1. The nightingale of India
M S SUBBULAKSHMI
CHILD PRODIGY TURNED INTO THE ICON OF INDIA
1916 -2004
2. 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
3. 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.
4. Public performance
training - 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.
5. First recording
At 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.
6. Music Academy
Then M.S went to the Madras
Music Academy and gave a
stunning performance at the age
of 17.
7. Acting
M.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)
8. Meera
Her most memorable
film, Bhakta Meera
became popular for all
her melodious, famous,
ever green Meera
bhajans. (1945)
9. Career
She 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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)
14. Colour – MS Blue
The Kancheepuram saree
shade MS Blue is named after
this legendary singer and
musician
15. 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
16. 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."
17. 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
18. Bharat Ratna - 1998
She was the first
musician to receive
this award.
20. 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.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Many names
She was known by various
nicknames
the Queen of Music
Nightingale of India
the Eighth Tone of Music
the Goddess of Perfect
Note
24. 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."