Who was MS Subbulakshmi, the only singer ever to have a colour named after her and whose iconic saree style was recreated by Vidya Balan?

A Bharat Ratna awardee, MS Subbulakshmi one of the gems in the music world and here is why Vidya Balan recreated her iconic style.

MS Subbulakshmi was one of the legendary singers that India is proud of. Known for her remarkable contribution in the field of Carnatic Music. On her 108th birth anniversary, the talented bollywood actress Vidya Balan recreated some of the singer’s iconic style statements. From the way she draped her saree, to her two nose pins and more. In 1998, Indian singer Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi was awarded the Bharat Ratna at the age of 82. As India’s highest civilian award, it recognises exceptional service and performance of the highest order. Renowned for her extraordinary voice and often hailed as the “Queen of Songs”, Subbulakshmi was the first-ever musician to receive the accolade.

Do you know the story behind MS Subbulakshmi’s colour?

She is the singer in the world to have a colour named after her. According to The Hindu, the vocalist stepped into a shop with a blue thread in her hand and wanted to ge a full saree weaved out of it. This later came to be known as ‘MS Blue.’

Vidya Balan recreated a Subbu moment in her iconic ‘MS Blue’ colour.

M.S Subbulakshmi was born in 1916, Madurai, Tamil Nadu – then called the Madras Presidency. She was born into a musical family – her mother was the well-known veena player Shanmukavadiver Ammal, while her grandmother was a violinist.

Subbulakshmi began learning Carnatic music at an early age, receiving training from the Carnatic singer Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. Before she was to become an internationally-renowned singer, however, M.S Subbulakshmi had a brush with cinema. In 1938, she starred in the Tamil movie Sevasadanam – a commercial and critical success.For much of the 20th century, adoration rained down on her. Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said of her: “Who am I, a mere Prime Minister before a Queen, a Queen of Music.” The civil rights leader and poet Sarojini Naidu called her the “Nightingale of India.”

M.S. Subbulakshmi died in 2004. In the year following her death, the United Nations issued postage stamps commemorating her birth centenary. Then, in 2006, the Tirupati Urban Development Authority erected a bronze statue of her in the city of Tirupati, in south-eastern India.

Vidya Balan recreates MS Subbulakshmi’s style

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Vidya Balan, speaking to The Hindu, said that she grew up listening to MS Subbulakshmi’s voice every morning when her mother played ‘Suprabhatam’ by her. “My everyday still begins with her voice. For me, MS Subbulakshmi is a spiritual experience. Therefore, this has been a labour of love, and an honour to be able to pay tribute this way,” Vidya says.