Sitharaman Moved to Tears at M.S. Subbulakshmi's 110th Birth Anniversary Event
Nirmala Sitharaman became emotional during a Bengaluru concert marking Carnatic singer M.S. Subbulakshmi's 110th birth anniversary.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was visibly moved during a commemorative event in Bengaluru on Tuesday, held to mark the 110th birth anniversary of Carnatic vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi. The minister, who attended as chief guest, was seen breaking down as a song was performed on stage.
The programme took place at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, where Subbulakshmi's great-granddaughters, S. Aishwarya and S. Saundarya, presented compositions associated with their great-grandmother. The two have carried forward the family's musical lineage, and their recital was among the highlights of the evening.
The gathering drew music enthusiasts who came together to honour Subbulakshmi's enduring contribution to Indian classical music.
Born in Madurai on September 16, 1916, Subbulakshmi is remembered as one of the country's most revered Carnatic vocalists. In 1998, she became the first musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. Two years after her historic 1966 performance at the United Nations General Assembly, she remained the first Indian musician to have graced that platform.
Her repertoire travelled well beyond India, and her devotional renditions earned a wide following. She passed away in Chennai on December 11, 2004, at the age of 88.