M. L. Vasanthakumari

Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari
MLV in late 1940s
MLV in late 1940s
Background information
Born(1928-07-03)3 July 1928
Madras, Madras Presidency, British India
Died31 October 1990(1990-10-31) (aged 62)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
GenresCarnatic music – Indian Classical Music and Playback singing
OccupationSinger
Years active1942 – 1990
LabelsHMV, EMI, RPG, AVM Audio, Inreco, Vani, Amutham Inc, Doordarshan, Super Audio, Geethanjali, Kosmic Music, Charsur Digital Workshop etc.

Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari (popularly referred to as MLV) (3 July 1928 – 31 October 1990) was a Carnatic musician[1] and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries, D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi, are popularly referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic music.[2] A prime disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest among the established musicians of that era and was the youngest female to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award.[3] In 1967, she was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, by the government of India. Her daughter, the late K. Srividya, was an actress in Tamil and Malayalam.

As well as being a much sought-after playback singer for films, MLV popularized unfamiliar ragas, and her Ragam Thanam Pallavis were considered cerebral.[4] Additionally, she popularized the compositions of the Haridasas. Her most famous disciples include Srividya (her daughter), Sudha Raghunathan, Charumathi Ramachandran, and A. Kanyakumari.[5]

  1. ^ Nayak, Sharada (2000). Menon, Indira (ed.). "Women musicians of the Karnatak tradition". India International Centre Quarterly. 27 (2): 171–174. ISSN 0376-9771.
  2. ^ Chords and Notes[usurped]. The Hindu (4 August 2003)
  3. ^ "Sangeeta Kalanidhis". karnatik.com. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. ^ Blend of melody, rhythm and intellect[usurped]. The Hindu (4 July 2003)
  5. ^ Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 75–76 December 1990 – January 1991