Madras Lalithangi Vasanthakumari (3 July 192831 October 1990), known as M. L. Vasanthakumari and commonly referred to as MLV, was an Indian Carnatic musician and a playback singer in films across several South Asian languages.

Vasanthakumari and her contemporaries, D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi, are often referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic music.. The Hindu (4 August 2003) A disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest of the established musicians of that era and the youngest female to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award. In 1967, the government of India honoured her with the Padma Bhushan, the country's third-highest civilian award.

Vasanthakumari's notable career as a playback singer for films popularized lesser-known ragas, and her Ragam Thanam Pallavis were regarded as cerebral.. The Hindu (4 July 2003) Additionally, she popularized the compositions of the Haridasas. Her disciples include her daughter Srividya, Sudha Raghunathan, Charumathi Ramachandran, and A. Kanyakumari.Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 75–76 December 1990 – January 1991

Early life Vasanthakumari was born into a musical family. Her father, Kuthanur Ayya Swamy Iyer, and her mother, Lalithangi, were both musicians.Guy, Randor (21 December 2017) ML Vasanthakumari turned down offer to act with Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. Deccan Chronicle When Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das died in 1925, Lalithangi composed a song as a tribute to his patriotism.

Vasanthakumari was educated in a convent school in Madras where she initially planned to pursue a career in medicine. However, her path took a turn when Carnatic musician G. N. Balasubramaniam, popularly known as GNB, became her guru. In Vasanthakumari's own words:

"My parents had rendered yeoman service to Carnatic music. They were instrumental in popularizing the compositions of Purandara Dasa in South India. Although they were not keen on my pursuing a career in music and instead provided me with a general education, the musical atmosphere at home gave me ample opportunity to practice vocal music. When G. N. Balasubramaniam heard me sing, he convinced my parents to allow him to tutor me. It is he who is responsible for the position I hold in the music world today."

Performing and recording career At the age of 12, Vasanthakumari debuted in 1940, accompanying her mother, Lalithangi in a recital. In 1942, she gave her first solo performance in Bengaluru and recorded her first 78-rpm disc. By 1950, she was regularly performing on stage.

Musical style Vasanthakumari's style was influenced by her mentor G. N. Balasubramaniam.Calutta K.S. Krishnamurthi, 'Sruti' Issue 98 Nov 1992 Musicologist Indira Menon noted that Vasanthakumari adopted Balasubramaniam’s approach of introducing a raga with a quick sketch across two octaves, followed by a more detailed elaboration. Menon also observed that she used vocal ornamentation (brigas) selectively and exercised restraint in her performance.

Purandaradasa tradition Vasanthakumari's mother performed a repertoire of Purandaradasa kritis, many of which she taught to her daughter. Vasanthakumari later included these compositions in her performances, contributing to the wider dissemination of Purandara Dasa's Devaranamas. Her role has been compared to T. Brinda's role in popularizing Kshetrayya Padams and M. S. Subbalakshmi’s efforts with Annamacharya kritis.

Sindhu Bhairavi Vasanthakumari helped popularize Narayana Teertha's Kalyana Gopalam and Purandaradasa's Venkatachala Nilayam in Sindhubhairavi raga. Hindustani maestro Bade Ghulam Ali Khan praised her for her music. Sudha Raghunathan, also a prominent Carnatic singer, once said, "MLV Amma told me that it was Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saab who taught her the nuances of Sindhu Bhairavi in the Hindustani style."

Playback singing By 1946, Vasanthakumari also became a playback singer. Her first successful performance was in the 1951 film Manamagal, where she sang Ellam Inbamayam in ragamalika and Subramania Bharathiyar's composition Chinnanchiru Kiliyae Kannamma. In the 1960 film Raja Desingu, she sang another ragamalika, Paarkadal Alaimele, which was well-received and later became popular in Bharatanatyam recitals. She would later sing these songs towards the end of her Carnatic music concerts, and several musicians include them in their repertoire today.

Vasanthakumari also sang Ayya Saami in the 1951 film, Or Iravu. This song was based on the song Gore Gore O Banke Chhore from the film 1950 Samaadhi, which was in turn based on the Latin American song Chico Chico from Puerto Rico, featured in the film Cuban Pete. In the 1952 film Thai Ullam, she sang Konjum Purave, which was based on the Hindi song Thandi Havayen. Other songs included Adisayam Vanathu Arivumayam, Senthamarai Kannanae, Vanna Tamizh, and Adum Arul Jothi in the films Vikramaadhithan, Vaira Maalai, Kaveriyin Kanavan and Meenda Sorgam. Each of these songs contained the Kalyani raga and were well-received.

Vasanthakumari sang the Dashaavataara songs for Bhookailas like Munneeta Pavalinchu, while Kumari Kamala danced in a classical style. Vasanthakumari would continue to sing in films until 1970.

Accompanists Mridangam maestro Palghat Mani Iyer made an exception to his decision to not accompany a female performer and later accompanied Vasanthakumari for concerts. Other accompanists include Mannargudi Easwaran, Srimushnam V. Raja Rao, Seerkazhi J. Skandaprasad, Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam, R. Ramesh, Karaikudi Krishnamurthy, G. Harishankar (Kanjira), Dwaram Mangathayaru (Violin), Kanyakumari (Violin).

Family Vasanthakumari married Kalaimamani Vikatam R. Krishnamurthy in 1951. They had a son, Krishnamurthy Sankararaman, and a daughter, Srividya. Srividya became an actress in Tamil and Malayalam films.

Disciples Saraswathi Srinivasan (b. 1936) was the first disciple of Vasanthakumari. After her marriage, the duo performed in concerts together.

Awards YearAwardAwarded by1967Padma Bhushan Third-highest civilian award granted by the government of India1970Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi, India1976Doctoral degree for her work about Purandaradasa's contributions to musicMysore University1977Sangeetha Kalanidhi (Highest accolade in the field of Carnatic music)Music Academy, Madras 1977Isai Perarignar Tamil Isai Sangam, Madras1987Sangeetha KalasikhamaniIndian Fine Arts Society, Chennai

Death In 1990 Vasanthakumari died of cancer at the age of 62. Collaborations with music composers Vasanthakumari worked with C. R. Subbaraman, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, G. Ramanathan, S. Dakshinamurthi, K. V. Mahadevan, Vedha, V. Nagayya, Pendyala Nageshwara Rao, T. Chalapathi Rao, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, S. Rajeswara Rao, R. Sudarsanam, R. Govardhanam, T. R. Pappa, S. V. Venkatraman, Kunnakudi Venkatrama Iyer, G. Aswathama, T. A. Kalyanam, M. S. Gnanamani, C. N. Pandurangan, C. S. Jayaraman, G. Govindarajulu Naidu, T. G. Lingappa, K. G. Moorthy, Ghantasala, Master Venu, G. Aswathama, V. Dakshinamoorthy, G. Devarajan, K. Raghavan and Shankar–Jaikishan.

Collaborations with playback singers Vasanthakumari sang duets mostly with Thiruchi Loganathan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan and A. M. Rajah. Others are M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, V. N. Sundaram, T. R. Mahalingam, T. A. Mothi, C. R. Subburaman, C. S. Jayaraman, Ghantasala, G. K. Venkatesh, T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas, K. S. George, V. Dakshinamoorthy, and K. J. Yesudas.

She also sang duets with female singers, most notably with P. Leela and N. L. Ganasaraswathi. Others are A. P. Komala, T. S. Bagavathi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, Radha Jayalakshmi, P. A. Periyanayaki, P. Bhanumathi, K. Jamuna Rani and A. G. Rathnamala.