The nightingale of India

M S SUBBULAKSHMI CHILD PRODIGY TURNED INTO THE ICON OF INDIA

1916 -2004

Birth

Born on 16th September, 1916 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in a family that had a musical background.

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was fondly known as M.S

Early stage

Little Kunjamma was introduced to Carnatic music at a very early age.

She released her first album at the mere age of 10.

Public performancetraining - classical

carnatic music under the famous Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer .

learnt Hindustani classical music under Pundit Narayan Rao Vyas.

first public performance at the age of eight at Kumbakonam Mahamaham.

First recordingAt the age of ten released her

first recording. Later continued learning carnatic

classical music under Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Hindustani classical music under Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas.

Music Academy

Then M.S went to the Madras Music Academy and gave a stunning performance at the age of 17.

ActingM.S entered into the film

in dusty as an actress in “Sevasadanam”. (1938)

Her male role as Narada in the movie “Savitri” was appreciated (1941)

Meera

Her most memorable film, Bhakta Meera became popular for all her melodious, famous, ever green Meera bhajans. (1945)

CareerShe attained much acclaim and

success in films, but they did not appeal to her after some time.

She quit films and continued to give public performances and concerts. 

Marriage

In the year 1936, she met Sadasivam who was a freedom fighter.

They both got married after four years in 1940.

Mr Sadasivam has been a pillar of support throughout her career in the world of music.

Many languages - one voice

Apart from her mother tongue Kannada, she has performed in different languages in Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati and Marathi with variety of musical forms.

Popular works 'Suprabhatam' (Early Morning

Hymns) Bhajagovindam' (admiring Lord

Krishna) composed by Adi Shankaracharya

'Kurai OnrumIllai', composition of Rajagopalachari

Vishnu Sahasranamam' (1000 names of Lord Vishnu)

'Hanuman Chalisa' (prayer of Lord Hanuman)

Doctorate

Received Honorary Doctorate from Indira KalaSangeet Vishwavidyalaya in Khairagarh Madhya Pradesh - 1979

Colour – MS Blue

The Kancheepuram saree shade MS Blue is named after this legendary singer and musician

Awards 1940 Isai Vani, conferred by Semmangudi

Srinivasa Iyer and Rajamaanikkam Pillai Padma Bhushan -1954 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award -1956 Sangeetha Kalanidhi -1968 – The Hindu Ramon Magsaysay award  -1974 Padma Vibhushan -1975 Sangeetha Kalasikhamani -1975 -The Indian

Fine Arts Society Kalidas Samman -1988 Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration

-1990 Lifetime Achievement Award - 2004

Ramon Magsaysay award MS - first Indian musician to

receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, Asia's highest civilian award, in 1974.

Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru once said of MS "Who am I, a mere Prime Minister before a queen, a queen of music."

UN – India - stamps

A commemorative postage stamp on her was issued on December 18, 2005, by the Indian Government

UN will be releasing a stamp commemorating her service to music

Bharat Ratna - 1998

She was the first musician to receive this award.

Cultural Ambassador

Cultural Ambassador of India, visited London, New York, Canada and the Far East.

Milestones Her musical concerts at Carnegie

Hall, New York (1977) The UN General Assembly on UN

day (1966) the Royal Albert Hall, London

(1982) and the Festival of India, Moscow

(1987) were important milestones in her career.

Tirupati She was honoured as

Asthana Vidhwan of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) has installed a bronze statue of M.S. Subbulakshmi at the Poornakumbham circle in the temple town.

Philanthropist The prestigious awards brought

her money which was donated for charity

performed - 200 charity concerts raising - worth millions of rupees.

The royalties received from her records - donated to charitable organizations and trusts.

Many names

She was known by various nicknames

the Queen of MusicNightingale of Indiathe Eighth Tone of Music the Goddess of Perfect

Note

Titles

Kishori Amonkar called her the "aathvaan sur",

Lata Mangeshkar called her "tapaswini“

Bade Ghulam Ali khan called her "Surswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi"

Sarojini Naidu conferred upon her the title of "the nightingale of India."

Departed

This great soul departed on 11th December 2004 in

Chennai (age 88 )

Thank you

Dr Chandrika SubramaniyanNatyanjali & TACA