M. L. Vasanthakumari

She died in 1990 at the age of 62 due to cancer, and was stoic about the suffering she faced in the last year of her life.

MLV sang the Dashaavataara song for Bhookailas like Munneeta Pavalinchu Naagashayana, while Kamala Kumari danced in a classical way. She sang for films until 1970.

MLV also sang Ayya Saami in the 1951 film, Or Iravu. This song was based on the song Gore Gore from the film Samaadhi, which was in turn based on the Latin American song Chico Chico from Puerto Rico, from the film Cuban Pete. In the 1952 film Thayullam, MLV sang Konjum Purave which was based on the famous Hindi song, Thandi Havayen.

MLV married Kalaimamani Vikatam R.Krishnamurthy in the year 1951. They had a son, K. Shankarraman and Srividya.

By 1946, MLV was also a playback singer. Her first big hit was in the 1951 film Manamagal, where she sang the song Ellam Inbamayam in Ragamalika, and Subramania Bharathiyar's evergreen composition, Chinnanchiru Kiliyae. In the 1960 film Raja Desingu, MLV also sang another Ragamalika, Parkadal Alaimele, which was well received, and later became popular in Bharatha Natyam recitals. In later years, MLV would also sing these songs towards the end of her Carnatic music concerts, and today, many musicians often include them in their repertoire.

MLV made her debut in 1940, at 12 years old, by accompanying her mother at a recital. Two years later, she gave a solo recital in Bengaluru. She also cut her first 78 rpm disc. From then on, her career took on a geometric progression, as a stage artiste, and by 1950 she had established herself as a front-ranker. A music critic said that MLV brought the struggle of women in the world of music to a successful culmination. Her music was said to have more male characteristics than that of any other female musician.

She was a much sought after playback singer from the late 1940s until the mid-1960s.

Saraswathi Srinivasan (b 1936) was the first disciple of MLV. After marriage also Saraswathy Srinivasan jointly with MLV gave some concerts.

Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari (popularly referred to as MLV) (3 July 1928 – 31 October 1990) was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi are popularly referred to as the female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of G. N. Balasubramaniam, she was the youngest among the established musicians of that era, and was the youngest female to receive the Sangita Kalanidhi award. In 1967, she was honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award by the government of India. Her daughter, the late K.Srividya, was an actress in Tamil and Malayalam languages.

MLV was born to a musical family. Her father, Kuthanur Ayya Swamy Iyer, was a noted musician. Her mother, Lalithangi, was also a musician. When Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das died in 1925, Lalithangi came out with a song as a tribute to his patriotism. A rare gramophone record of her rendition of this song is said to be in V. Sundaram's possession.