M. S. Subbulakshmi

"Indian music is oriented solely to the end of divine communication. If I have done something in this respect entirely due to the grace of the Almighty who has chosen my humble self as a tool."

"My greatest fear is giving performances. I feel I am responsible for the audience BUT I am also scared of them."

"Even if Subbalakshmi merely recited the words of her songs without singing them, he would prefer to hear them than anybody else."

"Subbulakshmi, when singing, comes closer to God and the same happens to those who listen to her."

"Oh! Who am I; a mere Prime Minister before the queen of song."

"Sarojini Naidu repositioned her own title of Nightingale of India on to Subbalakshmi’s avian frame, it was because that daughter of Bengal saw the gift of song arriving and alighting on this daughter of India’s south, like a migratory bird from the collective genius of our music."

"She incandesced as she sang. Her singing voice employed more than the process of phonation, more than the scope of the larynx."

"Lata Mangeshkar called her Tapaswini (the Renunciate)."

"M.S. had long ago been anointed Bharat Ratna by the people of India, with her art recognised and cherished by anyone with a modicum of cultural intelligence"

"The singing legend lives on her suprabathams (morning prayer songs) and w:bhajansbhajans."

"Subbalakshmi was indeed the icon who could bring the world to its knees:her rendering moved Yehudi Menuhin to tears, Bade Gulam Ali Khan called her "Suswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi", while Helen Keller once said “You sing like an angel”. She could captivate the people with an occasional lift of an eyebrow and a beatific smile-meant not for the audience but for the divine."