Birth
M.S Subbulakshmi was born as Kunjamma to Subramania Iyer and Shanmukavadiver Ammal (a Veena Player) on 16 September 1916 in Madurai of TamilNadu.
Education
She learned the tips of Carnatic music from his guru Semmagudi Srinivasa Iyer. Along with Carnatic music, she was trained in Hindustani music by the famous vocalist Pandit Narayanrao Vyas.
Earlier Life
Subbulakshmi at her 11th age, presented the first public performance in the Rockfort temple of Trichy. In 1929, she made her performance at the Madras Music Academy at the age of 13. On her 17th age, the association called Subbulakshmi for other performances as she had a huge familiarity.
Film career
Subbulakshmi appeared in her first movie “Sevasadanam” as a young girl during the year 1938. Next, she acted in the title role in her second movie “Sakuntalai”. On her third movie, M.S.Subbulakshmi performed the role of Saint Narada, for which she got huge appreciation.
M.S Subbulakshmi Personal life
In the year 1940, Subbulakshmi was married to Sadasivam, who had children out of his first marriage. She cherished her husband’s children as her own, which made the children call her “Amu Paati”.
After a small gap, she acted in the main role of the movie “Meera”, which made a huge success. This movie was directed by American filmmaker Ellis R.Dungan in the year 1945. Then this tamil film “Meera” was remade as “Meerabai” in Hindi that introduced her nationwide and gained immense popularity.
International tour and honour
In the year 1956, she got the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for her part in Carnatic music. Later in 1960, she made her performance internationally in the countries like USA, USSR and France. She took a huge part in expanding the concepts of Carnatic music to the Western countries.
For the efforts she made in music, Subbulakshmi got the invitation to participate in the Edinburg International Festival in1963. For her applause performance in the UK, she got the invitation to perform in Carnegie Hall of New York. On October 1966, she got the invitation from UN General Secretary to give her performance in the General Assembly in New York for United Nations Day.
Awards for M.S.Subbulakshmi
Then the Madras Music Academy, presented her the most prestigious “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” award in the year 1968. In 1969, Subbulakshmi sang many songs in the Ramaswaram temple, where she was accompanied by Indian Railway Advisor SN Venkata Rao.
During the year 1974, she became the first Indian to receive the Asia’s Nobel Prize Ramon Magsaysay award. In the following year, she won the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award from the Indian Fine Arts Society. In 1982, she was invited to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Government of Madhya Pradesh, gave her the “Kalidas Samman” award in 1988. Following this, she got the prestigious “Indira Gandhi” award from the Government of India in the year 1990 for national unity through her songs.
From 1997, Subbulakshmi put an end to her public performances on account of his husband Kalki Sadasivam’s death. In 1998, M.S Subbulakshmi was the first musician to receive the India’s civilian award Bharat Ratna.
Death
She expired on 11th December 2004 in Chennai at the age of 88. Several fans of Subbulakshmi and then President A.P.J Abdul Kalam came to her funeral.
M.S.Subbulakshmi Stamp
Also in 2005, the postage stamp for M.S Subbulakshmi was introduced. Then on her birth memorial, the UN released remembrance stamps.