A Timeless Tribute by TeamVidyaBalan : Recreating legendary singer's iconic looks on 108th birth anniversary of M S Subbulakshmi

Some features during music performances are traditionally being followed by the artistes. Most of the early musicians therefore followed typical inheritance during such events. M S Subbulakshmi was turned into an exemplar of Indianness.

What did this ‘Indianness’ do to M S Amma? She came from a life that revolved around the Madurai Meenakshi Mandir and a home where rituals are everyday events. Later, Kancheepuram(nearer to Chennai), best known as Temple City, became central to her existence. The Bhakthi and Bhava in her music had its meticulous calibration, which turned out to be pravaaham of flood of keerthans being heard and celebrated by millions of people in mandirs and makaan globally daily.

MS Amma hardly expressed music through bodily gestures. Even had she evoked one, it was usually of bhakti - her eyes expressing supplication – closed or open. Apart from keeping time, her hands moved up only occasionally, even that complemented the overall Bhakti picture.

M S Amma was the first Musician to receive both the Bharat Ratna(India's highest civilian recognition_and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. She was also the first Indian artist to appear before the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.        

Keeping all these bhakthi, bhaava, gestures, etc. in her mind

teaming up with costume designer Anu Parthasarathy might have entwined her aesthetic tribute with the blessed threads of aforementioned Bhakthi, Bhava, etc. only to create a full fledged Photographic Exhibition fabric to the legendary singer M S Amma on the occasion of her 108th Birth Anniversary.

Team Vidya Balan has re-created some of the iconic looks of the 'Nightingale of India' and for that, they have expressed her deep admiration for M S Amma not just through photos, but also in words.

Vidya Balan left her devout fans and industry members impressed with her interesting tribute to the late singer. She took to Instagram and shared a video featuring MS Amma in different looks. Vidya's post reads like this : "On her 108th birth anniversary, I feel honored and overjoyed to be able to pay a photographic tribute to "BHARAT RATNA " M S Amma, famously referred to as The 'Queen of Music' by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and as the 'Nightingale of India' by Sarojini Naidu. ""This is a humble homage by @anuparthasarathy & me to the legend M S Amma - The Original Style icon, who carried off with great aplomb, an appearance that was a study in simplicity, adding to the allure of her mellifluous voice. This feature showcases four sarees that M S Amma wore & popularised between the 60's & the 80's and is a portrayal of M S Amma's concert persona.

She has also expressed how it her long cherished dream to play M S Amma and also thanked M S Amma's granddaughter-in-law Sikkil Mala Chandrashekhar for her guidance and insights. Needless to mention that she has complimented Anu Parthasarathy for coming up with a novel idea of doing this when she expressed her long cherished dream to play M S Amma and appreciated her passion for detail and her patience over 7 years in seeing this through to fruition by saying "Nandree Anu ma'am"(Thank you Anu Maam).

The project showcases four iconic sarees M.S. Subbulakshmi wore between the 1960s and 1980s, each highlighting her timeless concert persona. These sarees, with their vivid colours, elaborate designs, and distinctive draping styles, became synonymous with her image. To maintain authenticity, Anu Parthasarathy collaborated closely with weavers to recreate these sarees with precision.

See these amazing photos : Vidya Balan's dedicated expressions and the way she has devoutly dressed... the whole demeanor is just completely M S Amma and M S Amma only!