President A P J Kalam, a follower of Carnatic music and a fan of the late M S Subbulakshmi, on Sunday penned a verse in Tamil while on his way to Chennai to pay homage to the music genius who died on Saturday night.

• M S Subbulakshmi passes away | Obit

He writes:
      You are the seven swaras of the instrument

      Your music gave peace and lilt

      A lot of wealth you gave along with music

      You surprised God and made him realise significance of human voice

      Thousands and thousands of us were drenched by your soulful music

      Your mellifluous music moved our hearts and  you were a spring for 80 years

      You were a star of women who wove garlands in Madhyamavati

      You excelled in Sriragam and achieved great heights in bhakti sangeet to get Bharat Ratna

      You made us realise the significance of Tansen's music and you were a great gift of time

      You excelled in the kirtanas of Annamacharya, Purandaradasa and trinity of Carnatic music

      By your voice you lifted the Tamil music

      Even though you may have merged with time

      Your music will live for a long time to come

      Even though you have left this world for heaven

      You are alive among the crores and crores of people here and will continue to live music in the other world also.