MYSURU: The mortal remains of legendary playback singer S. Janaki were cremated with full state honours at her farmhouse in Kaniyanahundi on Sunday evening. The iconic vocalist passed away at the age of 88 at a private hospital on Saturday evening following respiratory distress and subsequent health complications.
Following the directive of Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, a police contingent offered a traditional gun salute while the national anthem was played to honor the late singer.
Breaking away from long-standing traditions that typically restrict funeral rituals to men, Janaki’s granddaughter, Apsara Vydyula, performed the last rites. As Vedic hymns filled the air, Apsara lit her grandmother’s funeral pyre and carried the traditional earthen pot around it to complete the final rituals. Apsara Vydyula is the daughter of Murali Krishna, Janaki’s son, who passed away earlier this year on January 22.
Earlier in the day, Janaki’s mortal remains were kept at the Maharaja’s College Grounds in Mysuru to allow the public to pay their final respects. Thousands of grieving fans, alongside numerous actors, actresses, and fellow playback singers from the Kannada and South Indian film industries, gathered to bid adieu to the musical icon. Mysuru district in-charge minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah attended the ceremony on behalf of the Karnataka government to pay tributes.
Expressing his deep condolences in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Shivakumar hailed Janaki as one of India’s greatest musical icons. He added that the state government would actively look into ways to preserve her expansive and historic musical legacy.
