Will The Real TM Krishna Please Stand Up?

Intellectual Honesty Demands That TM Krishna Decline The Sangita Kalanidhi Award

Dear Reader,

The calm world of Carnatic music has been stirred up by the Music Academy's announcement of this year's Sangita Kalanidhi winner, T M Krishna. Known for his controversial views, Krishna's selection has sparked outrage among traditional Carnatic music enthusiasts.

Krishna's musical talent is undeniable, However, accepting the award from the Music Academy, an institution Krishna has criticised for its exclusivity and conservatism, raises questions about his principles.

But this won't be the first time Krishna's career is standing on a crossroad of contradiction and consistency. The self-proclaimed champion of inclusivity has passionately railed against the influence of film sensibilities on Carnatic music. Krishna has waded from thundering against Thyagarajar's krithis for being casteist and sexist to asserting that he would continue to sing them till his death.

My senior colleague Balakumar has bluntly narrated this all in his inquisitive article: Intellectual Honesty Demands That T M Krishna Decline The Sangita Kalanidhi Award

As Krishna moves to receive the award from the Sabha he has spent his life attacking leads us to the question: Is the rebel after all ready to become a part of the establishment and were his rebellion's contradictions an exercise in convenience?

Until next time.

Bhuvan Krishna