Passing of S. Janaki (multiple letters)

Letters in The Hindu mourn the passing of legendary South Indian playback singer S. Janaki and describe her as one of the most enduring voices in Indian cinema. The letters focus on her long career, emotional versatility, and her ability to connect with listeners across language boundaries.

The correspondence recalls songs such as “Singaravelane Deva”, “Chinna Chinna Vanna Kuyil”, “Machaanai Paatheengala”, and “Senthoora Poove”. It also refers to recording practices in which her vocals and the nadaswaram were recorded separately and later blended.