South Indian playback legend Jamuna Rani dies at 88

Veteran South Indian playback singer Jamuna Rani died at age 88 in Bengaluru on July 30, 2026, after age‑related health issues. Over a career spanning more than six decades, she recorded over 6,000 songs in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Sinhalese films, becoming one of the most versatile voices of the 1950s and 1960s.

Rani began as a child prodigy, debuting at seven in the 1946 Telugu film Tyagayya. Her breakthrough hit “Aasaiyum En Nesamum” from Gulebakavali (1955) and memorable tracks such as “Yaaradi Nee Mohini”, “Kungumapoove Konjum Purave” and “Naan Sirithaal Deepavali” cemented her legacy. She received the Tamil Nadu Kalaimamani Award in 1998 and the Anna Award for her contributions to the arts.

Funeral rites were held at the Jeevanhalli crematorium in Bengaluru on July 31, 2026, with family, friends and members of the film fraternity in attendance.