T to MS Subbulakshmi sing. Her mellifluous voice, her phenomenal range, her command over the nuances of classical music, her esquisite diction and, above all, her emotional and aesthetic appeal beld audiences worldwide spellbound. Her long and fascinating odyssey began in the South Indian temple town of Madurai and took her to various places including Madras, New York and London her music attained universal dimensions. She achieved iconic status in the pantheon of Indian classical music, especially on the basis of her concerts for charitable causes. If her repertoire was legendary, so was her humility, despite having won the Magsaysay Award (1974) and the Bharat Ratna (1998).
This authoritative biography unravels the saga of one of India's most revered and respected musicians, whose name became synonymous with bhakti.
While narrating the fascinating story of MS, the author brings into sharp focus an entire gamut of related events, both historical and contemporary. For instance: how the arts in general and Carnatic music in particular developed over the centuries, the significance of the radio and gramophone records in shaping the careers of several classical musicians, the role of Tamil cinema in popularizing classical music; the impact of the freedom struggle and subsequent independence on MS' career and profession; the role of her husband (T. Sadasivam) in deciding the course of her life; the interaction between MS and the North Indian ustads; and the current trends in 'experimental music and their possible detrimental effect on the purity of Carnatic music.