Legendary singer S. Janaki was cremated with state honours at a farmhouse in Kaniyanahundi near Mysuru on Sunday evening.

Janaki’s granddaughter Apsara Vydyula performed the last rites as per Telugu Brahmin traditions in the presence of her close relatives, people’s representatives, friends, and a large number of admirers and the general public.

Earlier, Janaki’s mortal remains were brought in a vehicle with police escort to the farmhouse in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district from Maharaja’s College grounds, where it was kept for public viewing.

The last rites were held at the farmhouse belonging to Janaki’s admirer and caretaker Naveen as per the singer’s wishes. Janaki’s late husband Ramprasad was from Mysuru and the singer had chosen to make Mysuru her home in the last few years. Both Janaki’s husband and their only son Murali Krishna had predeceased her.

Ms. Apsara thanked the government for the state honours and public homage. On Janaki, Ms. Apsara said her grandmother was one of a kind with remarkable talent, and was special for the whole world. “I will remember her more as a grandmother, who was so kind and generous. She was full of love and laughter with a child-like spirit. She was a unique soul,” Ms. Apsara said.

The cremation was attended by Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLAs T.S. Srivatsa and Anil Chikkamadu, Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Lakshmikant Reddy, Superintendent of Mysuru Mallikarjun Balandandi and Mysuru Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Yukesh Kumar.

Several personalities from the Kannada film industry including chairperson of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce S. Jaimala and veteran actress Bharathi Vishnuvardhan and noted music composer Hamsalekha also attended the cremation.

Extensive arrangements had been made at the farmhouse with barricades erected from the approach road to the place of cremation. Adequate police personnel had been deployed to maintain security at the venue. 

Demands for memorial

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he would discuss with the film industry how to memorialise Janaki in Mysuru for posterity. “She was a nightingale of Indian cinema. She won four national awards and 33 state awards. We have also honoured her with the Rajyotsava Award. I offered her family members to airlift the mortal remains to Hyderabad or Chennai, if they so wished. But they said she wished to be cremated in Mysuru only. She spent her last days here, and we will discuss with the film industry and decide how to honour her memory,” he said.

Earlier in the day, music director and lyricist Hamsalekha and chairperson of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and actor Jaimala pitched for ways to memorialise the legacy of Janaki in Mysuru. 

Mr. Hamsalekha said the music industry is keen on setting up a meditation centre and music school at the farm in Kaniyanahundi, where she was cremated. He appealed to the State government to extend its support to the venture.

“A memorial in her honour will be a befitting tribute to her contribution to the world of cinema,” he said.

Ms. Jaimala pitched for a study centre on music at the University of Mysore. “Such a centre will facilitate studies in Janaki’s singing and her long and illustrious career as a playback singer in multiple languages,” she said.