The incomparable M.S. Subbulakshmi once confided to her secretary, Atmanathan, “Without him, I have no reason to sing,” a poignant statement reflecting her resolve to cease performing after the loss of her beloved husband, T. Sadasivam. This heartfelt moment is just one of many unveiled in the new biography, Sivam Subham – The Biography…of a Couple, penned by the acclaimed Malayalam poet and lyricist B.K. Harinarayanan.
More than just a chronicle of the legendary musician’s illustrious career, this book, named after the couple’s cherished home in Kotturpuram, Chennai, offers an intimate glimpse into their shared personal life.
B.K. Harinarayanan
Harinarayanan fondly recollects his earliest encounter with Subbulakshmi’s divine voice as a schoolboy, during his holidays in Vadanamkurrissy, Palakkad district. He describes how, despite the sadness of impending vacation’s end, the morning strains of her ‘Venkatesa Suprabhatam’ from the Thrithamthoni temple would invariably infuse him with a profound sense of devotion and renewed vigor. This early exposure fostered a deep appreciation for Carnatic music within him.
His connection deepened in 2018 when he journeyed to Chennai for the Margazhi Season concerts. Attending many performances alongside Jayaram Ramachandran, son of the esteemed Carnatic musician Pala C.K. Ramachandran, Harinarayanan had a revelation. Upon seeing a children’s storybook about M.S., he fully grasped her universal appeal, touching hearts across all generations. Jayaram, whose father shared the same guru, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, had the privilege of meeting M.S. numerous times.
It was Jayaram who facilitated Harinarayanan’s visit to M.S. Subbulakshmi’s home, leading to a significant meeting with Atmanathan, the couple’s dedicated secretary of five decades. Atmanathan graciously shared a wealth of captivating anecdotes about M.S. and Sadasivam. Harinarayanan also connected with other close acquaintances, including S. Vijayaraghavan, a lawyer and disciple of flautist N. Ramani, gathering invaluable insights.
“These conversations proved instrumental, allowing me to gain a profound understanding of them both, especially Sadasivam’s pivotal role in managing M.S.’s career and the extraordinary bond they shared,” Harinarayanan explains.
Beginning his work in 2019, Harinarayanan emphasizes that the book’s creation wouldn’t have been possible without the collaborative efforts of P.K. Rajesh Kumar, Vijesh Thottingal, Jishnu A. Unni, B.K. Parameswaran, and V.J. Jebison. Much of this dedicated work unfolded during the lockdown period. He has heartfeltly dedicated the book to Vijesh, who sadly passed away just a few months prior.
The new biography, Sivam Subham
Originally penned in Malayalam, the book was thoughtfully translated into English by his brother, Parameswaran, ensuring accessibility for the couple’s family members and a wider audience.
“While Atmanathan was the one who furnished most details, I also got help and guidance from the couple’s grandson — V. Shrinivasan. He came to Thrissur and stayed for four days to read the manuscript before it went into print,” says Harinarayanan. S. Saundarya and S. Aishwarya, Shrinivasan’s daughters and musicians, performed at the launch of the book at Guruvayur last month, coinciding with the singer’s 109th birth anniversary.
M.S. Subbulakshmi and T. Sadasivam on their wedding day
Harinarayanan points out that he is happy to have included a lot of information that readers might not immediately deem important. “For example, details about Parvati, Sadasivam’s first wife, and the death of M.S.’s brother, Shaktivel. It was news to me that after Parvati’s demise, Sadasivam handed over her jewellery to M.S. and she always wore those at her concerts.”
M.S. Subbulakshmi with Sadasivam and director Ellis R Dungan on the set of the film, Meera
Spanning 38 meticulously crafted chapters, the biography comprehensively charts the singer’s extraordinary life. It begins with her early days as the daughter of Shanmukhavadivu, a musician from the Devadasi community, and covers her debut concert at just ten years old. Readers will discover how she met Sadasivam, her venture into the world of cinema, and their remarkably simple wedding, attended by only a few close individuals, with expenses totaling a mere ₹150, gifted by their friend Kasturi Srinivasan, then Chief Editor of The Hindu. The book also extensively explores the couple’s significant contributions to the growth of Kalki, the magazine co-founded by Sadasivam.
Harinarayanan sensitively recounts several profoundly poignant episodes from their life together. These include the 24-year-old Subbulakshmi’s compassionate decision to embrace and raise her husband’s daughters as her own, and the emotional final moments before Sadasivam’s passing in 1977, vividly described by both Atmanathan and Shrinivasan. Atmanathan, in particular, recalled, ‘During those last moments, Amma continued to hold mama’s hands.’
Sadasivam had always harbored a dream of M.S. receiving the Bharat Ratna, though he did not live to witness her become the first musician ever to be bestowed with India’s highest civilian honor. Tragically, in the years following his death, M.S. began to lose her memory. Yet, as Harinarayanan beautifully writes, ‘Miraculously, music alone stayed with her…’