Karnatic music season

[CHANDRU1849]

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Karnatic Music Season has commenced in Chennai in Margazhi. It is a
unique music festival, which doesn't have similar festivity in any other
part of the world, it is said.

Of course, Karnatic Music has its own controversies.

TM Krishna, a male vocalist, in an interview, has said that Karnatic
Music has its own Religious and Caste equations. He added that it
has to spread its wings in a such way that Dalits will also participate
in music and get Sangitha Kalanidhi award. He further said that Nagaswaram is being played only by Vellala community.

It seems Karnatic Music has its own peculiarities like inner politics,
personality cult, preferences (caste/sect), public relations,
recommendations etc. If you are not a good public relations man,
getting award, especially National Award, is very difficult.

For example, V V Subramanyam (Violin Maestro), and Dr T K Murthy (Mridanga Chakravarthy - 90 years old and performved more than 15,000 kutcheries), both accompanied MS Subbulakshmi in most of the concerts, are not suitably awarded, while MS Subbulakshmi was awarded with
the highest civilian honour - Bharat Ratna.

Earlier gems (Mega Stars) on their own, like GNB, Madurai Mani Iyer
and Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer were also not properly honoured.

Like Politics, it is time for refinement in Karnatic Music for recognition
of musicians and also to make it global.​

 

[sangom]

Karnatic Music Season has commenced in Chennai in Margazhi. It is a
unique music festival, which doesn't have similar festivity in any other
part of the world, it is said.

Of course, Karnatic Music has its own controversies.

TM Krishna, a male vocalist, in an interview, has said that Karnatic
Music has its own Religious and Caste equations. He added that it
has to spread its wings in a such way that Dalits will also participate
in music and get Sangitha Kalanidhi award. He further said that Nagaswaram is being played only by Vellala community.

It seems Karnatic Music has its own peculiarities like inner politics,
personality cult, preferences (caste/sect), public relations,
recommendations etc. If you are not a good public relations man,
getting award, especially National Award, is very difficult.

For example, V V Subramanyam (Violin Maestro), and Dr T K Murthy (Mridanga Chakravarthy - 90 years old and performved more than 15,000 kutcheries), both accompanied MS Subbulakshmi in most of the concerts, are not suitably awarded, while MS Subbulakshmi was awarded with
the highest civilian honour - Bharat Ratna.

Earlier gems (Mega Stars) on their own, like GNB, Madurai Mani Iyer
and Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer were also not properly honoured.

Like Politics, it is time for refinement in Karnatic Music for recognition
of musicians and also to make it global.​

Tabras are probably the only ones worried about Carnatic Music; other people of TN just take it (CM) very casually. CM has therefore become a preserve of tabras of Madras city and that too a coterie. But one will find equally good, if not better, CM in AP. Hence, my view is that we need not view CM as limited by the music season of Chennai.

Regarding MS, the story is not worth writing in public but her closeness to Nehru family gave her even the Bharat Ratna (for what?).
Today's gennext is hardly bothered about CM. But some tabra families still tend to send their daughters to learn Cm or veena to the innumerable women who scrape a source of living by giving such tuition to all and sundry.

 

[Vaagmi]

Tabras are probably the only ones worried about Carnatic Music; other people of TN just take it (CM) very casually. CM has therefore become a preserve of tabras of Madras city and that too a coterie. But one will find equally good, if not better, CM in AP. Hence, my view is that we need not view CM as limited by the music season of Chennai.

Regarding MS, the story is not worth writing in public but her closeness to Nehru family gave her even the Bharat Ratna (for what?).
Today's gennext is hardly bothered about CM. But some tabra families still tend to send their daughters to learn Cm or veena to the innumerable women who scrape a source of living by giving such tuition to all and sundry.

Dear Sri Sangom,

This is again an extreme view. Yesterday I had attended a programme in the Kamarajar Arangam Chennai. The crowd there was mixed. I could find many muslim women too attending the programme. The music season in Chennai is a unque one. There is no use deriding it or discounting its popularity. No brahmin has ever claimed that CM is the exclusive property of TBs. Gen next is also attending the programmes. There are people from various towns who take a leave from whatever they are doing atleast for a week to come to madras and attend the programms here. You find the room occupancy full and overflowing during music season in hotels. Even lodges are fully occupied.

 

[renuka]

Out here in Malaysia O.S Arun had a concert once and the hall was packed with people...so I dont think only TBs appreciate CM.


I only like 2 Carnatic Music songs...Vara Leela Gana Lola and Sarasa Netra both by Thyagaraja using the western note.

Otherwise I kind of prefer "1 2 3 4 Get on the Dance Floor Dapankuttu"! That makes you want to get up and dance!

 

[SANDHYAV]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aC03IXOyc0&list=PLjf53zQNe5hZm7OP0S-ebRoj8ZJpc7qca

I am gonnu be the kid-rasika than that analytical critic this season!

 

[sangom]

Dear Sri Sangom,

This is again an extreme view. Yesterday I had attended a programme in the Kamarajar Arangam Chennai. The crowd there was mixed. I could find many muslim women too attending the programme. The music season in Chennai is a unque one. There is no use deriding it or discounting its popularity. No brahmin has ever claimed that CM is the exclusive property of TBs. Gen next is also attending the programmes. There are people from various towns who take a leave from whatever they are doing atleast for a week to come to madras and attend the programms here. You find the room occupancy full and overflowing during music season in hotels. Even lodges are fully occupied.

Dear Shri Vaagmi,

May be the truth lies somewhere in between our two views, may be. It is an accepted truth that the Chennai CM circuit is a close preserve of a coterie of tabras; I don't know whether this coterie again has anything to do with region, sub-caste or some such things. The aberrations in awarding/delaying the Sangeeta Kalaanidhi title itself is known even in internet pages.

As of today, the money power behind CM is wielded by the more powerful Sabha Secretaries and the whole Chennai Music Season has become, for quite some years now a pure "business" proposal much like the Trissur Pooram. Muslim ladies may be seen in the audience probably because they may be learning hindustani music (some progressive muslims are aping brahmins but confine their learning to hindustani only).

If you will talk to any CM bhagavathar even from the southern districts of TN you will come to know the truth in my post.

With Jaya TV and margazhi maha utsavam, the music season has become more commercialized. And if one goes deep into CM, all the high-sounding theory will prove to be a big "venkaayam" á la XXX of this forum

 

[Raji Ram]

There are great Muslim musicians in Carnatic music. :thumb:

Sheik Chinna Moulana

Arabhi - Shri. Sheik Mahaboob Subhani. Smt. Kalisha Bee Mahaboob

And....... Some people are ready to find fault with everything and everyone on the earth!

 

[CHANDRU1849]

Tabras are probably the only ones worried about Carnatic Music; other people of TN just take it (CM) very casually. CM has therefore become a preserve of tabras of Madras city and that too a coterie. But one will find equally good, if not better, CM in AP. Hence, my view is that we need not view CM as limited by the music season of Chennai.

Regarding MS, the story is not worth writing in public but her closeness to Nehru family gave her even the Bharat Ratna (for what?).
Today's gennext is hardly bothered about CM. But some tabra families still tend to send their daughters to learn Cm or veena to the innumerable women who scrape a source of living by giving such tuition to all and sundry.

CM in AP was popularized by late Prof T R Subramaniam, who died recently.

Of course, MS was a very popular person, even though her appearance was different. MS was not only close to Nehru Family, but Rajaji as well, the 'Big Zero' of Tamil Nadu Politics.

The Bharat Ratna came to her in the 1996-97 when United Front Government was in power, at the insistence of Karunanidhi and Moopanar. Karunanidhi was a staunch supporter of MS, due NB lineage.

At the time of DK Pattammal's death, Karunanidhi, when he was the Chief Miniser, didn't have even the basic courtesy of giving any condolence message.

 

[sangom]

There are great Muslim musicians in Carnatic music. :thumb:

Sheik Chinna Moulana

Arabhi - Shri. Sheik Mahaboob Subhani. Smt. Kalisha Bee Mahaboob

And....... Some people are ready to find fault with everything and everyone on the earth!

Some info about Sheik Chinna Moulana for those who may not know:

Sheik Chinna Moulana (Telugu: షేక్ చిన్న మౌలానా) (May 12, 1924-April 13, 1999) popularly known as Sheik was a legendary Nadhaswaram Player in the Carnatic tradition. He achieved high position through his outstanding control over the instrument, rendering the Krities in the Gayaki style and for his extraordinary style of Raga Alapana.

Sheik Chinna Moulana was born in Karavadi Village, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Even at very early age he achieved proficiency in Nadhaswaram, first under the tutorship of his father Sheik Kasim Sahib and later Nadhaswara Vidwan Sri Throvagunta Shaik Hassan Saheb ( NadhaBrahma , Nadhaswara Dhaksha (Ref from "Andhrapradesh Nadhaswara & Dolu Kalakarula Charithra") and later under Sheik Adam Sahib, a renowned Nadhaswaram player of Chilakaluripeta, Andhra Pradesh. Recognizing the importance and the role of “Thanjavur Bhaani” (style of playing) he very much wanted to get trained in this. With this in view, he was under the tutelage of M/s. Rajam and Duraikannu brothers of Nachiarkovil (Thanjavur District – Tamilnadu) for some years.

Sheik Chinna Moulana hails from a family of Music (Nadhaswaram Players). The ancient and traditional art of Nadhaswaram playing had been preserved and fostered by the ancestors of Sheik Chinna Moulana, for the past 300 years. Following is list of the doyens who contributed to Chinna Moulana’s tradition.
1. Vidhwan Adam Sahib – known for his expertise in the “Ragha – Devagandhari”.
2. Vidhwan RasavAripalem Kasim sahib – deeply learned and could answer any doubts on music.
3. Kommur Pitcha sahib – enriched the art of Nadhaswaram.
4. Vidhwan Chinna Moula Sahib and Pedda Moula Sahib brothers- Chinna Moula was well versed in Sanskrit epics like Ramayanam and Amaram and could expound these epics in Telugu.
5. The Kommur brothers Pentu Sahib and Silar sahib – were called geniuses for the raghas Kalyani, Bilahari & Kedharagowla.
6. Chinna Peeru Sahib and Peddha Peeru Sahib Brothers – were famous for their proficiency in the Raghas Saveri and Abheri. Chinna Peeru was honored with the title ‘Nadha Brahma”.
7. Sheik Adam sahib of Chilakaluripeta – Guru of Dr.Sheik Chinna Moulana – acclaimed fame for his Ragha Alapana.
8. Sheik Madar Sahib – Sheik Kasim Sahib Pair – were also geniuses. Madar Sahib was Chinn Moulan’s Uncle and Kasim sahib was Chinna Moulana’s father.

(Sheik Chinna Moulana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Hence it was one Sheik Chinna Moulana, and that too from AP among 20 lakhs or so Muslims in T.Nadu. (Tamil Muslim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) How do we reconcile with the "all-knowing" adage There are great Muslim musicians in Carnatic music.?

Shri. Sheik Mahaboob Subhani. Smt. Kalisha Bee Mahaboob do not rank equal to Sheik Chinnamoulana. But even the latter had to wait till the very end to get his "sangeetha Kalanidhi"!

 

[sangom]

CM in AP was popularized by late Prof T R Subramaniam, who died recently.

Of course, MS was a very popular person, even though her appearance was different. MS was not only close to Nehru Family, but Rajaji as well, the 'Big Zero' of Tamil Nadu Politics.

The Bharat Ratna came to her in the 1996-97 when United Front Government was in power, at the insistence of Karunanidhi and Moopanar. Karunanidhi was a staunch supporter of MS, due NB lineage.

At the time of DK Pattammal's death, Karunanidhi, when he was the Chief Miniser, didn't have even the basic courtesy of giving any condolence message.

I am not aware whether CM in AP is so recent when they had composers like Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadasu, etc., even very much earlier!

Even from my post above, it will be seen that the family of Sheik Chinna Moulana were adept in CM for nearly 300 years.

What I have heard was that Nehru had taken a liking (?) for MS and that was what catapulted her into (undeserved) fame. DKP has a place of high honour in the minds of all those who value "shuddha sangeetham".

 

[CHANDRU1849]

I am not aware whether CM in AP is so recent when they had composers like Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadasu, etc., even very much earlier!

Even from my post above, it will be seen that the family of Sheik Chinna Moulana were adept in CM for nearly 300 years.

What I have heard was that Nehru had taken a liking (?) for MS and that was what catapulted her into (undeserved) fame. DKP has a place of high honour in the minds of all those who value "shuddha sangeetham".

There may be lot of composers from AP, but CM was well organised after 1950s.

Per information, till mid 1950s, there were no Sangitha Sabhas in AP. Sanghita Sabhas were started by the Late Prof T R Subramaniyam, when he was transferred to AP from Delhi.

Ragam, Tanam and Pallavai was also introduced by him. As usual, he was not
considered properly.

This was disclosed by Malladi Brothers in their concert on 5th Oct 2013 at Music Academy, the very next day after TRS expired. They said they owe a lot to him. Similar expressions were expressed by Priya Sisters, who belong to AP.

For some time, CM in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai, becomes highly cast ridden and in some case sub-sects also play a major role.

 

[krish44]

I am a delhi tamil . I try to be in chennai during dec. jan during music season
some of my loves
Staying in woodlands with other oldies from all over the world . they offer an excellent buffet breakfast and tanjore meals
Sabha hopping and enjoying couple of concerts a day
I like instrumentals,veena Rajesh vaidya and saxophone Kadiri gopal nath
vocals sowmya and Jayasree,krishna,sanjay subramaniam
some sundry andhra vocalists incase it is free
atleast one dance programme
one drama
one pattimanram chaired by solomon papaia
one light music program with film singers
I also enjoy the cuisine at sabha sites
above all the weather in chennai . nice and moderate cold far away from biting cold of delhi
I have no interest in music politics