Why this matters now
M.S. is tested for: the Bharat Ratna 1998 (first musician), her UN General Assembly concert on 23 October 1966, her recording of Venkateshwara Suprabhatam that plays daily at Tirupati, her Bhajans (Hari Tum Haro, Maithreem Bhajata at UN), and her quiet philanthropy.
Early life: born to music
Born on 16 September 1916 in Madurai (Tamil Nadu) to Shanmukhavadivu Ammal (veena exponent) and Subramaniya Iyer, MS gave her first stage performance at age 11 (1927) at the Rockfort Temple Trichy. She trained under Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer in Carnatic and Pandit Narayanrao Vyas in Hindustani. She married T. Sadasivam in 1940 and his Tamil-Brahmin reformist circle (Rajagopalachari, V.S. Srinivasa Sastri, Sarojini Naidu) shaped her national stage.
Career highlights
| Year | Highlight |
|---|---|
| 1940 | Married T. Sadasivam (publisher of Kalki magazine). |
| 1945 | Sang the lead role of Meera in the Tamil film Meera — her national breakthrough. Mahatma Gandhi requested her to sing the bhajan “Hari Tum Haro Jan ki Bheer”. |
| 1963 | Recorded “Venkateshwara Suprabhatam” in Sanskrit — plays daily at Tirumala from 4 AM. The most-played religious recording in Indian history. |
| 1966 | 23 October — First Indian to perform at UN General Assembly. Sang “Maithreem Bhajata” (Friendship be the practice) composed by Jagadguru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati. |
| 1974 | Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. |
| 1975 | Padma Vibhushan. |
| 1998 | BHARAT RATNA — first musician. |
| 2004 | Died 11 December 2004 at Chennai, aged 88. |
Legacy: the moral musician
Mahatma Gandhi’s parting message after listening to her singing was: “I would prefer to hear her speak the bhajan than anyone else sing it”. Her renditions of Bhaja Govindam, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Annamacharya Sankirtanas, Tyagaraja kritis remain definitive. She and Sadasivam donated nearly all their earnings (estimated Rs 25+ crore in today’s terms) to public causes including Kalki magazine, Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Trust, T.V.S. School for Visually Impaired, refurbishment of Tirupati and Madurai Meenakshi temples. India Post stamp 2005.
UPSC angle
Know Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi / M.S. (b. Madurai 16 Sept 1916, d. Chennai 11 Dec 2004) — Carnatic vocalist; mother Shanmukhavadivu (veena); training Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (Carnatic) + Pandit Narayanrao Vyas (Hindustani); married T. Sadasivam 1940 (Kalki publisher); 1945 film Meera Tamil = breakthrough; 1963 Venkateshwara Suprabhatam Sanskrit recording (daily Tirumala 4 AM); 23 Oct 1966 FIRST INDIAN to perform UN General Assembly (Maithreem Bhajata by Jagadguru Chandrashekarendra Saraswati); Padma Bhushan 1954, Padma Vibhushan 1975, MAGSAYSAY Public Service 1974, BHARAT RATNA 1998 (FIRST MUSICIAN); donated bulk of earnings to public causes incl Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Trust + TVS School for Visually Impaired + temple refurbishments.
Frequently asked questions
When did M.S. become the first musician Bharat Ratna?
In 1998 — before Bismillah Khan (2001) and Ravi Shankar (1999).
Where did she perform at the UN?
At the UN General Assembly in New York on 23 October 1966 — the first Indian to do so.
What is the Venkateshwara Suprabhatam?
M.S. Subbulakshmi’s 1963 Sanskrit recording of the morning hymn to Lord Venkateshwara — played daily at Tirumala from 4 AM, the most-played religious recording in Indian history.
What was her relationship to Gandhi?
Gandhi requested her to sing “Hari Tum Haro” and said he would prefer her to speak (rather than sing) the bhajan than anyone else sing it.