Sridevi presents S Janaki her lifetime achievement award

Sistla Sreeramamurthy Janaki, known mostly as the legendary singer S Janaki was born on 23 April 1938. Sridevi presented the singer her lifetime achievement award back in 2007. 

More images and clips of the two in the archive. 

We honour the "Nightingale of the South" today on her 88th birthday. 

S. Janaki sang roughly 90–100 songs for Sridevi (across Tamil, Telugu, and a few Hindi films), mostly in the 1970s–1980s. This is based on the comprehensive list on her official/fan-maintained site (sjanaki.net), which catalogs dozens of Tamil and Telugu playback tracks where Janaki voiced Sridevi, plus a handful of Hindi ones noted separately. Exact counts vary slightly by source (as some films had multiple versions/dubs or solos/duets), but it’s a substantial body of work that helped define Sridevi’s early superstar image in South Indian cinema.

Sridevi and S Janaki in 2007

 Many of these are evergreen classics, especially the Ilaiyaraaja-scored Tamil hits from the late 1970s that blended melody, emotion, and Sridevi’s expressive screen presence. Telugu versions/remakes often adapted or reused tunes. Hindi songs were fewer but included some chart-toppers.

🎤 Most Popular S. Janaki Songs for Sridevi
(Chronological Order • Tamil, Telugu & Hindi Hits)

S. Janaki sang roughly 90–100 songs for Sridevi across Tamil, Telugu, and a few Hindi films (1970s–1980s). These are the most iconic and evergreen ones — perfect for any Sridevi fan!

Year	Film (Language)	Song	Music Director	Lyricist	Notes
1977	Kavikkuyil (Tamil)	Kuyile Kavi Kuyile	Ilaiyaraaja	Panchu Arunachalam	Soulful solo; early hit that launched the magical combo
1977	16 Vayathinile (Tamil)	Senthoora Poove	Ilaiyaraaja	Gangai Amaran	Massive rural romantic classic; still played everywhere
1978	Padaharella Vayasu (Telugu)	Sirimalle Puvva	K. Chakravarthy (Ilaiyaraaja tune)	Veturi Sundararama Murthy	Superhit Telugu version; concert favourite even today
1979	Dharma Yuddham (Tamil)	Aagaya Gangai	Ilaiyaraaja	M.G. Vallaban	Energetic duet with Malaysia Vasudevan; huge chartbuster
1980	Varumayin Niram Sivappu (Tamil)	Chippi Irukkuthu	M.S. Viswanathan	Kannadasan	Playful romantic duet with the great S.P. Balasubrahmanyam
1982	Moondram Pirai (Tamil)	Vaanengum Thanga Vinmeengal	Ilaiyaraaja	Vairamuthu	Dreamy poetic duet with S.P.B.; one of the most beautiful tracks ever

Other evergreen favourites often featured in Sridevi–Janaki compilations:
Manjakkulichi & Aattukkutti (16 Vayathinile), Ninaivo Oru Paravai (Sigappu Rojakkal), Kanne Pillavani (Aakali Rajyam), Gori Ka Sajan (Aakhree Raasta – Hindi) and so on.

TBT to 1998: Sridevi at Filmfare Awards

Sridevi's first public appearance post-baby, the actress hit the stage at Filmfare to present the Best Actor award (to a gleeful Shahrukh Khan for Dil Toh Paagal Hai). 

Dazzling in gold and in a traditional kanjeevaram, she reminded all once a superstar, always a superstar.

 

Gorgeous Sridevi with Shahrukh Khan on stage at Filmfare

Sridevi had just presented Shahrukh Khan one of his many Filmfares - this time for Dil Toh Paagal Hai. 

How beautiful Sridevi looks on stage... 


 

TBT: Sridevi at iifa: The green carpet, the red gown, and the Goddess of Stage!

 

TBT: Sridevi at iifa: The green carpet, the red gown, and the Goddess of Stage! A memorable appearance by Sridevi in Canada, when it was officially announced that she was returning to the big screen with English Vinglish after a decade of keeping people guessing. 

The iifa awards were on recently and as always, the prizes were given to anyone who turned up. A free vacation for stars, a laughable judging panel, it's hardly a merit based award ceremony, where they make up categories on the go as stars turn up. The rule of thumb generally is, if the star's sitting on the front row, he/she is picking up a golden trophy. 

Used to love watching it when Sridevi attended or Aishwarya Rai did or the Bachchans did for the sheer glamour of it all. Now of course, the A-list only turn up if they are guaranteed acknowledgement or are  getting paid huge amounts of foreign currency to perform on stage. A handful of starlets and wannabes turn up for the free flight and stay! 

The awards are all risible but will give props to the stage shows; some of the greatest performances by Indian celebrities (and some of the worst!) have been performed at iifa. No surprises, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Sushant Singh Rajput and especially Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan have given incredible live, non-stop dance performances. Have witnessed their incredible skill sets that make them who they are. 

Have sadly also witnessed the worst dances by stars too; namely, Sonam Kapoor and... so reluctant to type this but it was Parineeti Chopra. Pari is a lovely actress and truly one of the better talents on and off screen, and she was wonderful to the press and fans... but, but, but she has zero stage presence, had the worst stage outfit, and can't shake a leg. Meanwhile, Sonam Kapoor was stiff as a cardboard and whoaaa, dreadful. Was like watching a kid in highschool barely pass the elementary stage of dancing, but getting the applause by the teary-eyed family. Which we also saw... (Anil was in the audience and his wife Sunita Kapoor who is profoundly bored of Bollywood!). 

Not all stars can be everything to everyone. Manoj Bajpai and Tabu are wonderful actors, but both have performed poorly on stage when it comes to the song and dance routines expected of Bollywood's top tier stars. Manoj did this weird crow dance at Filmfare that was the worst thing I've ever seen. And Tabu in... say it with me... Thakshak. It has millions of views on YouTube as the music by AR Rahman is incredible, but ask any classical Indian dancer - they all cringe when they watch it. And I say it being a mega Tabu fan--she's easily the greatest actress of her generation, bar none. Hema Malini can dance like a dream, but as an actress... well, she's no Tabu either!  

Obviously not all are like Sridevi who could do it all. And then some! 

RELATED FEATURES 

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• Sridevi at iifa over the years here.

Sridevi: OG Award Presenter

 

Sridevi presenting an award at Filmfare... South... anyone remember which year and to who? 

Late 90s... 

Happy 60th birthday to Govinda

 

Sridevi presenting an award to birthday boy Govinda. The Bollywood star turns 60 today. 

Govinda and Sridevi acted in just one film together, the hit caper Gair Kanooni, but did a few stage shows during the 80s together. Govinda mentioned in paast interviews how hard Sridevi worked - and how her epic work ethic made her the Number One star of her time. 

They were both fans of each other - and the same age- but somehow the pair never took off.  

Shatrughan Sinha praises Sridevi on stage: TBT to 2005

 

Shatrughan Sinha praises Sridevi on stage: TBT to 2005

The former co-stars (Shatrughan Sinha and Sridevi worked in Sherni together back in 1988) presented the Best Actress award. Before the winner was announced, Sinha heaped praises on Sridevi. 

Today, Dec 9, the actor turns 78. We wish him well.  

TBT: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor at Zee Cine Awards back in March 2000

 

Sridevi at the 3rd Lux ​​Zee Cine Awards held at the Sports Complex in Andheri, Mumbai. 

March 11, 2000. 

Three years to her self-imposed hiatus and break from the industry, Sridevi looked just radiant on stage, reminding the world she was indeed the eternal Chandni. 

Rare pics of Sridevi with Aishwarya Rai's mother Vrinda Rai on stage, with Aamir Khan's father Tahir Hussain (film producer). Boney Kapoor having a chat with Sohail Khan - with Sridevi in the background. 

TBT: Sridevi at the Jewellery Awards in Jaipur: December 19, 2009

 TBT: Sridevi at the Jewellery Awards in Jaipur: December 19, 2009

From one screen Goddess to another: Sridevi presents Aishwarya Rai her first Best Actress trophy

From one screen Goddess to another: Sridevi presents Aishwarya Rai her first Best Actress trophy.

It was the year 2000, a turn of the century, a hallmark year, a transitional one. It was as if Sridevi  was anointing another South Indian actress to be the next number one star. 

Ash had a high watermark year with the stupendous success of Taal (1999) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Reminding many of a decade earlier when Sridevi had a similar double whammy of Chandni and Chaalbaaz (1989)

Talent recognises talent, Sridevi had given Ash the nod of approval long back and the two remained friends from beginning to... well, Sri's tragic end. 

Ah cruel fate... 

 

R. Sarathkumar with Sridevi on stage

TBT: R. Sarathkumar with Sridevi on stage. 

Actor and politician Sarathkumar turns 68 today. 

TBT: Sridevi

Sridevi holding an award while presenting at SIMA. So iconic... \

Happy Birthday Rani Mukerji: Sridevi on stage with Rani, Shatrughan Singha

Happy Birthday Rani Mukerji! A famous fan of Sridevi - well, both had a mutual admiration thing going on - Sridevi has handed Rani many a Best Actress away from Hum Tum to Black (which will easily go down as one of the all-time greats in the history of Indian cinema). 

The images and clip here from 2005

We have a huge archive of images of Sridevi with Rani here - including some rare pics that many haven't seen often. 

 

TBT: Sridevi and Boney Kapoor present Shahrukh Khan a Best Actor Award

Gorgeous Sridevi on stage with Boney Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan. Sri presented SRK yet another award.  

Playwright Achyut Vaze with Sridevi: Rare pic

Playwright Achyut Vaze with Sridevi. 

One of the rarest pics of Sridevi on stage presenting an award. 

Pretty In Pink: Sridevi on stage presenting an award

Sridevi at an award show. 2013

Blue Sari: Sridevi stuns in a sensuous modern blue sari

Sridevi in a blue sari. Years after the iconic Kate nahin katthe song in Mr.India, sensational Sridevi still stuns in a sari that's oh so blue. These images have been posted before in an earlier post, but click on them for a larger image.

Sridevi stuns in a blue saree

Sridevi in a blue sari. Looking drop-dead gorgeous!

Hrithik Roshan receives his first Best Actor award from the greatest Sridevi

Sridevi presents Hrithik Roshan his first Best Actor Filmfare award. He seemed genuinely surprised to win a double whammy that year. 

On stage, Sridevi said to Hrithik, "I wish my daughter was here!"

Janhvi Kapoor was/is a huge fan of Hrithik Roshan. Roshan Jnr also has a long link to Sridevi - when he was a child artist, he worked with Sridevi in Bhagwaan Daada.