With her rock-solid technique, sure tone, deep spirituality and splendid emotional expression, MS was rightfully considered an Indian national treasure during her lifetime.
Later started learning Carnatic music under the tutelage of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and in Hindustani music under Pandit Narayanrao Vyas. Initially she learned classical music from her mother and gave her first public performance reciting "bhajans" or Hindu hymns at the age of 13. Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi known as MSS, M.S or M.S.Subbulakshmi was born in 1916 in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, to Shanmukavadiver Ammal and Subramania Iyer.