L. Subramaniam

In this Tamil name, there is no surname or family name. The name Lakshminarayana is a patronym, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Subramaniam.
L. Subramaniam
L. Subramaniam performing at concert in Bhopal October 2015
Background information
Born
Subramaniam Lakshminarayana

(1947-07-23) 23 July 1947
Madras, Madras Presidency, British India
(now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
GenresClassical, Carnatic, jazz fusion, Indo jazz, world fusion, Western music
OccupationsViolinist, composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, record producer, pedagogue, doctor
InstrumentsViolin, percussion, synthesizers, vocals
Years active1958–present
Relatives

Dr. Subramaniam Lakshminarayana (born 23 July 1947)[1] is an Indian violinist, composer and conductor, trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition and Western classical music.[2]

Early years

Subramaniam was born in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India,[1] to V. Lakshminarayana Iyer and Seethalakshmi, both accomplished musicians.[3]

He lived in Jaffna during his younger years, taking up music studies before the age of five.[4] He began training in violin under the tutelage of his father, Professor V. Lakshminarayana. "Mani", as he is fondly known by fellow musicians and his family, gave his first public performance at the age of six.

His uncles are Ramnad Raghavan and Ramnad Krishnan.[5] His brothers are also acclaimed musicians, and include the violinist-composers L. Shankar (alias. Shenkar), and the late L. Vaidyanathan.[6] He has released recordings with both.

Subramaniam developed a passion for music as well as science from a young age, studying Medicine and acquiring his M.B.B.S. at Madras Medical College. He registered as a General Practitioner, before deciding to pursue music full-time.[4] He has a master's degree in Western classical music, which he acquired at the California Institute of the Arts.[4]

Personal life

Subramaniam was married to Viji Subramaniam (née Vijayashree Shankar), who died on 9 February 1995. Since November 1999 he has been married to the Indian playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy. He has four children with Viji — Gingger Shankar, Bindu Subramaniam, Dr. Narayana Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam.

He continues to perform pieces with his daughter, Bindu Subramaniam, a singer and songwriter, as well as violin duets with his son, Ambi Subramaniam, and has further recorded and given several concerts with Kavita Krishnamurthy.[7][8] Their collaborations have earned them the nickname Subramaniam Gharana.[9] He has also performed with his eldest son Dr. Narayana Subramaniam.[10]

Performing career

Since 1973, Subramaniam has amassed over 200 recordings, releasing several solo albums, recording collaborations with musicians Yehudi Menuhin, Stéphane Grappelli, Ruggiero Ricci and Jean-Pierre Rampal, further to making albums and performing with Ruggiero Ricci, Herbie Hancock, Joe Sample, Jean-Luc Ponty, Stanley Clarke John Handy, George Harrison[11] and several others.[12]

He has accompanied highly regarded vocalists in Carnatic music on stage including Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, K. V. Narayanaswamy, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M. Balamuralikrishna, M. D. Ramanathan, and Alathur Srinivasa Iyer. He has also performed many concerts with the venerable Palghat Mani Iyer on the Mridangam, in addition to collaborating with musicians of North Indian Hindustani music and artists of other music systems.[12] He was among the early South Indian classical musician to perform a jugalbandhi with a Hindustani musician when he played with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in the late '70s.[13]

Subramaniam has written works for orchestras, ballets and Hollywood film scores, and written books on music – such as Euphony – in addition to composing symphonies and Carnatic pieces.[12][14]

In 1983, he composed a Double Concerto for violin and flute which combined western scales with micro intervals.[15] In 1985, he composed the popular Fantasy on Vedic Chants which was premiered with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta (in September '85) and later performed with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, conducted by Djemal Dalgat. Subramaniam's first symphonic piece, Spring – Rhapsody, composed in 1986, was a homage to Bach and Baroque music. He then composed Turbulence which was performed with The Swiss Romande Orchestra, "The Concert of Two Violins" performed with the Oslo Philharmonic, and Global Symphony that the Berlin State Opera performed (broadcast live to 28 nations).[14] He has also performed a concert tour of China, with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra in Beijing. Till date, he has composed ten symphonies and most of his orchestral works have been published by Schott Music.[16]

His compositions have been used in stage presentations of leading dance companies such as the San Jose Ballet company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Subramaniam composed the piece "Shanti Priya" for the Mariinsky Ballet in 1988.

The album Global Fusion (1999) contributed significantly to Subramaniam’s international reputation and critical recognition for his innovative fusion of musical traditions.[17][18][19] He founded and directs the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival, a festival based in India. In 2004, he completed a world tour with the festival, including concerts in the US (Lincoln Center, New York), the Asian Pacific region including in Perth, Australia, at the Esplanade, Singapore, the Sri Dewan Penang Hall in Penang and the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Performing with Subramaniam at the festival in January 2005 were violin maestro Arve Tellefsen, the Oslo Camerata, jazz legends Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Al Jarreau, Earl Klugh and Ravi Coltrane.

In September 2007, Subramaniam premiered his "Freedom Symphony" with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra at the George Mason University Center for the Arts.[20] Subramaniam is on the advisory board of composer A. R. Rahman's KM Music Conservatory in Kodambakkam, Chennai.

In 2011, he was invited to perform at the United Nations. On 24 October 2012, he performed as a Special Guest Artist with Stevie Wonder at the latter's message of peace concert at the UN. Yehudi Menuhin said of Subramaniam:

"I find nothing more inspiring than the music making of my very great colleague Subramaniam. Each time I listen to him, I am carried away in wonderment."[12]

When asked about his musical accomplishments, Subramaniam has always said,

"Music is a vast ocean and no one can claim to know it all. The more you know, the more you realise how little you know. It is an eternal quest."

Orchestral performances

Dr. L. Subramaniam is widely regarded as a pioneer in global symphonic composition and one of the foremost composers of our time. A visionary who seamlessly bridges Indian classical music with Western orchestral traditions, he became the first Indian to compose major symphonies that were premiered by some of the world’s greatest orchestras.

Among these landmark works is Fantasy on Vedic Chants, premiered in 1985 by the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Zubin Mehta. His symphony Shantipriya was premiered by the Kirov Orchestra in New Delhi in 1988. In 1996, his Global Symphony was presented at Madison Square Garden in New York by the New York String Players with singers from the Metropolitan Opera—a historic moment that brought Indian symphonic thought to an international stage.

Over the years, Dr. Subramaniam has written close to twenty full orchestral works — a rare achievement in contemporary times. His repertoire includes symphonies, concertos, double concertos, orchestral works with choirs, compositions featuring non-Western soloists, chamber groups with orchestra, and even pioneering works where solo instruments can be replaced — a milestone concept in orchestral writing. He also reintroduced improvisational cadenzas into symphonic form, allowing performers to showcase virtuosity and spontaneity within structured compositions.

His celebrated works include:

  • The Double Concerto for Violin and Flute, blending Western scales with micro-intervals
  • Spring – Rhapsody, a homage to Bach and Baroque traditions
  • Astral Symphony, commissioned by Norway’s NRK P2 Award, written for full orchestra with replaceable soloists from different musical traditions
  • Freedom Symphony, commemorating 60 years of Indian independence, featuring Indian voices and texts in five languages

Dr. Subramaniam has collaborated with more than fifty orchestras worldwide, including the London Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Opera Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, among many others across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.

His works have been performed in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and the Gewandhaus, while also reaching audiences in smaller cities across the world — a reflection of his commitment to making orchestral music globally accessible.

He has worked with legendary conductors including Maestro Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Tan Lihua and Li Xincao, among others.

On many occasions, entire evenings have been dedicated exclusively to his compositions — a rare honour for a living composer. With over 150 live performances of his orchestral works and numerous audio-video releases, Dr. L. Subramaniam stands among the very few contemporary composers whose symphonic creations continue to be performed around the world.

A true architect of Global Fusion, he has redefined the possibilities of orchestral music while placing Indian musical thought firmly on the global symphonic map.

Film career

He composed the film scores for the films Salaam Bombay (1988) and Mississippi Masala (1991) directed by Mira Nair, in addition to being the featured violin soloist in Bernardo Bertolucci's Little Buddha (1993) and Cotton Mary (1999) of Merchant-Ivory productions.[12]

Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival

The Lakshminarayana World Music Festival concert was first initiated by his brother, L. Shankar in 1991 in memory of their father V. Lakshminarayana, who died in 1990.[21] The BBC film ‘Bombay and All That Jazz’ (1992) was based on the tribute concert that took place in Bombay on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1992, which featured Don Cherry, L. Shankar, TH Vinayakram, Trilok Gurtu and many others.[21]

Subsequently, on January 11, 1992, Vijayashree and Subramaniam launched the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival (LGMF) in Madras (Chennai).[22]

Artists have included the Subramaniam family, Al Jarreau, George Duke, Solo Cissokho, Miya Masaoka, Mark O'Connor, Loyko, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Larry Coryell, Arve Tellefsen, Pandit Jasraj, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna and Corky Siegel.[23][24]

The festival has centred around special concepts such as Violins for Peace, Visions of India and Sounds of India.[23]

Honour Lokmat Sur Jyotsna National Music legends Award 2024.[25]

Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts

In 2007, the Subramaniam Foundation, a charity run by Subramaniam and his wife set up a music school called the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA), in Bangalore, India.[26]

Awards and recognition

  • Padma Vibhushan award by government of India (2025)
  • PhD in music (Thesis on Raga Harmony for Orchestral compositions), Jain University (2017)
  • D.Litt. Honoris Causa of ITM University, Gwalior (M.P.) (2016)
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Limca Book of Records (2012)
  • GiMA (Best Carnatic Instrumental Album – Innovations), Global Indian Music Academy (2012)
  • Uttam Vag Geykar Jialal Vasant Award, Ajivasan (2011)
  • Big Star IMA Award (Best Classical Instrumental Album – Violin Maestros), Indian Music Academy (2011)
  • GiMA (Best Carnatic Instrumental Album – Violin Maestros), Global Indian Music Academy (2010)
  • GiMA (Best Fusion Album – Live at Neues Gewandhaus, Leipzig), Global Indian Music Academy (2010)
  • Tantri Nada Mani, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram (2009)
  • Asthana Vidwan, ISKCON, Bangalore (2009)
  • Viswa Kala Bharathi Bharat Kalachar, Chennai (2004)
  • Sangeetha Kalaratna, Bangalore Gayana Samaja (2004)
  • Sangeetha Kalaa Shiromani, Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore (2004)
  • Honorary Doctorate, Bangalore University (2003)
  • Padma Bhushan, Government of India(2001)[27]
  • Manaviyam (Millennium) Award, Government of Kerala (2001)
  • Lotus Festival Award, City of Los Angeles (1998)
  • Special Medal of Honour, HH King Birendra of Nepal (1997)
  • Best Composer Award/Commission, NRK P2, Norway (1996)
  • Sangeeta Ratna Mysore, T. Chowdaiah Memorial National Award (1996)
  • Awarder at the World Music Festival at Madison Square Gardens, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New York (1995)
  • Nada Chakravarthy, Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji, Trinidad (1993)
  • Onida Pinnacle Award (Best title track composer: Surabhi) (1993)
  • Creative Music Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi (1990)
  • Padma Shri, Government of India (1988)
  • Award for outstanding contribution to Indo-American goodwill, understanding and friendship, Indo-American Society (1988)
  • Sangeeta Sagaram, Cultural Centre of Performing Arts (1984)
  • Grammy Nomination (for the album Indian Classical Music) (1981)
  • Orpheus of the East Kala Samarpana, Alliance Francaise, Chennai (24 November 1972)
  • Violin Chakravarthy, Governor of Madras (6/11/1972)
  • Best Western Instrumentalist, IIT Madras (1972)
  • President's Award for Best Violinist, All India Radio (1963)[28]

Compositions

Violin Concertos

  • Fantasy on Vedic Chants. (New York Philharmonic, New York)
  • Concerto for violin (Hong Kong Philharmonic, HongKong)
  • Shanti Priya (Kirov Orchestra, New Delhi, India)
  • Turbulence concerto (Swiss Romande Orchestra, Geneva)
  • Isabella concerto (Castile and León Symphony Orchestra, Valladolid, Spain)
  • Paris concerto (Orchestra Chambre de Paris, France)
  • Nada Priya (Collegium Instrumentale Halle, Halle)
  • Violin Concerto Beyond (Conterchamps Ensemble, India)

Double concerto

  • For 2 Violins or Violin & Flute (New American Orchestra, Los Angeles, USA)
  • Violin & Tuba ( Trondheim Symphony, Trondheim)
  • Violin & Double Bass/Cello (CU Symphony Orchestra, Boulder USA)

Concerto Grosso 6violin soloist

  • Violins for peace ,Premier (Menuhin Centenary Festival in Belgium)

LS Symphonies

  • Global Symphony ( NEW YORK STRING PLAYERS, SINGERS FROM THE METROPOLITAN OPERA, NY MadisonSquare Gadensz)
  • Astral Symphony ( NRK Radio Symphony with World String Ensemble, Oslo Norway )
  • Freedom Symphony (Fairfax Symphony, Fairfax)
  • Turbulence Symphony ( Sibiu State Philharmonic, Sibiu, Romania)
  • Bharat Symphony ( Elmhurst Community Philharmonic Orchestra, Millennium park Chicago)
  • Symphony of celebration (Liepajas Symphony Orchestra, Riga,Latvia)
  • Mahatma Symphony( Houston Symphony, Houston)
  • Spring Rhapsody(New England Conservatory Orchestra, Boston, USA)
  • Reflection ( Singpore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore)
  • Transformation symphony (Singapore Symphony, Singapore - Indian Orchestra, Choir, & Singapore - Chinese Ensemble)
  • Sai symphony ( Sai Symphony, Puttaparthi)
  • Datta symphony (Symphony Orchestra of Northern Kazakhstan, India)
  • Navagraha Symphony( Astana Filharmonia & Aktobe choir, India )

Encore compositions

  • Flight of the humble bee
  • Conversations
  • Tribute to Bach
  • Vandemataram
  • Don't Leave me
  • French resolution
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Broken vow
  • Dil ne kaha
  • Raha Niharu
  • Kya jaanu sajan
  • Tu mujhe kubool

Meera Bajans with Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam

  • Jo tum todo
  • Eri main to
  • Mere to Girdhar Gopal
  • Barse Badariya

Trinity Publishing

  • Journey
  • Violin & piano Raga based compositions

Ballet compositions

  • Shantipriya ballet
  • Beauty and the Beast, UK
  • Taming of the Shrew, UK

Shantipriya Ballet

  • Kirov Orchestra, New Delhi | Nov, 1988
  • San Jose Ballet, California | Oct, 1993 (5 performances)
  • Cleveland Ballet, Ohio | Oct 1993 (6 performances)
  • Astana Filharmonia & Gakku dance ballet, India | Jan, 2026 (5 performances)

Selected discography

Collaborations with other artists

Live albums

  • L. Subramaniam en concert: Southern Indian Violin (1983) (Harmonia Mundi/Ocora)
  • India's Master Musicians (1983) (Delos/Ravi Shankar Music Circle)
  • Live in Moscow / Time Must Be Changed (1988) (Melodiya/Boheme Music/BMG/Viji)
  • In Praise of Ganesh (featuring Anindo Chatterjee) (1991) (Audiorec)
  • L. Subramaniam en Concert (1995) (Ocora)
  • Kingdom of Peace: Live in Nepal (1997)
  • L. Subramaniam: Live in France
  • L. Subramaniam and Bismillah Khan: Live in Geneva (1991)

Filmography

Composer

Soloist

Additional soundtracks

  • Peace One Day (2004) (composer, performer: "Gypsy Trail")
  • Baraka (1992) (performer: "Wandering Saint")
  • Raga Mohanam (2012) (performer: "Samarpanam")

On Subramaniam

  • L. Subramaniam: Violin From the Heart (1999). Directed by Jean Henri Meunier.

References

  1. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2411. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ VELLAT, ANURADHA (5 October 2018). "Kavita Krishnamurthy and L Subramaniam on Global Music Festival". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Visionary Violinist". March 2001. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Artist: L. Subramaniam". Concord Music Group. March 1986. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  5. ^ "L Subramaniam- The doctor who became the international face of Carnatic violin". 23 July 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Music director L. Vaidyanathan dead". The Hindu. 20 May 2007. Archived from the original on 21 May 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  7. ^ "'Being L Subramaniam's daughter didn't help'". Rediff. 12 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam — Ambi Subramaniam — Kavita Krishnamurthy — Bangalore". mybangalore.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Article — Subramaniam gharana". timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2014.
  10. ^ "Narayana Subramaniam during TOI Crest experience musical program organized by The Times Of India at NCUI auditorium, Delhi". indiatimes.com.
  11. ^ "Lakshminarayan Global Music Festival With L. Subramaniam". Chicago Reader. 17 June 1999. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  12. ^ a b c d e "L. Subramaniam: Short Biography". Sampad. February 2005. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2007.
  13. ^ Dr L Subramaniam & Kavita Krishnamurti (7 September 2017). Jugalbandhi | Dr L Subramaniam and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Retrieved 1 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ a b "L. Subramaniam: Official Site". Official Site. Retrieved 20 February 2007.
  15. ^ Bindu Subramaniam (23 February 2014). Double Concerto Movement I. Retrieved 1 June 2025 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ "Lakshminarayana Subramaniam". www.schott-music.com. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  17. ^ D'Souza, Reaven (24 November 2024). "Bringing people together with the universal language of music". Times Kuwait. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  18. ^ Bessman, Jim (12 June 1999). "L. Subramaniam links Music Of The World With Atlantic's 'Global Fusion'" (PDF). Billboard. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  19. ^ Anderson, Rick (6 June 1999). "Global Fusion | L. Subramaniam". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  20. ^ "Classical and Choral Music". Metro Weekly. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  21. ^ a b H.O. Nazareth (1992). Bombay and All that Jazz (Film). London: BBC.
  22. ^ "34th edition of Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival begins in Chennai". The Week. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  23. ^ a b Buzz Bureau. "A Fusion Of Unique Violin Styles — Buzzintown". buzzintown.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  24. ^ "Buy online Indian and International CDs, LPs, Blu-rays, DVDs and VCDs — Rhythm House". rhythmhouse.in. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  25. ^ "L. Subramaniam: एल सुब्रमण्यम को मिला सुर ज्योत्सना म्यूजिक लीजेंड्स अवॉर्ड, वायलिन आइकन के नाम से हैं मशहूर". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  26. ^ "SaPa India – Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts". sapaindia.com.
  27. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  28. ^ "L Subramaniam's Official Website". Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  29. ^ Violinist L. Subramaniam Quit from the project, first he was selected to work as the music composer and completed recording songs for the project. However, before finishing his entire commitment for the film, he left the project fearing that his association with the film may offend Hindu people due to its contentious storyline. Ilayaraaja was subsequently selected to replace him and helped score music over the version recorded by Subramaniam and the songs of Subramaniam which are already shot/filmed. illayaraja had composed the music according to the lip movements in songs
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