M. S. Subbulakshmi (16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004) was an Indian classical vocalist, renowned for her Carnatic music and devotional songs. Revered across India as “MS Amma”, she was the first musician ever awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. Her recordings of the Venkatesa Suprabhatam and Vishnu Sahasranamam are played in homes and temples every day.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi |
| Born | 16 September 1916, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | 11 December 2004, Chennai (aged 88) |
| Genre | Carnatic classical and devotional music |
| Mother | Shanmukhavadivu (veena player) |
| Spouse | T. Sadasivam (m. 1940) |
| Famous film | Meera (1945) |
| Honours | Bharat Ratna (1998), Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974) |
Early Life
Subbulakshmi was born in Madurai into a family of musicians. Her mother, Shanmukhavadivu, was a respected veena player. Subbulakshmi made her first recording at about ten. At 13 she performed at the prestigious Madras Music Academy, an unusual honour for one so young.
Career
In the late 1930s and 1940s Subbulakshmi acted and sang in a few Tamil films, including Sevasadanam and Sakuntalai. Her role as the saint-poet Meera in Meera (1945), later released in Hindi, made her famous across India.
Subbulakshmi devoted the rest of her life to classical concerts and devotional music, singing in many Indian languages. In 1966 she performed at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mahatma Gandhi admired her singing, and Jawaharlal Nehru reportedly called her the “Queen of Song”. She gave the proceeds of many concerts to charity.
Personal Life and Death
In 1940 Subbulakshmi married T. Sadasivam, a freedom fighter and publisher who managed her career. After his death in 1997 she stopped performing. She died in Chennai on 11 December 2004, aged 88.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was M. S. Subbulakshmi born?
M. S. Subbulakshmi was born on 16 September 1916 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.
When did M. S. Subbulakshmi die?
Died: 11 December 2004, Chennai (aged 88).
What honours has M. S. Subbulakshmi received?
Bharat Ratna (1998), Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974).
