Controversy Erupts as Carnatic Singers Protest TM Krishna’s Award and Withdraw from Music Conference
Recently, renowned Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna was honored with the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award by the Music Academy, sparking a heated controversy within the Carnatic music community. In response to this award, Carnatic vocalists Ranjani-Gayatri and Harikatha exponent Dushyanth Sridhar decided to withdraw from the Music Academy Conference 2024, citing their objection to Krishna’s participation.
The decision by Ranjani-Gayatri and Dushyanth Sridhar to withdraw from the conference was announced on social media platforms, where they expressed their concerns about TM Krishna’s actions and statements. They pointed out that Krishna’s views and glorification of certain figures, such as EVR (Periyar), who advocated extreme measures against specific communities, have been divisive and controversial.
Ranjani and Gayatri emphasized that TM Krishna’s conduct has caused significant damage to the Carnatic music world and has disregarded the sentiments of the community. They also mentioned Krishna’s remarks about revered icons like Tyagaraja and M S Subbulakshmi, which they deemed disrespectful and harmful.
The controversy deepened as other musicians and vocalists joined the protest against TM Krishna’s award. Vocalist Vishakha Hari and the Trichur Brothers also expressed their disagreement with the decision to honor Krishna and announced their withdrawal from the Music Academy’s Annual Music Conference.
The President of the Music Academy, N Murali, responded to the protests, defending the decision to award TM Krishna based on his musical excellence and career achievements. He criticized the public nature of the protest letters, calling them unwarranted and discourteous.
In a significant development, Carnatic music stalwart Chitraveena Ravikiran decided to return his Sangita Kalanidhi award in protest against the values being glorified by the Music Academy. Ravikiran expressed his concerns about the impact of honoring individuals who, in his view, undermine the cultural and artistic values of the Carnatic music tradition.
The controversy surrounding TM Krishna’s award highlights the complex dynamics within the Carnatic music community and raises important questions about artistic expression, cultural values, and the responsibilities of artists and institutions. As the debate continues, it underscores the deep-rooted passion and commitment of musicians and artists to uphold the integrity and heritage of Carnatic music.