Personalities # 28 - M.S. Subbalakshmi

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu (M.S) Subbalakshmi, the nightingale of Carnatic music was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on September 16, 1916 to noted Veena player Shanmukhavadivu and lawyer Subramania Iyer. Young Kunchamma as she was called and her siblings was brought up in a musical environment in her home close to the Madurai Meenakshi Temple. She also learned Hindustani music from Pandit Narayan Rao Vyas for a short while along with learning Carnatic Music. Subbalakshmi has been the recipient of the highest awards and honours the nation could bestow upon an artist and significant international recognition. Although Famous, She remains the simple, neat, devout, down to earth person she always was and having a genuine interest in others. She passed away at the age of 88 in 2004.