Her first charity concert was for Mahatma Gandhi. The Mahatma later sent her a letter signed in Tamil; it was one of her prized possessions.

She was the first woman musician to be honoured with the Sangeeta Kalanidhi title by the Music Academy in Madras. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1954, the Padma Vibhushan in 1975, the Ramon Magsaysay award in 1974, the Kalidas Samman in 1988 and the Bharat Ratna in 1998.

Her last concert -- like her first -- was held at Chennai's Music Academy. After Sadasivam's death in 1997, she never sang again in public. She preferred not to leave her home without her 'friend, philosopher and guide.'

Though the nightingale's voice has been silenced forever, mornings in countless temples and Indian homes around the world will continue to begin for a long, long time with M S Subbulakshmi singing Venkatesa Suprabhatam.

Also see: M S Subbulakshmi: 'Nightingale' of Carnatic music