Singapore Artistes Unite to Remember MSS and the victims of the Tsunami

News item courtesy the organizers of ANJALI on February 6, 2005 at 5:00 p.m. at the Kallang Theatre.

ANJALI is a rare event in Singapore Indian performing arts history, in which several of the leading Indian cultural institutions and artistes in Singapore are getting together musically to celebrate the memory of one of India's greatest ever musical talents, Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi. Over an evening at the majestic Kallang Theatre, in the presence of President S R Nathan, artistes from all over Singapore will sing and perform on instruments in solos, duets, vocal and instrumental ensembles, many kritis and devotional pieces made immortal by the Late MS. Admission is free to this event. But donations are very welcome, as the money raised at this event will go to support the Tsunami-Affected Communities Fund.

Bharat Ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi

There isn't a Carnatic music fan alive who hasn't heard of M.S.Subbulakshmi, or MS, as she is popularly known. She presented her first concert at the tender age of 10, when she was asked to sing at the wedding of a Saurashtrian friend of the family in Madurai. Born on September 16, 1916, in Madurai to Subramania Iyer and Shanmukhavadivu, Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, her brother Saktivel and sister Vadivambal grew up surrounded by classical music. Her grandmother Akkammal played the violin whilst her mother played the veena. The seeming effortlessness of her music is rooted in her technical mastery, ceaseless practice, restraint and constant self appraisal. No other artiste has been as successful in blending the intuitive and the reflective elements of the art.

Guided by her husband, MS raised and donated to a variety of causes millions of rupees through her concerts and recordings. Her first charity concert was in aid of the Kasturba Memorial Fund in 1944.

Some of the institutions that benefited include Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, Ramakrishna Matt, Nanak Foundation, Subramanya Bharati Memorial at Ettayapuram, Hindu Temple in Flushing, New York, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kamakshi Temple in Kancheepuram, Sankara Nethralaya, Cancer Institute and Voluntary Health Services and Music Academy, Chennai.

MS was the first female recipient of the 'Sangita Kalanidhi' title and the first to popularise Carnatic music in North India and the Western world through her concerts at prestigious events and places like the Edinburgh Festival and the United Nations. Her admirers come from all walks of life - national and international leaders, fellow artistes, other celebrities and the man on the street. On one celebrated occasion, Mahatma Gandhi had requested her to sing his favourite Bhajan for him.

MS had won several awards and accolades, including the "Bharat Ratna", India's highest civilan award.

Tsunami-Affected Communities (TAC) Fund

The funds collected will be channeled towards re-building of the affected communities. They will be used to finance projects by Singapore International Foundation's 90 teams of volunteers and specialist volunteers to provide sanitation, clean water, housing, healthcare and community care to the affected communities from April to December 2005.

Donations above $10.00 to this Fund will be tax- exempt.

All cheques must be made payable to "Singapore International Foundation".
The following information must be provided at the back of the cheque: Name in full, NRIC No., Mailing Address, Contact No. and state "TAC Fund".

For more information, contact Raj Maniyam 6299-5929 email: raj@sifas.org or Kavitha Krishnan 9678-6729 email: kavitha@apsara-asia.com

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