M. S. Subbulakshmi

M. S. Subbulakshmi married Kalki Sadasivam. They had no children.

After the death of her husband in 1997, Subbulakshmi stopped all her public performances.

She breathed her last on December 11, 2004 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She died of bronho pneumonia and cardiac irregularities.

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was born on September 19, 1916, in Madurai, Madras Presidency to Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her mother was a veena artist while her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist.

Coming from a family of musicians, music reigned in her veins. Her mother was a music proponent and regular stage performer, belonging to devdasi community. Growing up in such a family, imbibing musical traits and learning music became an intrinsic part of growing up.

Early on in her life, young Subbulakshmi also became musically inclined. She trained herself in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Following this, she gained training in Hindustani music under Pandit Narayanrao Vyas.

The musical background of her family exposed Subbulakshmi to various musical colossuses such as, Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer, Mazhavarayanendal Subbarama Bhagavathar and Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, at a young age. All of them deeply inspired and left an impressionable mark on her mind.

M. S. Subbulakshmi’s career in music started early. At merely ten years of age, she recorded her first song, ‘Maragatha Vadivum’, with Shanmugavadivu playing veena. The song was released by Twin recording company.

In 1926, she made her stage debut, at Madurai Sethupati High School. Therein, she sang a Marathi song ‘Anada Ja’. Interestingly, unlike what normally happens, her stage debut wasn’t very conventional one for her; rather, it was a forced one. She was playing with mud when she was asked to sing for a live audience. All through, she only wished to finish her performance so as to return to her favourite game.

Year 1927 marked the start of several other stage shows for this talented musician. In the 100 pillar hall inside the Rockfort Temple, Tiruchirappalli, Subbulakshmi startled her audience with her melodious voice and excellence over music. The event was organised by the Tiruchirappalli based Indian National Congress leader, F. G. Natesa Iyer, and was a major hit.

In 1933, at the age of seventeen, Subbulakshmi gave her first performance at the prestigious Madras Music Academy (MMA). Interestingly, MMA was known for its strict and rigid selection process. In having Subbulakshmi play at the Academy, they broke the conventional practice to allow a young girl to perform.

Subbulakshmi’s performance at the Madras Music Academy grossed her rave reviews from fellow musical aficionados and exponents. Her performance was both mesmerizing and hypnotic and earned her the title of being a musical genius. She was tagged as the ‘new find’ of Carnatic music. Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer acknowledged her prowess by stating that she ‘carried the veena’ in her throat

M. S. Subbulakshmi was a legendary vocalist in the classical Carnatic style of southern India. She enriched and popularised India's musical tradition. She acted as India's cultural ambassador and introduced the rhythms and richness of Carnatic music to the West through her concerts.