M. S. Subbulakshmi

Indian Carnatic classical vocalist (1916–2004)

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (September 16, 1916December 11, 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia's Nobel Prize.

M.S.Subbalakshmi called the Nightingale of India (1944)

Quotes edit

  • Indian music is oriented solely to the end of divine communication. If I have done something in this respect entirely due to the grace of the Almighty who has chosen my humble self as a tool.
  • My greatest fear is giving performances. I feel I am responsible for the audience BUT I am also scared of them.

About M.S. edit

  • Oh! Who am I; a mere Prime Minister before the queen of song.
    • Once Pandit Jawhar Lal Nehru heard Subbalakshmi when he could not help exclaiming, as quoted here in "Greatness of Spirit: Profiles of Indian Magsaysay Award Winners", page=58.
  • She incandesced as she sang. Her singing voice employed more than the process of phonation, more than the scope of the larynx.
    • Gopal Gandhi in his book of "A Certain Age: Twenty Life Sketches", page=166
  • The singing legend lives on her suprabathams (morning prayer songs) and w:bhajansbhajans.
    • Quoted in Ode to a Nightingale in "The Complete Guide to Functional Writing in English}, pages= 11-12
  • Subbalakshmi was indeed the icon who could bring the world to its knees:her rendering moved Yehudi Menuhin to tears, Bade Gulam Ali Khan called her "Suswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi", while Helen Keller once said “You sing like an angel”. She could captivate the people with an occasional lift of an eyebrow and a beatific smile-meant not for the audience but for the divine.
    • Quoted in Ode to a Nightingale in "The Complete Guide to Functional Writing in English}, pages= 11-12

External links edit

 
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