MS SUBBULAKSHMI

From Sampath’s Desk:

  

MS SUBBULAKSHMI, 

THE QUEEN OF VOCAL MUSIC

(16 September 1916 - 11 December 2004)

 

M.S. Subbulakshmi, ‘MS’ in short, with a God-gifted honeyed and golden voice, who remained synonymous with the Indian Carnatic/Classical music was born on 16.9.1916. She was the frontrunner of the women Trinity of Carnatic music, the other two being DK Pattammal and ML Vasanthakumari.

 

While singing, M.S. would always pour out her heart and soul to generate mellifluous vocal music performance for her listeners to drench in a spiritual outpour with the nectar downpour of her voice falling into their ears.

 

From childhood, she had a passion and penchant for Carnatic music having been nurtured on a rich diet of vocal skills. As a child, she would have numerous interactions with renowned vocalists of that era, like Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer and Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, among others.

A young Subbulakshmi began learning music under the tutelage of her mother. Thereafter, she was trained in high-class Carnatic music by Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. She also mastered Hindustani classical under the renowned vocalist Pandit Narayanrao Vyas. M.S. was a good pupil and managed to master the subtleties, nuances, and intricacies of music speedily much to the delight of her masters and mentors.

 

At age 11, she gave her first public performance in the 100-pillar hall of the Trichy Rockfort temple. Even as an under-aged, she got an opportunity to perform at the prestigious Madras Music Academy. Her renditions of devotional songs and bhajans were so scintillating that the Academy relaxed its tight selection procedure to give chance to a virtual greenhorn to continue to perform in that platform. And by age 17, she turned out to be a seasoned vocalist giving independent performances at the Academy and elsewhere.

 

She also had a stint of acting and singing in films. Her full-throated captivating and entrancing voice left movie-goers enraptured and spell-bound. ‘Meera’, a 1945 Tamil film in which she acted was re-made in Hindi as ‘Meerabai’ two years later. Both ran for longer periods with packed houses. M.S. sang not only in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu but also in other Indian languages like Hindi, Marathi and Bengali. She sang, inter alia, several of Tagore’s songs (based on Carnatic Ragas) to perfection and charmed millions of music lovers who were treated to a great aural delight. M.S. took the soulful music/ragas from their native environs to the international forums. 

 

Like the old male music trinity viz. Thyagaraja, Shyama Shastry and Muthuswamy Dheekshithar, the female trinity of the 20th century viz. M.S.Subbulakshmi, D.K.Pattammal and M.L.Vasanthakumari dominated the Carnatic music world during their hey-days.

 

It needs no over-emphasis that M.S. was a legendary and towering vocalist even during her lifetime. She promoted her soul-stirring music compositions and renditions from their native hinterland to thitherto unchartered avenues. She was accorded a rare privilege of giving her concert in the U.N. Assembly decades ago. Her melodies and classical songs couched in devotional, philosophical, and spiritual lyrics have always been spirit-raisers. A magnificent performer, she would regale and pack up her audience to a world of sheer excitement and ecstasy, ushering them into a paradise of blissful experiences. Even in foreign countries especially the western world, there is a niche audience to appreciate the Carnatic music of which M.S. is perhaps the tallest personality.

 

She had many devotional renditions and ‘bhajans’ to her credit. Space may not be sufficient if an attempt is made here to mention all her renditions and achievements. Suffice for the present to mention just two highlights, among others; they are SRI VENKATESWARA SUBRABHATHAM (Musical hymns to awaken Lord Balaji early in the morning) and SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA (1000 names of Lord VISHNU).

 

She was always displaying qualities of elegance, plasticity, and indomitable styles, and never missed to make her listeners take a deep devout dip through her renditions. There are separate ‘ragas’ representing and characterizing different times, situations, moods, occasions, etc. each one having its own unique flavour and quality. Music can be enjoyed differently by different persons at different times and at different forums. One could enjoy all these paradigms in her genres.

 

Amid a galaxy and galore of awards and honours, MS was the first-ever musician to be conferred with ‘BHARAT RATNA’ (1998), India’s highest civilian honour beside the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974) considered Asia’s Nobel Prize, ‘Padma Bhushan’ (1954), and ‘Padma Vibhushan’ (1975).

 

MS with her ensemble of musicians had the honour and distinction of giving a mesmerizing Indian Carnatic/classical music performance at the United Nations General Assembly on October 23, 1966.

 

She had given concerts including major performances at the Madras Music Academy.  She had also travelled to London, New York, Canada, the Far East, and other places as India's cultural ambassador. Her concerts included, among others,

   1. Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama in 1963

   2. Carnegie Hall, New York: the UN General Assembly on UN day in 1966

   3. Royal Albert Hall, London in 1982, and

   4. Festival of India in Moscow in 1987

She had many plaudits to her credit. Former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said about M.S. thus, “Who am I, a mere Prime Minister before a Queen, a Queen of Music.” Lata Mangeshkar called her ‘TAPASWINI’ (the Renunciate). Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan called her ‘SUSWARA LAKSHMI’ (The Goddess of the Perfect Note). Poetess Sarojini Naidu termed her as ‘NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA’. Kishori Ravindra Amonkar, a leading Indian Classical vocalist of her times belonging to the Jaipur Gharana considered MS as the ultimate eighth note (AATHUVAAN SUR), which is above the seven traditional notes basic to all types and styles of music.

 

Her mellifluous voice was hushed forever on 11.12.2004. Her renditions have immortalized her. Even though she is not in our midst now, her presence amidst us is and can be felt through the music archives bequeathed by her to the music world! Generations had grown listening to this icon and awe-inspiring vocal music giant. The immortal compositions and renditions of the musical genius had inspired generations and are sure to continue to do so in future as well.

 

(R.SAMPATH)