Mysuru: For the last time, the nightingale of the south sung to her heart's content and left the stage.

S. Janaki, the singer, won't perform in a public venue any more.

Thousands had gathered to listen to her last performance at the open air auditorium at Manasaganothri in Mysuru. Their eyes were moist with tears. A sea of applause and waving hands bid her farewell.

The 79-year-old singer had stopped singing in films and now music shows too won't have her presence. She decided to stop singing when she was singing well and not after age has affected her voice.

Dressed in a blue and white sari, she reached the venue holding her son Murali Krishna's hand. The audience stood up to welcome the singer. Pramoda Devi from Mysore royal family and Kannda film stars had come to welcome their favorite singer.

"Your love has brought me here today. I am in your mind. I am satisfied," she told the audience with folded hands. Then, Kannada song "Ganavadane gunasagare.." flowed out of her lips. She also sung the Malayalam song "Kanneerithenthe sandhye" and several other evergreen songs in Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam.

Music director Raja Nagendra, Kannada actors Jayanthi, Bharati Vishnuvardhan, Hema Chaudhary, Shylashri, Prathima Devi and Rajesh came on stage and felicitated the singer. In return, she sang songs she had sung for them in films.

When the audience requested her not to stop singing, she reminded them the adage that it is better to stop singing when the voice is good.

The music night was organized by Swayamrakshana Gurukulam led by Keralite Manu B. Menon, S Janaki Charitable Trust Mysuru and the north zone of the Suvarna Karnataka Kerala Samajam.

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul

S Janaki sings her last concert in Mysuru Photo: Russell Shahul ●

●

●

●

●

●

Since the last three days, S Janaki was taking a vow of silence. She was worried that even if she would make a small sound it would affect her voice. She took the vow after practicing in Chennai for the event. She broke her vow as she spoke to Rajmata Pramoda Devi who came to enjoy the music night.

Then she opened up to the people who had swarmed the amphitheatre. When the sorrow of bidding farewell to songs grew, her eyes welled up with tears. But when she met old friends from the film world, she chatted and laughed with them.

She welcomed the old-timers who came to felicitate her on stage with songs. She hugged and kissed them. And thanked her fans with every word she spoke.

A staunch fan, Mysuru native Vivek, who had named his company S Janaki Furniture and Timber, was called out and asked how his business was doing.

Vivek was pestering Janaki to organize a music night in Mysuru for the last 10 years. While she didn't commit all these years, she decided on Mysuru for her last show.

The event also raised funds for the S. Janaki Charitable Trust.

Read more: Latest Kerala news | Microbreweries, late-night pubs: Kerala looks to light up night life