 Kysa Maza" Awwal Number (1990)

S Janaki sang many evergreen songs in Oriya. She has sung about 68 songs in Odia films. Her songs are still popular today and she also won 1 Orissa State Film Award.

S Janaki sang songs in 17 languages, though her top hits were in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. She also sang a few songs in other languages. 109 Hindi songs, 68 Odia songs, 4 Sinhalese songs, 2 Tulu songs, 1 Badaga song, 2 Sanskrit songs, 1 Punjabi song...

• One Japanese song in Adutha Veettu Penn (1960)
• One German song in Puthu Paatu (1990)
• One English song in Swayamkrushi (1986).

G. K. Venkatesh was one of the early composers who brought a renaissance in Kannada film music. He started composing for more films from early 1960s and went on to give some remarkable songs to Janaki. GKV-SJ-PBS combination was the talk of the town those days. Two songs which 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 1950s, got to sing his first duet with S. Janaki - "Tumbitu Manavaa" - for the film "Mahishasura Mardini" in which he played the villain.

M. Ranga Rao was one of the composers who contributed memorable songs to Kannada film music. He collaborated with S. Janaki for many films, including Edakallu Guddada Mele ("Sanyasi Sanyasi") directed by Puttanna Kanagal. Ranga Rao composed memorable duets sung by Dr. Rajkumar and S. 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 S. Janaki sung this along with another legendary singer Vani Jayaram.

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 made Janaki sing 3 songs which became immensely popular thus 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 maximum duets with Balasubramanium, Malaysia Vasudevan, Mano, Yesudas, Jayachandran. Ilayaraaja himself sang around 200 duets with Janaki; most were chart busters. After IR started giving more songs to SJ, even other music composers followed by making her sing their top hits.

SPB-IR-SJ created some of the finest duets of Tamil cinemas. 1980s saw the meteoric rise of Janaki with a strong back up from Ilayaraja, as she sang his songs in all four South Indian languages.

The earliest recognised collaboration of S 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 and Nagendra have a unique place in hearts of Kannada music lovers. S 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 S Janaki. Almost all of their songs remain etched as the unforgettable melodies of Kannada Cinema. The romantic duets that came out from the SPB-S Janaki-Rajan-Nagendra combination are considered to be heavenly and evergreen. 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[23] In terms of numbers it was Rajan-Nagendra who gave maximum songs to Janaki after Ilaiyaraaja. The solos and duets that S Janaki rendered under these music composers can never be erased from the minds of Kannada audience. 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.

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 so many hit songs. S 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. S Janaki worked in more than 40 films with Hamsalekha and sang all-time hit solos and duets.

Kannada cinema offered SJ real gems of her singing career and Vijaya Bhaskar is no exception. 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 S Janaki in movies like Gejje Pooje, Bellimoda, Upasane, Seetha (1970 film); he chose her whenever the song needed some special singing. "Gaganavu ello bhoomiyu ello" remains one of the most memorable songs of S Janaki. If we take the top 10 songs of S Janaki in Kannada cinema there would definitely be at least 2 songs composed by Bhaskar.

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

Janaki says that the toughest song of her singing career is the fastest swaras Kannada song "Shiva shiva ennada naaligeyeke" from the movie Hemavathi_(film). The song, which is in two different ragas, Thodi and Aabhogi, was composed by L. Vaidyanathan.[24][25]