While in her twenties, Janaki moved to
Chennai on the advice of her uncle to work with the music composer
R. Sudarsanam in
AVM Studios as a singer. She started her career as a playback singer in the Tamil movie
Vidhiyin Vilayattu in 1957. Subsequently, she performed in the Telugu film
M.L.A.. She sang film songs in 6 languages in her first year. She picked the Malayalam lullaby "Amma Poovinum" from
10 Kalpanakal as the
swansong of her 60-year singing career and retired on 28 October 2017 with a concert held at
Mysuru.
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. 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)
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. 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). == Collaboration with Music Directors ==