Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (also known as M.S. Subbulakshmi; September 16, 1916 – December 11, 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia's Nobel Prize, in 1974 with the citation reading 'Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (also known as M.S.
Subbulakshmi; September 16, 1916 – December 11, 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. She is the first Indian musician to receive the Ramon Magsaysay award, often considered Asia's Nobel Prize, in 1974 with the citation reading 'Exacting purists acknowledge Srimati M.
Subbulakshmi as the leading exponent of classical and semi-classical songs in the carnatic tradition of South India.' She performed extensively with her daughter, Radha Viswanathan (1934 - 2018) an Indian vocalist and classical dancer. Subbulakshmi (Kunjamma to her family) was born on September 16, 1916 in Madurai, Madras Presidency, India to veena player Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer. Her grandmother Akkammal was a violinist.