T M Krishna , the perennial Peter Pan and “enfant terrible” of the Carnatic Music world.
Category Archives: music
Please, for God’s sake, Leave Her Spirit Alone
On M.S. Subbulakshmi’s 110th birth anniversary, a pan-India biopic—M.S – A Legacy On Screen—was launched at the Music Academy with starry fanfare: Rashmika Mandanna in the lead, Gowtam Tinnanuri directing, Anirudh Ravichander composing, and Kamal Haasan giving the first clap.
This op-ed asks a harder question: when does tribute become exploitation?
Arguing that M.S. was a private, spiritually oriented artist who disliked the spotlight offstage, it contends that the endless cycle of articles, statues, awards, and now a high-profile biopic risks turning her into a brand.
The piece calls for homage that honours the art—paataantharam, discipline, humility—rather than PR-heavy pageantry.
If we must celebrate, let it be through performance, archival rigour, and restraint in iconography.
Celebrate Sadasivam if you must; leave Subbulakshmi alone.
“Sri.Tyagaraja, the Kutcheri World, and Nadopasana”: Thyagaraja Cultural Trust commemorates the Centenary of its past Chairman Sri. M. Krishnaswami
by M.K.Sudarshan August 4, 2026: Chennai, India Did Tyagaraja ever imagine, in his own lifetime, that his compositions would one day become the staple fare of a vast Carnatic music kutcheri circuit, sustained by sabhas, sponsors, reputations, and an entire performing ecosystem? Probably not in any literal sense. He was not writing for a concertContinue reading ““Sri.Tyagaraja, the Kutcheri World, and Nadopasana”: Thyagaraja Cultural Trust commemorates the Centenary of its past Chairman Sri. M. Krishnaswami”
Sri Thyagaraja, the undeclared Sri Vaishnava “prapannan”
Like millions of Rasikas all over the world , I too consider myself an ardent Sri Thyagaraja bhakth who loves so many of the saint’s exquisite kritis and often, whenever swept away by the mood, I do sing a few of them in the privacy of my home purely for the delight of my ownContinue reading “Sri Thyagaraja, the undeclared Sri Vaishnava “prapannan””
The Carnatic Music world quietly forgot (maybe even forgave?) Kamal Hassan deriding Saint Thyagaraja… but not this feisty Muslim woman!
The whole world of Carnatic Music aficionados, institutions, Vidwans, Rasikas and musicologist should watch this video-clip below and hang their collective heads in shame and sin. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DLUSD44eC/?mibextid=wwXIfr The Muslim woman castigates Kamal Haasan for having disgraced Sri Thyagaraja once when he spoke during an Instagram Live conversation with actor Vijay Sethupathi on May 4, 2020.Continue reading “The Carnatic Music world quietly forgot (maybe even forgave?) Kamal Hassan deriding Saint Thyagaraja… but not this feisty Muslim woman!”
The “Marghazhi Music Season, Chennai”: A festival of “divinity” travesty
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JH6uPKxpJ/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JH6uPKxpJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr The Marghazhi Music Festival Season in Chennai is fast turning into a jamboree of circus stunts by various performers. And the audiences today who go to these performers go there not to enjoy true classicism of Carnatic music but to be entertained by the travesties of it delivered by so-called young “innovative” , “revolutionary”Continue reading “The “Marghazhi Music Season, Chennai”: A festival of “divinity” travesty”
The song of the Madras “IIT-ians”: a song of hope or lamentation?
Listening to this song filled my mind with mixed feelings . As a schoolboy in the 1960s I remember walking or bycycling 🚴 to school along the River Adyar . On a clear day I could see the river flow by in all its silent glory … the waters were clean , the river banksContinue reading “The song of the Madras “IIT-ians”: a song of hope or lamentation?”
A mobilising of conservatives: TM Krishna’s troubles echo a Tamil short story from 1967
A mobilising of conservatives: TM Krishna’s troubles echo a Tamil short story from 1967http://dhunt.in/XQa4Q (The News Minute 2 December 2024) This Op-Ed piece is complete nonsense . No one in the Brahmin community of Carnatic music rasikas has ever disdained T M Krishna’s so-called “progressive liberal” efforts to take Carnatic music to the masses inContinue reading “A mobilising of conservatives: TM Krishna’s troubles echo a Tamil short story from 1967”
Prof. David Schulman and Sangitha Kalanidhi-designate T.M. Krishna: “birds of a feather”?
The Madras Music Academy’s (MMA) invitation to its c. 1500 members has just been sent out to them today. I am a long-time member and I had mixed feelings swirling through my mind as I read the invite card. I was mystified by the presidential choice that MMA has made. To me it seems trulyContinue reading “Prof. David Schulman and Sangitha Kalanidhi-designate T.M. Krishna: “birds of a feather”?”
A cultural maelstrom in a teacup called the Madras Music Academy caused by T M Krishna?
(DISCLAIMER : at the outset , let me say clearly that I am aware that the subject matter of this blog is presently “sub-judice” in the Madras High Court. It is not my intention at all to make any sort of comment whatsoever on what the Honourable Court is seized of . The focus ofContinue reading “A cultural maelstrom in a teacup called the Madras Music Academy caused by T M Krishna?”