L. Subramaniam Biography 
Dr. L. Subramaniam is a very popular and renowned violinist, composer and conductor belonging to the Carnatic music of Indian classical music. Renowned playback singer of Bollywood, Kavita Krishnamurthy is his wife. His children (born from first marriage with Viji Subramaniam), Bindu Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam are also musicians. Subramaniam has given many concerts with his daughter and wife Kavita, known by the nickname Subramaniam Gharana. His elder son Dr. Narayana Subramaniam is a poet and ghazal singer.
Subramaniam received Padma Bhushan (2001) and Padma Shri (1988) from Government of India. President's Award for Best Violinist, All India Radio (1963), Honorary Doctrate, Bangalore University (2003), Grammy Nomination (for the album Indian Classical Music) (1981) and Best Composer Award/Commission, NRK P2, Norway (1996) are other major achievements. He received Onida Pinnacle Award for Best title track composer: Surabhi, cultural program on Doordarshan (1993). The title track of Surabhi composed by him is so popular till now. He has also composed music for a few movies including Mira Nair’s Bollywood movies - Salaam Bombay (1988) and Mississippi Masala (1991) and Malayalam movie, Ee snehatheerathu, for which Kavitha Krishnamurthy rendered her beautiful voice for a few tracks.
Subramaniam was born in Chennai on 23 July 1947 in a musical family. Both his parents, V. Lakshminarayana, and Seethalakshmi were accomplished musicians. He was initiated to music by his father when he was 5 and gave his first performance at the age of 6. He lived in Jaffna during his younger years. Well-known violinist-composers L. Shankar and L. Vaidyanathan are his brothers. Subramaniam completed M.B.B.S. at Madras Medical College and a General Practitioner, before deciding to pursue music full-time. Since 1973, he has recorded more than 200 compositions which includes both solo and collaboration pieces. He is on the advisory board of composer A. R. Rahman's KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam, Chennai. He along with Kavitha has started music institute in Bangalore in 2007 named Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 20, 2014
