Coimbatore's Carnatic Musician Meena Subramanian Receives "Kovai Subri Muruga Gana Award" from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for her Lifetime Contribution to Carnatic Music
Eminent Carnatic Musician Smt. Meena Subramanian, senior disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi MLV Vasanthakumari has been conferred the “Kovai Subri Muruga Gana Award” by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra on Monday 12th January, 2026.
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Shri. N.V.Nagasubramaniam, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra is presenting awards to Smt. Meena Subramanian (3rd from left) & Dr. Soumya (4th from left)
Srimathi Meena Subramanian was honoured and recognised for her exceptional contribution to Carnatic music along with Dr.Soumya at the inauguration of “29th Pongal Music Festival” in Coimbatore. The award recognizes her outstanding contribution to Carnatic music through her mellifluous renditions, imparting Carnatic music to a large student community to preserve Carnatic music for the future, producing special features like Tirupavai, Tiruvambavai, music workshops, lecture-demonstrations, scholarly work, and collaborations with legendary musicians. Meena Subramanian was renowned in Coimbatore and Kongunadu as one of the senior disciples of her Guru Sangeetha Kalanidhi M L Vasanthakumari and bringing the ‘MLV bani’ to Coimbatore.
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Smt. Meena Subramanian
The award was presented by Sri. N. V. Nagasubramaniam, Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra. He said in the past 50 years Smt. Meena Subramanian’s contribution to Carnatic music has been phenomenal. Her unique and incredible voice and her clear diction, knowledge of Tamil and Sanskrit are her assets and she has carved a niche for herself from a very young age. He emphasised this award and also recognised her effort in perpetuating Carnatic music in Kongunadu through her music and building a strong student community to preserve Carnatic music for the future.
She has several awards to her credit.
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Music Academy 1989 |
Most promising artist |
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Krishna Gana Sabha 1989 |
GN Balasubramanian Award |
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Government of Tamil Nadu 2001 |
ISAI Madhumani Award |
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Navarathna Award |
About Meena Subramanian:
Smt. Meena Subramanian is a highly regarded Carnatic Musician from Coimbatore. With an initial training in vocal music from Sri Ramakrishnan, and later with the popular Kannan brothers of Coimbatore, she honed her expertise further under the tutelage of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. M.L.Vasanthakumari, and remained her senior disciple, performing several concerts across the globe with her Guru as well as on her own.
She is an ‘A’- grade artiste of the All India Radio. Her melodious voice, imaginative alapanas, and exemplary command over laya helped her carve a special place in the field of Carnatic music. She has performed in all major sabhas like the Music Academy, Madras, Krishna Ganga Sabha, Mylapore fine Arts, Shanmugananda Sabha, all over the world including in USA, Europe, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Australia. She has accompanied Dr.MLV in her concerts in London at the Royal Albert Hall.
Meena Subramanian graduated from Queen Mary’s College, Chennai, and holds a postgraduate degree in Carnatic Music from Mother Teresa University. She served as a staff artiste of the All India Radio, Coimbatore, from 1985 to 2001. She is a recipient of several awards and honours. She is a well-known Guru who has stewarded many budding musicians.
