The icon, M.S. Subbulakshmi

The first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1998.

The first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, Asia's highest civilian award, in 1974.

The icon, M.S. Subbulakshmi

The first woman to be honoured with the title Sangeetha Kalanidhi, considered the Nobel of Carnatic music, by the Music Academy in 1968.

The icon, M.S. Subbulakshmi

Her first recording was released at the age of 10 and she made her first public performance at the age of 16. An expert in devotional musical forms in different languages including Tamil, Kannada, Sanskrit and Malayalam, MS held concerts at Carnegie Hall, New York and the UN General Assembly on UN day in 1966.

The icon, M.S. Subbulakshmi

Recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1954, Padma Vibhushan in 1975, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1956, the Kalidasa Samman in 1988, the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration in 1990. 

The icon, M.S. Subbulakshmi