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Sitharaman Hails Subbulakshmi’s Genius, Discipline and Devotion in Bengaluru

Sitharaman Hails Subbulakshmi’s Genius, Discipline and Devotion in Bengaluru
Video: Nirmala Sitharaman Gets Emotional While Remembering MS Subbulakshmi · NDTV

Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about the famous singer M. S. Subbulakshmi in Bengaluru.

The event marked the 110th anniversary of Subbulakshmi’s birth.

Sitharaman said devotion, or bhakti, is the living soul of Carnatic music.

She praised Subbulakshmi for working hard and practicing with great discipline.

Even after becoming famous, Subbulakshmi continued to think of herself as a student.

Sitharaman recalled that the singer worked through the night to learn the pronunciation of a devotional song for Mahatma Gandhi.

Subbulakshmi also gave concert earnings to charitable and cultural causes.

Her music reached audiences across India and beyond barriers of language, region, caste and religion.

A video from the event showed Sitharaman becoming emotional while listening to Subbulakshmi’s music.

Key facts

Birth
M. S. Subbulakshmi was born in Madurai on September 16, 1916.
Death
She died in Chennai on December 11, 2004, at the age of 88.
Musical tradition
Sitharaman described bhakti as the “living soul” of Carnatic music, sustained by diverse languages and spiritual traditions.
Bharat Ratna
Subbulakshmi became the first musician to receive India’s highest civilian honour in 1998.
Ramon Magsaysay Award
She became the first Indian musician to receive the award in 1974.
United Nations performance
She became the first Indian musician to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.
Upcoming biopic
Rashmika Mandanna is set to play Subbulakshmi in the upcoming biopic “MS - A Legacy On Screen.”

Quotes

Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister speaking at Subbulakshmi’s birth anniversary gathering

“So bhakti in Carnatic music is the living soul of the tradition, kept vibrant through a magnificent confluence of languages. In a single concert, the diverse linguistic and spiritual traditions flow together like rivers into the ocean.”
theprint.in NDTV
“I should prefer to hear it spoken by Subbulakshmi than sung by anyone else.”
theprint.in

Sources

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