A Carnatic Musician Thodur Madabusi Krishna or TM Krishna was awarded the Sangita Kalanidhi Award 2024 by Music Academy Chennai on March 18th. This turned into an ideological battle between Dravadian and Brahminism.
Music Award Controversy
Controversy started after singer duo Ranjani and Gayatri issued a public statement on March 20th, stating that they were withdrawing from the Music Academy Award Conference. Several Carnatic singers supporting singer duos alleged that TM Krishna had immensely harmed the Carnatic music world with his activism.
The duo also criticized TM Krishna for ‘glorification’ of Periyar, head of Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu, and an anti-caste rationalist.
Who is TM Krishna?
TM Krishna, a social activist, author, and Carnatic vocalist, has frequently called out Brahminical hegemony in the Carnatic music industry.
He a Brahmin himself, has openly criticized the industry, its attempted monopoly over the Carnatic music industry, and its gatekeeping of artists from other communities. He often denounced casteist and elitist practices in the classical art industry.
In 2017, TM Krishna made remakes about renowned Carnatic musician MS Subbhulakshmi, at a talk in Hyderabad. He stated that MS Subbhulakshmi distanced herself from her Devadasi origins and identity to gain wider acceptance and became an ‘ideal Brahmin woman’.
He further questioned, ‘If MS’s voice came from a dark, non-upper-caste beauty-ish lady, would all of us celebrate her like we do today? Her music was what it was because of the sorrow in her.”
The Music Academy Response
The Music Academy President N Murali said on Thursday, that Ranjani and Gayatri’s statements were “replete with unwarranted and slanderous assertions, and insinuations verging on defamation.”
He added that choosing the awardee of Sangita Kalanidhi was the prerogative of The Music Award.
Also Read: Kalamandalam Sathyabhama’s casteist remark on male Mohiniyattam dancer triggers row in Kerala
