For me reading the above account of the great Sri “Tiger” Varadachari (one of the gurus of my mother Smt Mani Krishnaswami) was like virtually being taken on a fast-track tour of the brief history of the Carnatic music world .
What struck me most forcefully from “Tiger’s” reminiscences was that in those days it was the temples and temple events , utsavams which were the seat of much cultural activity … music, dance , naatyam, drama , Kalapshepam ….
There were no Sabhas in those days .
Once the Sabhas began to proliferate , the temple ecosystem perished . The Sabha system introduced an element of commercialism into Carnatic music and arts .
And when Sabhas proliferated the commercial ecosystem expanded like the tentacles of an octopus .
Today , the law of diminishing returns has begun operating … as it operates inevitably in all commercially motivated artistic pursuit.
The Sabha system in Carnatic music now stands broken . It will start decaying rapidly in the next decade . That is my humble view .
Sudarshan Madabushi