Pallapatla mourns his famous daughter S. Janaki

S. Janaki | Photo credit: File photo

Legendary playback singer Sistla Janaki, popularly known as S. Janaki, whose voice captivated generations of music lovers across India, was born and spent part of her childhood in the village of Pallapatla near Repalle in present-day Bapatla district of Andhra Pradesh. The famous singer died on Saturday, leaving behind a unique musical legacy spanning more than six decades.

The people of Pallapatla recalled their association with the iconic singer with pride and nostalgia. Sambasiva Rao Vogiboyina (50) told The Hindu that S. Janaki spent her early childhood in the village before her family moved elsewhere. He said the family owned a large ancestral house in Pallapatla, which stood in a dilapidated condition until it was demolished about a decade ago. According to him, the family still owns some property in the village.

Mr. Rao said that S. Janaki had planned to visit Pallapatla to attend the dedication ceremony after the renovation of the village temple. However, the visit did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telugu film director Dileep Raja, a native of Tenali in Guntur district, said S. Janaki was the only legendary playback singer who hailed from the coastal belt around Repalle, making her a permanent source of pride for the people of the region.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he was deeply saddened by the death of the veteran playback singer whom he described as the beloved “nightingale of South India”. In a post on X, Mr. Naidu said that as a daughter of the Telugu soil, S. Janaki has built a unique musical legacy spanning more than six decades and has moved generations with her timeless voice. Her immense contribution to Indian music will forever be honoured, he said while expressing his sincere condolences to her family, admirers and the music fraternity.

Published – 11 Jul 2026 22:07 IST