The Madras High Court restrained the Music Academy on Tuesday from presenting the Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subulakshmi award to Leftist activist TM Krishna. In an interim order, Justice G Jayachandran said that the Madras Music Academy can present the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ award to TM Krishna, but the name of legendary artist MS Subulakshmi shall not be added to it.
Srinivasan, the grandson of MS Subbulakshmi, and her legal heir, had moved the High Court challenging the Music Academy’s decision to award controversial artist TM Krishna in his grandmother’s name. Music Academy’s plea against Srinivasan’s petition has been dismissed by the court. Notably, MS Subbulakshmi, the legendary Carnatic singer, said in her will in 1997 that no memorials, foundations, or trusts be established in her name.
The court determined that Srinivasan, as the will’s beneficiary, had the locus standi to contest the presentation of the award. “The best way to honour a departed soul is to honour and respect her wish and not to disrespect her. If any person is really having reverence and regard to MS Subbulakshmi, after knowing her desire and mandate, should not continue to give awards in her name,” Justice G Jayachandran’s order noted.
The Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subulakshmi award has been started to honour the Madras Music Academy each year. A number of singers and artists have objected to the Academy choosing controversial artist TM Krishna for this year’s award. Earlier this year, several musicians, including the Trichur brothers and Dushyanth Sridhar, 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.
The artists are miffed with the Chennai-based academy’s decision to bestow the honour, considered the Oscar equivalent in Carnatic music, on the 48-year-old vocalist. Krishna was picked to preside over the 98th annual conference and concerts of the Madras Music Academy later this year in December.
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