S. Janaki Dies At 88, Inside Veteran Singer's Untold Love Story With Her Late Husband, V. Ramprasad

Veteran singer S. Janaki, who was one of India's most celebrated playback singers has unfortunately passed away. For the unversed, she was popularly known as 'Nightingale of South India' and over the years, she had given hit songs like Gori Ka Sajan, Thendral Vanthu, Putham Puthu Kaalai and more. Reportedly, she had recorded songs in more than 15 languages.

A while ago, her family confirmed her death. However, it is worth noting that the cause of her death has not been revealed. Her tragic death at the age of 88 has brought attention to her personal life and her untold love story with her late husband, V. Ramprasad. She fondly used to call him 'Ramu'. Continue reading to know more about their romance!

Who was the veteran singer S. Janaki? 

As per reports, veteran singer S. Janaki was born in April 1938, in Andhra Pradesh. She developed an interest in music at a very young age. Eventually she received training in classical music and went on to become the Nightingale of South India. It was in 1957, when she entered the world of playback singing.

Over the next few decades, she reportedly recorded more than 48,000 songs in more than 15 languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi. She also had the rare ability to change her voice according to the character's age, like a child's voice, a young heroine or an elderly woman.

S. Janaki credited her late husband, V. Ramprasad for her success

S. Janaki met her late husband, V. Ramprasad long before she became a household name due to her soulful voice. The singer fondly called her husband 'Ramu'. According to a recent report, Ramprasad first heard S. Janaki singing on the stage during a public performance. Her soulful voice impressed him, who later chose to give her an opportunity at a bigger platform.

Later, it was Ramprasad's father, who introduced them. Slowly and gradually, S. Janaki and V. Ramprasad became friends and fell in love. They tied the knot in 1956. At this time, Janaki had not even entered the film industry. Soon, Janaki received her first break as a playback singer. Since then, Ramprasad stood by her side. At some point, Ramprasad even sacrificed his career to support Janaki and let her fulfill her ambitions.

Once, S. Janaki had an interview, during which she opened up about her late husband and credited him for her success. She stated that Ramprasad used to love every song of hers and never left her alone during her recording sessions. Further, the singer also mentioned that she would not have tasted success if her husband did not support her. In her words:

"He loved every song of mine, he was mad about my music and would never leave me alone even during my recording sessions and I could not leave him too! He spent his whole life just for me and without his support. I would not have been where I am today. He was there with me, he is there with me and he will be there with me in my thoughts!"

V. Ramprasad passed away in 1997

For those who do not know, S. Janaki and V. Ramprasad had a son named Murali Krishna. As of now, he too is a singer and lives in Chennai with his family. Janaki and Ramprasad stayed together for nearly four decades, until V. Ramprasad’s unexpected death in 1997. Even after his demise, Janaki continued to rule hearts with her playback singing. 

S. Janaki’s grandchild confirmed her death

S. Janaki passed away on July 11, 2026, at the age of 88. A while ago, her family shared an official statement. As per the statement, S. Janaki’s grandchild revealed that the veteran singer passed away peacefully. She was surrounded by her family members during her final moments. The grandchild described her as a loving grandmother. A part of the statement can be read as:

"While our hearts are heavy, we are also filled with gratitude for the extraordinary life she lived and the immeasurable joy she brought to millions through her timeless music. To the world, she was an iconic voice whose songs became part of countless memories. To us, she was a loving grandmother whose warmth, humility, kindness, and grace will remain with us forever. We kindly request that you respect our family’s privacy during this difficult time as we grieve and come to terms with this loss. Thank you for your love, prayers, and understanding."

We offer strength to S. Janaki’s family and close ones!

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