Kanimozhi backs TM Krishna on music award, says hate "uncalled for"

"@tmkrishna being recognised as Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy has ruffled the feathers of parts of the music fraternity. The hate he is receiving for his social beliefs or his engagement with Periyar is uncalled for. A basic reading of Periyar's ideas shows us that he is one of the greatest feminists the world has seen. He never called for a genocide," Kanimozhi posted on X.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Kanimozhi on Thursday backed carnatic vocalist TM Krishna amid protests by several artists who have protested the Sangitha Kalanidhi award for him. "@tmkrishna being recognised as Sangita Kalanidhi by the Music Academy has ruffled the feathers of parts of the music fraternity. The hate he is receiving for his social beliefs or his engagement with Periyar is uncalled for," Kanimozhi posted on X.

"A basic reading of Periyar's ideas shows us that he is one of the greatest feminists the world has seen. He never called for a genocide," the DMK leader said. "This hate, similar to the hate filled speech given by the BJP politician in Karnataka recently. Maybe they don't believe in the freedom of thought and expression that our country believes in," she said in an apparent reference to the recent remarks by Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje over the the Rameshwaram cafe blast in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, several musicians have pulled out of Madras Music Academy's annual December conference to protest the Sangita Kalanidhi award to Krishna, who they allege has "glorified Periyar" and vilified the Carnatic music community. Krishna will preside over the 98th annual conference and concerts of the Madras Music Academy later this year, in December.

The sibling duo of Srikrishna Mohan and Ramkumar Mohan, otherwise known as the Trichur Brothers said participating in the year-end festival conference hosted by the Academy will make them "outright hypocrites in our own eyes." They took to social media platform X to write, "Formal announcement that we are pulling out of the Annual Conference 2024 of The Music Academy , Madras, for obvious reasons. To participate in a conference presided by Mr TM Krishna would make us outright hypocrites in our own eyes. Sincerely, Trichur Brothers."

Yesterday, renowned Indian classical duo Ranjani and Gayatri said their participation in this year's conference under TM Krishna's presidency would constitute a "moral violation." They accused Krishna of causing "immense damage" to the Carnatic music world by "wilfully and happily" stomping over the sentiments of the community and said he "insulted most respected icons like Tyagaraja and MS Subbulakshmi"

Musician and composer Chitravina Ravikiran also expressed his discontent over the decision and mentioned, "RETURNING SANGITA KALANIDHI AWARD from ACADEMY: I've taken this step after careful consideration as principles much larger than all of us are at stake. However I'll always remain deeply grateful to the org for its role in my career from childhood #musicacademy #award #Music" Vedic Speaker and writer Dushyanth Sridhar said that he won't be performing at the academy's upcoming music festival in protest.

He mentioned, "#Astikas - I have conveyed to the Madras Music Academy that I will not be performing on the 1st January 2025 (after the sadas). Below is a copy of the letter drafted to them." "I have no authority to question the selection of his name for the award. I am pained by many of his public statements on Dharma, Ayodhya, Sri Rama, and more," he wrote.

He also attached a copy of the letter he wrote to the President of the Music Academy outlining his ideological disagreements with Krishna as well as his reasons for declining to perform. Historian Vikram Sampath supported the move by the renowned Carnatic musicians and vocalists like Vishakha Hari, Dushyanth Sridhar, Trichur Brothers among others.

He mentioned in his post, A big shoutout to the immense courage of conviction showed by artists like @ranjanigayatri @dushyanthsridar @TrichurBrothers Vishakha Hari & most of all @ravikiranmusic 's bold step of returning the Sangitha Kalanidhi award in the wake of @musicacademyma's foolish, suicidal & self-serving move. A quiet revolution brews & hope other Carnatic musicians who revere the composers & our Gods join ranks to demonstrate how some things are simply non-negotiable!" Musician Vishaka Hari said that Krishna has previously "engaged in a lot of slandering" and hurt the sentiments of many "tremendously and wilfully."

They also accused him of vilifying the Carnatic music fraternity that has collectively contributed millions of hours of artistry, hard work and literature. "It's dangerous to overlook Mr TM Krishna's glorification of a figure like EVR who 1. Openly proposed a genocide of 'brahmins' 2. Repeatedly called/abused every woman of this community with vile profanity 3. Relentlessly worked to normalize filthy language in social discourse," they posted on X.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by N Murali, President of the Madras Music Academy said the distinguished recognition for Krishna is for "his powerful voice", "adherence to tradition when it comes to the art", "focusing on its exploratory as opposed to tightly defined structures" and for using music as "a tool for social reform". Krishna thanked the Music Academy and termed it "special" moment. He wrote in a social media post on X, "I am happy that The Music Academy, Madras is honouring me with the title Sangita Kalanidhi, for the year 2024. It is without doubt the highest honour for Karnatik musicians. At this moment I thank my family, my Guru-s and co-musicians for their selfless giving.."

Krishna has often spoken out against conventional ideas of caste and gender politics in the existing Carnatic music system and also been vocal about the non inclusiveness of the famed December music season in Chennai, also known as the Marghazi season. He had also started a music festival in the fishing village of Uroor-Olcott Kupppam. An economics graduate, Krishna was a musical prodigy who started learning music from Bhagavathula Seetharama Sharma, followed by lessons from Carnatic vocalist Chingleput Ranganathan and Semmangudi Srinivas.

Krishna is the grandnephew of former Indian finance minister TT Krishnamachari, who is among the founders of the Madras Music Academy. According to a press release of the Music Academy, the Sangita Kalanidhi awardee will preside over the academic sessions of the 98th Annual Conference and Concerts of The Music Academy to be held between December 15, 2024 and January 1, 2025. (ANI)

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