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The doyen of Carnatic Music, M.S. Subbulakshmi, was born Kunjamma in the temple city of Madurai on September 16, 1916. Subbulakshmi made her debut as a singer at the age of eight and went on to perform in concerts, a domain traditionally reserved for males that time.
She immortalized many songs including Vaishnava Janatho. Meera Bhajans & Venkatesa suprabhatam to name a few. Some of her most famous works include Suprabhatam (Early Morning Hymns), Bhajagovindam composed by Adi Shankaracharya praising Lord Krishna, Kurai Onrum Illai composed by Rajagopalachari, Vishnu Sahasranam-am (1000 names of Lord Vishnu) and Hanuman Chalisa (Prayers to Lord Hanuman).
Invited to render a concert before the UN General Assembly in 1966, she kept the audience comprising many heads of state, spellbound. Subbalakshmi had also acted in a few Tamil films in her youth. Her first movie ‘Sevasadanam’ was released in 1938, followed by ‘Shakunthalai’, ‘Savithri’ |
and ‘Meera’.
Popularly known as MS, Subbalakshmi was the first woman to be awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi by the Madras Music Academy. She was conferred the highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by Govt of India in 1996. She was also honoured with Magsaysay award in 1974.
MS is an inspiring role model for her culture: humility, compassion, consideration for others and unwavering principles of conduct. Her quest for perfection, sincerity and concentration is not reserved for the stage. They were visible in the camphor light that she circles around Gods and Gurus in her puja room.
The large eyes, the red tikka mark on her forehead, the diamond ear rings and the double nose rings, the circlet of jasmines in her hair all form a visual signature as strong as today’s major brands. MS shall remain in the memory of Carnatic music lovers forever.
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