M.S. Subbulakshmi

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, மதுரை ஷண்முகவடிவு சுப்புலக்ஷ்மீ (popularly known as M.S. or M.S.S.)

Honours and awards

While Lata Mangeshkar called her Tapaswini (the Renunciate), Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan termed her Swaralakshmi (the goddess of musical notes), and Kishori Amonkar labeled her the ultimate eighth note or Aathuvaan Sur, which is above the seven notes basic to all music. Her many famous renditions of bhajans include the chanting of Bhaja Govindam, Vishnu sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu) and the Venkateswara Suprabhatham (wakeup song of Lord Balaji).

Related Topics:
Lata Mangeshkar - Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan - Kishori Amonkar - Bhajans - Bhaja Govindam - Vishnu sahasranama - Vishnu - Venkateswara - Suprabhatham - Balaji

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She was widely honored, praised and awarded. Some of them more popular ones include Padma Bhushan in 1954, Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1968 (literally, Treasure Chest of Music. She was the first woman recipient of the title), Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974, the Padma Vibhushan in 1975, the Kalidasa Samman in 1988, the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 1990, and the Bharat Ratna in 1998. She was also honored as the court-singer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Related Topics:
Padma Bhushan - Sangeetha Kalanidhi - Ramon Magsaysay award - Padma Vibhushan - Kalidasa Samman - Bharat Ratna - Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams

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She was an ardent devotee of Kanchi Mahaswamigal and she rendered his composition Maithreem Bhajatha (O World! Cultivate peace) in her concert at the UN in 1966. She donated many of the royalties on several best sold records to many charity organizations.

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With the death of her husband Sadhasivam in 1997, she stopped all her public performances. M.S. passed away on December 11, 2004 after a brief illness, due to complications relating to pneumonia and cardiac irregularities.

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