L. Subramaniam

L. Subramaniam has carried the Indian violin to concert halls around the world. In 2025 he was named for the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, in the field of art, from Karnataka ^[1]. He had earlier received the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan ^[2].

A prodigy

Lakshminarayana Subramaniam was born on 23 July 1947 and began performing at the age of six ^[2]. His father and guru, Professor V. Lakshminarayana, set the vision he went on to fulfil ^[2]. In 1972 he was given the title “Violin Chakravarthy” ^[2].

East meets West

A master of the Carnatic tradition, he also worked in Western classical music, composing for, performing with and conducting major Western orchestras ^[2]. He is credited with creating the idea of global fusion and with the first north-south jugalbandi, with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan ^[2].

He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Bolshoi Theatre, and worked with Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli, George Harrison and Stevie Wonder ^[2]. His compositions have been played by the New York Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, and he scored films including Salaam Bombay and Mississippi Masala ^[2].

Festivals and schools

He founded the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, held in more than 25 countries over three decades, and the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts for young musicians ^[2].