M.S. Gopalakrishnan, born on June 10, 1931, in Mylapore, Chennai, India, was a violinist known for his contributions to Carnatic music. He began his musical journey under the tutelage of his father, Parur Sundaram Iyer, who taught him both Carnatic and Hindustani systems. Gopalakrishnan gave his first performance at the age of eight. His career spanned over fifty years, during which he performed as a soloist and accompanist, collaborating with notable figures such as Omkarnath Thakur and D.V. Paluskar. He toured extensively, performing in Australia, the US, the UK, the Netherlands, South Africa, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. Gopalakrishnan released a number of albums and throughout his career, received numerous awards, including the Padma Bhushan (2012), Padmashri (1975), Kalaimamani (1978), Sangeetha Kalanidhi (1998), and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1982). He passed away on January 3, 2013.
