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Artist Interview: S. J. Jananiy

Updated: Jul 21

Featured on The Compassion Project: Songs for Animals, Humans, and Earth Justice

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A globally celebrated composer and vocalist, S. J. Jananiy brings profound spiritual and musical depth to The Compassion Project with her featured track “Oar Vidhaiyaai” — a powerful Tamil-language song that gives voice to a tree pleading with humanity. With over 90 albums and a career spanning Carnatic, Hindustani, pop, world, and devotional genres, Jananiy is a multi-award-winning artist, a Grammy® voting member, and the founder of 3 Dot Recording Studios and JSJ Audio Label. Her work has earned honors from India, the U.S., and Europe, and her collaborations include legendary orchestras and viral chant performances. Through her music, Jananiy uplifts, heals, and calls for a more compassionate, interconnected world.

Was there something or someone who was the "catalyst" for you to go into music?My Uncle R. Sankerganesh is now my music assistant & my manager!

Let's get this out of the way. What is the craziest thing that has ever happened in your music career? One fine day, I received an email invitation to perform a Jugalbandhi concert (duet concert) with legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia at the Alhambra Concert Hall in Paris, France. The moment I even saw that email was astonishing in my musical journey.

What has been the highlight of your music path? One of the most defining highlights of my musical journey was receiving the Indian National Award for exceptional achievement in Classical Music at the age of 7. That recognition at such a young age shaped my entire path forward. Since then, I’ve received the ‘Kalaimamani’ and ‘Kalai iLamani’ awards from the Tamil Nadu State Government, which further validated my dedication to the art. The global recognition of being part of the GRAMMY®-nominated album THE FURY in the Contemporary Blues category was fulfilling, along with multiple global award wins .Another noteworthy accomplishment was becoming a Voting Member of the Recording Academy / GRAMMY®. I’ve also had the joy of composing for the Tamil feature film Rail, where I collaborated with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Watching my devotional chant “Om Namo Venkatesaya” go viral with over 160 million views has been surreal. But beyond the awards and numbers, the real highlight has been using music as a tool for social impact—creating songs on anti-addiction, women empowerment, world peace, and oneness. Seeing how music can heal, inspire, and unite people across boundaries has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

How do you approach songwriting or what is your creative process like? It depends on every project. For some works, I first write the lyrics and work on the melody. For some projects, the lyrics are already there, such as traditional/ancient chants/mantras, and I write the melody and the tracks that are already produced. For every project, I challenge myself to give my best, be unique, and innovate, and that’s how I’ve been working!


Do you have a new release?

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Yes, amongst various Albums, and Singles in the pipeline for releases, I’m so interested to speak about my song “Oar Vidhaiyaai” that enumerates about preserving nature and environment, is being featured in The Compassion Project: Songs for Animals, Humans, and Earth Justice. This song is a conversation between a tree and the mankind, the tree says “Hey Mankind, please don’t cut me..”!This song is a thematic number from my Tamil Pop Album Poongatru (released in 2001) in which I had the greatest opportunity to work with legends such as late L. Vaidyanathan who composed this song. I was so fortunate to have sung this song with legend late Dr. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The lyrics of this song was written by Poet Kavipperarasu Vairamuthu. Some of the amazing session musicians from India with whom I collaborated for this song are:

  • Johny – Electric Guitar

  • Naveen – Flute

  • V. S. Narasimhan – Solo Violin

  • Keith Peters – Bass Guitar

  • Sivamani – Drums & Percussions.

If you could share the stage or a song session with an artist, who would it be?

To mention a few artists: Hans Zimmer, A. R. Rahman, Isaignani Ilayaraja, Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran.

For fans who have never heard your music, how would you describe your sound?Music that evokes profoundness connects the soul with the Almighty Authority Supreme Soul.

What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, producing...something else? The entire process, ABSOLUTELY! Composing for a Film-Score, Songwriting, Music Production, Performing, Recording, Sound Engineering, Record Production.


When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing? Adventures

What is coming up in the future for you? Lots of musical releases are coming up, to mention a few, are:

  • Dil Ki Gehraai, a motivational song in the Hindi language focusing on the theme “Never Give Up”

  • Muthaitharu Pathithirunagai, a Thiruppugazh in the Tamil language featuring the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra

  • Film projects and fusion albums of the Classic Waves series

  • Indian Classical Concert performances, etc.

Please add any additional information you would like fans to know. I’m a lifelong student of Brahmakumaris World Spiritual University. I own 3 Dot Recording Studios in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India & JSJ Audio Label Link to my profile, music & social media: https://www.flowcode.com/page/jananiysj

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About S. J. Jananiy S. J. Jananiy is a multi-award-winning Indian composer, vocalist, and producer based in Chennai. A Grammy® voting member and National Award recipient, she is known for her musical diversity across classical, pop, devotional, and cinematic genres. Her featured song “Oar Vidhaiyaai” on The Compassion Project is a soulful plea from nature to humanity — urging protection and reverence for the Earth. With global collaborations and a powerful artistic voice, Jananiy continues to use music as a medium for healing, justice, and spiritual unity.

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