The Supreme Court on Monday restrained Carnatic singer TM Krishna from identifying himself as the recipient of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi Award. The court also barred Krishna from presenting himself as a recipient of the award, which was formed by The Hindu Group. The directive follows an interim order issued by the Madras High Court on November 19, which had restrained the Madras Music Academy from presenting the awards under its current name.

The petition against Krishna was filed by V Srinivasan, grandson of famous singer MS Subbulakshmi, who objected to Krishna receiving the award. Srinivasan alleged that Krishna made “despicable, derogatory and condemnable” comments on social media about his grandmother, which, according to him, tarnished her legacy and made Krishna ineligible for the honour.

The Supreme Court made it clear that its order should not be seen as a reflection on the Madras Music Academy, The Hindu Group or Krishna’s musical abilities.

The controversy has deeply divided the Carnatic music community. Harikatha exponent Dushyant Sridhar as well as singer duo Ranjani and Gayatri have protested against the decision to honor Krishna by withdrawing from the prestigious Sangeet Academy convention 2024.

Ranjani and Gayatri, who were scheduled to perform on 25 December, announced their withdrawal at the X, citing opposition from Krishna, who was presiding over the conference. Similarly, Dushyant Sridhar, a distinguished Vedic scholar, wrote to the Sangeet Academy saying that performing immediately after Krishna’s recognition would be disrespect to his gurus.

Why is TM Krishna controversial?

TM Krishna, recipient of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award, has long been a prominent and controversial figure in the Carnatic music world. Known for his unconventional approach to art and outspoken political views, Krishna has often been at the center of debate within the traditionalist community.

Carnatic music, deeply rooted in devotion and spirituality, traditionally features compositions in praise of Hindu deities, primarily in languages ​​such as Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil. However, Krishna has expanded this repertoire to include songs based on Carnatic ragas in Bengali, Malayalam, Hebrew and even Arabic.

His presentation of secular poetry, such as the works of Perumal Murugan, and works addressing contemporary issues such as industrial pollution, represent a significant deviation from the norm.

Critics argue that Krishna has undermined the long-standing traditions of Carnatic music by performing Christian and Muslim compositions, and suggest that he has done so with an agenda to destroy the genre.

However, TM Krishna emphasizes its role as an abstract art form, saying that Carnatic music transcends religious boundaries. He also organizes concerts in metro stations, buses and slums as a means of demonstrating that Carnatic music is highly inclusive and accessible to all. He argues that the content of the songs – whether Hindu, Christian or Muslim – does not determine the authenticity of Carnatic music.