She was born Madurai Subramania Iyer Subbulakshmi on September 16 1916, and was also known as Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi. To all of the world she was M.S. Subbulaxmi or simply M.S. She was the second child of Shanmukhavadivu and belonged to the Devdasi community. Known then as Kunjamma, she learnt vocal music from her mother who was a strict disciplinarian . She had an elder brother Shaktivel who learned the mridangam and a sister Vadivambal who played the veena.

M.S. Subbulaxmi began performing from the age of ten and it was amply evident by that time that she was a hugely talented singer. In 1932 she performed at the Kumbakonam Mahamaham festival and took part at a Musical Academy as a child which gave her the much needed exposure.

She was later to meet her mentor and guide T. Sadasivam who took over the job of planning her career. This was to be a life long association which was to eventually end in marriage for Sadasivan and Subbulaxmi in 1940 in Tiruneermalai

Under Sadasivan`s guidance, Subbulaxmi played many major roles in cinemas . Her beauty and voice made a lethal combination. In 1945 Sadasivam launched her in the film, Meera which proved to be a major turning point in her career. There was a Hindi re make of the film which helped introduce her to North Indian audiences and soon Mahatma Gandhi came to know of her musical prowess.

Mahatma Gandhi was such a fan of Subbulakshmi that shortly before his assassination, a message was sent on his behalf to M.S. to render his favourite bhajan, "Hari tum haro". A message was sent back saying that MS did not know that particular bhajan and someone else should sing it. The Mahatma replied, "I should prefer to have it SPOKEN by Subbulakshmi than SUNG by others".

Shortly after the Mahatma was gunned down and Subbulakshmi`s rendering of "hari tum haro" was aired on radio, MS fainted from shock and grief.

In 1953, Jawaharlal Nehru, presiding over a recital by Subbulakshmi in aid of the Ramakrishna Mission in the capital, said he could not address the meeting after Subbulakshmi had sung.

"Who am I, a mere prime minister, before a queen of song? he asked.

The countrys highest honour, the Bharat Ratna was conferred upon her in 1998 . She was the first musician to get the award. Her singing had that special quality which invokes peace and bliss from the depths of her being which was simple devout and spiritual. M.S.Subbalakshmi passed away on 11th Dec 2004 at the age of 88 , but her voice will remain with us forever.