S Janaki sings for Sridevi


Sridevi – An actress who tasted all flavours of success in her long journey in Indian cinema in different languages..! This article is a study of the beautiful melodies that Janaki amma sang for this extraordinary talent!!


Sridevi played (is playing) a grand Innings as lead actress in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. Janaki amma sang for her in all 5 languages and they gave us many hits to cherish!


As a child artist, Sridevi started her career in ‘Maa Nanna Nirdoshi’ Telugu movie where Janaki amma gave play back to her. Later on , she sang couple of songs for her when she was child artist. But, Best of their combination started when Sridevi became lead actress. Especially, songs in ‘Padinaru vayadinile’ started a series of all time classic melodies from this combination. Telugu version ‘Padaherlla vayasu’ saw equal if not more success. Sridevi was established as top most heroine in both languages with these movies.


Tamil cinema saw best of this combination. 3 songs from ‘Kavi Kuyil’ – 3 gems with early tunes of Raja sir. Many of the Kamal-Sridevi duets like ‘Perai Sollava’ from ‘Guru’, ‘Radha Radha Nee Enge’ from ‘Meendum Kokila’ were sung by Balu-Janaki and almost all of them are just awesome! and top of all – ‘Chippi Irukkudu’, a classic which is just perfect from Balu-Janaki-Kannadasan-MSV off screen and Kamal-Sridevi on screen won accolades from many! Not only Kamal-Sridevi, but Rajni-Sridevi movies also had absolute gems from SJ where she was paired with KJ Yesudas, SPB, Malaysia Vasudevan to give hits like ‘Hey Padal Ondru(Priya)’, ‘Aagaya Gangai(Dharma Yuddham)’, Sandhana Katre(Thanikattu Raja) ‘ etc .. The starting bit of ‘Aagaya Gangai’ where Janaki amma gave her breath taking Alaap and Sridevi providing a perfect sync for the same on screen is classic example of their coordination.


Then came solos like ‘Angatha Nattil (Neela Malargal)’, ‘Vethala Kiliye (Dheiyva Thirumanangal)’, ‘Enthan Kannil (Guru)’, ‘Naan Vanangugiren’.. but one solo that simply stood test of times and received infinite acoolades for both Sridevi and S Janaki is ‘Katril Endan Geetham’ from ‘Johny’. Raja sir’s magical composition with Janaki amma’s outstanding performance gained more beauty because of Sridevi madam’s magical performance on screen..!


Next to Tamil cinema, Maximum hits from this combination is in Telugu (may be more than Tamil also in terms of numbers). ‘Sirimalle Puvva’ is standard song for Janaki amma in all her concerts from 1978!! Another song which is very close to Janaki amma is ‘Nee Kowgililo Thala Daachi’ from ‘Kartika Deepam’. Janaki amma could not cancel a recording of this song even when her husband was admitted in hospital for a heart attack.She went to recording theatre with a very heavy heart and just poured her heart and soul into lyrics of this song! Sridevi madam did 100% justice to her singing not only in this song but all other songs that Janaki amma sang for her in the movie.This movie had a wonderful alaap by SJ whenever Sridevi appears on screen in this movie.. What an alaap it is!!


Then came songs from movies like ‘Bangaru Kanuka’, ‘Gaja Donga’ etc.. But, Best of Sridevi-S Janaki in Telugu came in form of ‘Jagadeka Veerudu- Athiloka Sundari’, where Janaki amma (along with Balu sir) sang dreamy ‘Andalalo Aho Mahodayam’, divinely romantic ‘Priyathama’ and captivating ‘Yamaho Nee Yama Yama andam’. When you see Sridevi dancing for Sj’s vocals in yamaho nee ‘Nallani katuka petti, gajjelu katti’ – It is perfect blend of a expression from voice and face!! The grace they added to this song is beyond imagination!!


‘Priya’ was a bilingual movie in Tamil and Kannada. In Tamil, Janaki amma sang only one song ‘Hey Padal Ondru’ with KJy sir, but kannada movie had all songs by Sj only .. A solo ‘Darling Darling’, two duets with KJY sir .. All were chart busters..!


Among the Malayalam songs that came from this combination, Two solos simply stand out…! Salil da’s ‘Swapnadanam (Thulavarsham)’ and AT Ummer’s ‘Neela Jalasayathil (Angeekaaram)’ had a young Sridevi delivering an emotional performance on screen with SJ’s memorable performance off screen. One duet – ‘Yamune Nee Ozhuku (Thulavarsham)’ with KJY-Sj singing Salilda’s tune is simply one of best from this duo… Janaki amma’s gamaka’s at end of charanam are must hear!!


In Hindi, ‘Gori Ke Sajan, Sajan Ki Gori’ is most popular with other hits including ‘Jab Ladki Seethi bajaye’ etc .. ‘Ghayal Ghayal’ from ‘guru’ is an interesting song where Janaki amma got to sing in a very bright manner for energetic Sridevi and in an exhausted way for wounded Sridevi..


Included bilingual versions of ‘Akalai Rajyam’, ‘Guru’ etc but did not include Dubbing songs here. However ‘Yadalo Tholi valape(Erra Gulabhilu)’, ‘Ragile Ee Naa Geetham’ (Naa Pere Johny) and Edo Raagam (Kalyana Ramudu), ‘Nee Navvula lona (Dharma Yuddam), ‘Nee pedavula lona (Ajeyudu)’, ‘Ee Erra Gulabhi (Erra Gulabhilu)’, ‘Manakosam (Vasantha Kokila) are very good melodies in Telugu Dub versions also. Similarly, ‘Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari’ and ‘Oka Radha Iddaru krishnulu’ were equally good in Tamil dubbed versions ‘Kadhal Devathai’ and ‘Hare Radha Hare Krsihna’. Interestingly, ‘Katril Endan Geetham”s Hindi dubbed version was also sung by Janaki amma – ‘Chedi Maine Sargam’.


Really thanks to Sridevi Madam and Janaki amma for all these lovely melodies..! Sharing the best of their combination here.. Shall add more songs in future, if some are missing…


Year Language Movie Song
1977 Tamil Kavikkuyil Chinna Kannan Azhaikkiraan
1977 Tamil Kavikkuyil Kuyile Kavikuyile
1977 Tamil Kavikkuyil Udhayam Varugindradhe
1977 Tamil 16 Vayathinile Manjakkulichi
1977 Tamil 16 Vayathinile Senthoora Poove
1977 Tamil 16 Vayathinile Aattukkutti
1978 Tamil Taxi Driver Sugaman Sindhanayil
1978 Tamil Rajavuketha Rani Raja Vandhar
1978 Tamil Ithu Eppadi Irukku Engum niraintha
1978 Tamil Mudisooda Mannan Kathal bodai
1978 Tamil Sigappu Rojakkal Indha Minminikku
1978 Tamil Sigappu Rojakkal Ninaivo Oru Paravai
1978 Tamil Priya Hey padal Ondru
1978 Tamil manitharil ithanai nirangalaa Ponne bhoomiyadi
1979 Tamil Arumbugal Cheri Kuzhanthaigal.
1979 Tamil Dharma Yuddham Aagaya Gangai
1979 Tamil Kalyanaraman Ninaithal Inikkum
1979 Tamil Kavariman Aduthu ullam aadudu
1979 Tamil Neela Malargal Angatha Nattil
1979 Tamil Pattakathi Bhairavan Devadai oru devadai
1979 Tamil Pattakathi Bhairavan Nenjukulle singakutty
1979 Tamil Pattakathi Bhairavan Thel Malasih Boot polish
1980 Tamil Guru Parandhalum Vidamatten
1980 Tamil Guru Perai Chollava
1980 Tamil Guru Endhan Kannil
1980 Tamil Guru Naan Vanangugiren
1980 Tamil Johnny Katril enthan geetham
1980 Tamil Varumayin Niram Sivappu Chippi irukkudu
1980 Tamil Varumayin Niram Sivappu Tu Hain raja
1981 Tamil Bala Nagamma Neerkodutha
1981 Tamil Dheiyva Thirumanangal Kandan Vanthan Kanthan Vanthan
1981 Tamil Dheiyva Thirumanangal vethala kiliye
1981 Tamil Sankarlal elankiliyae
1981 Tamil Sankarlal kasturi maan
1981 Tamil Sankarlal paathikkallil
1981 Tamil Meendum Kokila Radha Radha nee enge
1982 Tamil Moondram Pirai Vaanengum
1982 Tamil Thanikattu Raja Sandhana katre
1982 Tamil Thanikattu Raja Naan thaan Taapu
1982 Tamil Pokkiri Raja Vaada En Machikala
1983 Tamil Adutha Varisu Ennaiah ABC
1983 Tamil Adutha Varisu Kaveriye Kavikuyiley
1983 Tamil Adutha Varisu Vaa Raja
1983 Tamil Adutha Varisu Vaazhga
1986 Tamil Naan Adimai Illai oru jeevanthan – happy
1986 Tamil Naan Adimai Illai devi devi
1986 Tamil Naan Adimai Illai vaa . vaa idayame
1986 Tamil Naan Adimai Illai pona pogudu
1986 Tamil Naan Adimai Illai oru jeevanthan – sad
1976 Telugu Anuragalu ye Thodu ledu
1978 Telugu Padaharella Vayasu kattu katahlu cheppi
1978 Telugu Padaharella Vayasu Sirimalle puvva
1978 Telugu Padaharella Vayasu Panta chelo palakanki
1978 Telugu Padaharella Vayasu Vayasantha mudupu katti
1979 Telugu Karthika Deepam Nee Kowgililo
1979 Telugu Karthika Deepam Muvvalemo
1979 Telugu Karthika Deepam Aaraneekuma ee deepam
1979 Telugu Karthika Deepam chilakamma palikindi
1980 Telugu Guru Nelaina Ningaina
1980 Telugu Guru Peru Cheppana
1980 Telugu Guru Kannula Kaipu
1980 Telugu Guru Naa Vandanamu
1980 Telugu Gaja Donga oka rathiri oka pokiri
1980 Telugu Gaja Donga ido rakam daham
1980 Telugu Gaja Donga alla neredu chettu kada
1981 Telugu Aakali Rajyam Kanne pillavani
1981 Telugu Aakali Rajyam Tu Hain Raja
1982 Telugu Andagaadu ooguthondi lokam
1982 Telugu Andagaadu paduchuthanam
1982 Telugu Andagaadu vachindi ra ledi
1982 Telugu Shamsher Shanker Chukkalammaki
1982 Telugu Shamsher Shanker Kai Raja kai
1982 Telugu Shamsher Shanker Sanivaramantadu
1982 Telugu Shamsher Shanker Chadugudu Pandem
1982 Telugu Bangaru Kanuka Nochina nula phalamu
1982 Telugu Bangaru Kanuka nadaka adi hamsadwani ragama
1983 Telugu Mundadugu Chilakalooripeta kada
1983 Telugu Oorantaa Sankranti oorantha sankranthi
1983 Telugu Oorantaa Sankranti Kallalo kanakambaram
1984 Telugu Pachchani Kapuram Kothaga mathuga
1984 Telugu Pachchani Kapuram vennelaina cheekataina – happy
1984 Telugu Pachchani Kapuram Vennalaina cheekataina – sad
1985 Telugu Vajrayudham Aa Bugga meeda
1985 Telugu Vajrayudham Sannajaji pakka meeda
1985 Telugu Vajrayudham krishnamma pennamma
1985 Telugu Vajrayudham Chandrasekharuni
1985 Telugu Vajrayudham Haruniki
1985 Telugu Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu Madhura Murali
1985 Telugu Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu Pattu mari
1985 Telugu Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu Danimma
1985 Telugu Oka Radha Iddaru Krishnulu Emi Thuntari
1988 Telugu Maharajashri Mayagaadu Sathyabhamala
1988 Telugu Maharajashri Mayagaadu Chituku latuku
1988 Telugu Maharajashri Mayagaadu Ananda Ananda
1988 Telugu Maharajashri Mayagaadu Bommani
1988 Telugu Maharajashri Mayagaadu Kotha Kotha mojulo
1989 Telugu Aakhari Poratam Swathi chinuku
1990 Telugu Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari Andalalo
1990 Telugu Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari Yamaho
1990 Telugu Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari Priyathama
1979 Kannada Priya Darling Darling
1979 Kannada Priya Hey Kavithe neenu
1976 Malayalam Thulavarsham Paarayidukkil Mannundo
1976 Malayalam Thulavarsham Swapnadanam
1976 Malayalam Thulavarsham Yamune Nee Ozhuku
1976 Malayalam Kuttavum Sikshayum Aavani Poorna
1976 Malayalam Abhinandanam Pathu Paisaakkoru
1977 Malayalam Angeekaaram Neelajalasayathil
1984 Hindi Akalmand Kya Haseen najare
1984 Hindi Maqsad Haan Garmi Hai
1986 Hindi Dharm Adhikari Ankhen Do
1986 Hindi Dharm Adhikari Mamla Gadbad Hai
1986 Hindi Aakhree Raasta Gori Ka Saajan Saajan Ki Gori
1989 Hindi Guru Ghayal Ghayal