Subbulakshmi, M. S. (1916-2004), was an outstanding singer of Indian classical music, especially Carnatic music (the classical music of southern India). She introduced southern India’s music to northern India, and later to Europe and the United States. Her technical brilliance and emotional depth won her great admiration. Subbulakshmi became known for her renditions of bhajans, a type of devotional song. She also sang compositions from all parts of India, in a number of languages. Her repertoire included compositions by many of India’s finest composers, from the ancient to the modern.
Madurai Shanmugavadivu Subbulakshmi was born on Sept. 16, 1916, in Madurai. She was trained by her mother, who was also a musician. Subbulakshmi achieved renown while still a teen-ager, giving recitals and also making records. She gained national fame following her appearance at the All-India Music Conference in 1944. She consolidated her status by singing the title role in the Tamil motion picture Meera (1944), in which she played Mirabai, an Indian singer of the 1500’s, who is credited with composing many bhajans.
The Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi asked Subbulakshmi to sing for him on his 78th birthday, in 1947. She went on to appear at many festivals and recitals in Europe and the United States. In 1966, she was invited to perform in a concert on behalf of the United Nations. In 1974, her support for various charities won her the Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Philippines. In 1998, Subbulakshmi was the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civil honor. Subbulakshmi was awarded life membership of the International Music Council. She died on Dec. 11, 2004.
