Chennai Music season 2024 controversy

 The Chennai music season is at its peak and I have been fortunate to listen to few concerts and I have written about some of them. This year has also been a year of controversy. It is totally upto an organisation to decide how and to whom they give awards. In my opinion the music academy is just another Sabha and I don't understand why there is so much discussion on who they choose for an award.

However I have an issue on how the person in question, T.M.Krishna, is being projected as a reformer who has brought about change in Carnatic music. I don't understand how singing about a controversial individual in an RTP or wearing a lungi or saying I don't have Bakthi is recognised as a reform. These are only attention seeking tactics. How does it matter as long as one is sincere to the art form and respects the audience feelings and what is the need to declare these things publicly?

The other funny thing is few people gloating that there was overwhelming crowd for TMK's 9 AM concert on Dec 25. This is a free slot on a holiday and half the people went there because of the controversy. The real test would have been if this concert had been performed in the 6:45 pm slot. I was one of the very few people in the academy, along with TMK and Mr.Murali, for the evening slot on Dec 25 and there were less than 100 people!

There are people who have done much more silently and never tried to garner public attention. There are several examples but to quote one, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bagavathar deciding to teach K.J.Yesudass in the late 60s was a big step that too 60 years back. Yesudass himself has played a great role in popularising carnatic music. 

It is interesting to note that someone like Yesudass has not been recognised by the academy till date. If someone really wanted to bring in a reform in the way such key awards were given, they should first recognise Yesudass in my humble opinion!