It is no exaggeration to say the family just managed to survive.

Music was in Kunjamma's blood; her grandmother Akkammal was a violin expert, and mother a veena player.

Kunjamma's initiation into music started the day she started speaking. Her first public performance was at the age of seven, accompanying her mother's veena concert.

In the 1930s, Madras was the place to be if you were a Carnatic musician. Shanmukhavadivu also decided to shift base to Madras so that her children could have a better life as musicians.

It proved to be the right decision.

Also see: MS is happy in her sadness