T. M. Krishna Explained

T. M. Krishna
Caption:T. M. Krishna at Kollam, Kerala, 2021
Background:solo_singer
Alias:TMK
Birth Date:1976 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Madras (now Chennai),
Tamil Nadu, India
Genre:Indian classical
Occupation:Singer, Lecturer, Author, Activist, Writer
Years Active:1988–present

Thodur Madabusi Krishna (born 22 January 1976) is an Indian Carnatic vocalist, writer, activist, author and Ramon Magsaysay awardee.

In the year 2016 he was awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for “his forceful commitment as artist and advocate to art’s power to heal India’s deep social divisions, breaking barriers of caste and class to unleash what music has to offer not just for some but for all”.[1] As a vocalist, he has made a large number of innovations in both the style and substance of his concerts, thereby inviting controversy from some quarters.

Krishna was conferred the Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2024 by the Madras Music Academy.[2]

Background and personal life

Krishna was born in Madras (now Chennai) on 22 January 1976, the son of T. M. Rangachari and his wife Prema Rangachari.[3] His mother and maternal uncle Dr. Sriram Subramaniam founded and ran a school named Vidya Vanam for tribal and underprivileged students in Anaikatti, Tamil Nadu.[4] Krishna is the grand nephew of Congress politician and freedom fighter T. T. Krishnamachari (former Indian finance minister and industrialist), who was also one of the founding members of the Madras Music Academy.

Krishna is an alumnus of The School (Krishnamurti Foundation of India), Chennai. Krishna received his B.A. degree in economics from Vivekananda College, University of Madras. He is married to Sangeetha Sivakumar, a reputed carnatic musician[5] and they have two daughters.

Career

Both of Krishna's parents had deep interest in the arts, especially Carnatic music. His mother had received music lessons in her childhood in the typical south Indian style, and had even taken a degree in Carnatic Music.[6] Krishna's parents ensured that he received exposure to the classical arts from a young age. They arranged for him to receive music lessons from a very young age. Krishna began his musical training under Bhagavathula Seetharama Sharma. He later underwent special Ragam Thanam Pallavi grooming under Chingleput Ranganathan and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

Krishna's performing career began at the age of 12 with his debut concert at the Spirit of Youth series organised by the Music Academy, Chennai (India). He has since performed widely at various festivals and venues across the world, including the Madras Music Academy, National Centre for the Performing Arts (India), John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, to name a few.

His music is often appraised as being soulful and full of 'raga bhava'. Among his many renditions, some of the most popular among his listeners include 'Jambupathe' in Yamunakalyani and 'Manavinala' in Nalinakanthi. His music during the last decade was reputed for his powerful, deep voice and his ability to sing rapid swaras in many rare ragas. He now shows a focus on Neraval, an improvisational form which he believes has been distorted over the ages. He is also famous for his 'innovations' in the method he presents his concerts, one of the primary issues that purists have being that he renders varnams (traditionally introductory pieces) in the middle of a concert. He is also working towards a project in which Dikshithar compositions from the Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini are rendered exactly according to their notation in the book.[7]

Krishna speaks and writes about a wide range of issues, not confined to the cultural sphere. His interests span the breadth of leftwing activism, be it the environment, the caste system, social reform, religious reform, combating communalism, innovation in classical music and so on. He has started and is involved in many organizations whose work is spread across the spectrum of music and culture. Recently, he has spoken out against the revocation of Article 370,[8] and the destruction of statues of Lenin, Ambedkar, Gandhi and Periyar.[9]

Krishna is part of the team of activists that organizes the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Festival in Chennai and the Svanubhava initiative in Chennai.[10] [11] He has been part of inspiring collaborations, such as the Chennai Poromboke Paadal with environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman.[12] He has collaborated for performances with the Jogappas (transgender musicians) and has brought on to the concert stage the poetry of Perumal Murugan.[13] He also speaks in various conferences and academic institutions, including Harvard University, Chennai Mathematical Institute, the Indian Institutes of Technology, and the Indian Institutes of Management.

Among his awards are the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (2016) in recognition of ‘his forceful commitment as artist and advocate to art’s power to heal India’s deep social divisions’, the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (2017) for his services in promoting and preserving national integration in the country, and the Professor V. Aravindakshan Memorial Award (2017) for connecting Carnatic music with the common man.[14]

The song 'Venpura' of the movie Gypsy (2019 film) directed by Raju Murugan is Krishna's first playback song. Santhosh Narayanan is the music director.[15]

Books

Articles and lectures

Krishna also frequently writes on topics ranging from music (including its practice, musicians, history and future) to society, culture, politics and religion. His articles have been published across most leading Indian newspapers and magazines such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Outlook, India Today, and Open, as well as several online portals such as Scroll, The Wire, DailyO, and Firstpost. Krishna has also delivered lectures at a variety of institutions, including leading universities across the world. Noteworthy among these lectures are:

In 2016, along with Gita Jayaraj, Dr A. Mangai, S. Nandagopal, and Baradwaj Rangan, Krishna taught a semester long course called Indian Art in Context at Chennai Mathematical Institute.[30]

Initiatives and collaborations

Chennai Poromboke Paadal[12]

The Chennai Poromboke Paadal music video was released on 14 January 2017 on YouTube. An initiative by T. M. Krishna and environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman - the Tamil song was written by Kaber Vasuki and composed by R. K. Shriramkumar, and the video was directed by Rathindran Prasad. The video featured Krishna performing in and around the Ennore creek and highlighted the environmental damage done to the creek by the power plant in that region, Ennore Thermal Power Station. The music video trended on YouTube India for a week after its release becoming the first Carnatic song to trend on YouTube. The song's title contained the word "Poromboke" which formerly meant land of the commons but has become a popular swear word. The music video also garnered attention for combining Tamil slang dialect with carnatic music. The song is a raga-malika and is based on the ragas Anandabhairavi, Begada, Hamir Kalyani, Devagandhari, Salagabhairavi and Sindhubhairavi.[31] [32]

Kodaikanal Still Won't[33]

Krishna collaborated with rap and gaana kuthu artists in this multi-genre music video in protest of multinational Unilever's double standards and its refusal to apply the globally accepted environmental standards in India. Directed by film maker Rathindra Prasad, this was a second video after the original Kodaikanal Won't video which protested Unilever's 2001 dumping of toxic mercury in the South Indian hill town of Kodaikanal, which is said to have poisoned its workers and the forest.[34]

Chennai Kalai Theru Vizha (formerly Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha)

Krishna was part of the team that started this festival with an aim to heal art, and help art heal by opening art and artists to new audiences and different environments. The festival made its debut in January 2015 at Urur-Olcott Kuppam in Chennai. In 2016, it was designed also as a celebration to help relieve some of the trauma suffered by people hurt by the 2015 floods, and as a thanksgiving to the many who assisted with relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Today, the Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha is now Chennai Kalai Theruvizha, a new avatar that will begin exploring new locations around the city in collaboration with local communities.

Activism

T. M. Krishna is an activist against caste discrimination. He also advocates for environmental activism and LGBTQ+ rights. He received media spotlight when he boycotted the Chennai Music Season citing caste favouritism in the Carnatic Music system.[35] He was involved with various organisations to bring Carnatic Music across the rural areas and to support underprivileged artists.

Political views

He has been a strong critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Sangh Parivar. He accused them of launching an unrelenting offense of hate and violence against minorities, their cultures, identities and their rights as India's equal citizens. He also alleged that they have made people believe that Hindus are under threat and have made mostly Muslims and Dalits as their main targets.[36] [37] In August 2018, Krishna received threats from right-wing groups after he sang Christmas hymns. He announced that he would release one Carnatic song about Jesus and Allah every month.[38]

In April 2019, he asked the people of Kerala to vote wisely and not to believe in the alleged misinformation propagated by the BJP that Hinduism is not safe in Kerala.[39]

Krishna is a critic of Israeli policy.[40] [41] In 2022, Krishna signed onto the Musicians For Palestine pledge, refusing to perform in Israel following the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.[42]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TM Krishna, the man who used music to heal India's deep social divisions. 2016-07-27. The Indian Express. en-US.
  2. News: Sangita Kalanidhi award for T. M. Krishna, Nritya Kalanidhi for Neena Prasad . 17 March 2024 . The Hindu.
  3. Web site: Vidya Vanam - School For Underprivileged Children - Provide Schooling For Underprivileged Rural Indian Children. Vidya Vanam - School for Underprivileged children. 2016-12-01.
  4. Web site: Vidya Vanam - School for underprivileged children. Vidya Vanam - School for Underprivileged children.
  5. Web site: Sangeetha Sivakumar. www.facebook.com.
  6. Web site: Indian Classical Music Society of Chicago - T. M. Krishna.
  7. Web site: Jnanarnava Trust - Home. jnanarnava.org. 2019-02-19.
  8. Web site: Article 370 revoked: Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna responds to the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir through poetry, music. 7 August 2019.
  9. Web site: Perumal Murugan's Poem in Solidarity with Statues Set to Music by T. M. Krishna.
  10. News: An alternate space for art to thrive. Parshathy J.. Nath. The Hindu. 18 January 2018. www.thehindu.com.
  11. News: For the young, by the young. The Hindu. 2 November 2017. www.thehindu.com.
  12. Web site: Chennai Poromboke Paadal ft. TM Krishna. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/82jFyeV5AHM . 2021-12-21 . live. Vettiver Collective. 14 January 2017. YouTube.
  13. News: T. M. Krishna to lead a concert for equality in Bengaluru. Ranjani. Govind. The Hindu . 17 February 2016. www.thehindu.com.
  14. News: Magsaysay award for Wilson, T. M. Krishna. Correspondent. Special. The Hindu. 2016-12-01.
  15. News: Every artist would love to be a gypsy in spirit, says TM Krishna. Ramanujam. Srinivasa. 2019-05-28. The Hindu. 2019-05-29. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  16. News: In his new book, TM Krishna explores how caste oppression invisibilised India's mridangam-makers . Arshia. Dhar . Firstpost. . 3 February 2020.
  17. News: Keeping the cow and brahmin apart . The Hindu . 30 January 2020 .
  18. News: Reshaping Art review: The art world as a free space. Murali. Sivaramakrishnan. The Hindu. 7 April 2018. www.thehindu.com.
  19. Book: RESHAPING ART: Harnessing art for social change. 1 September 2018. ALEPH. 978-9386021977.
  20. Web site: The myths and misconceptions around MS Subbulakshmi, India's most acclaimed musician.
  21. News: Make classical music accessible to the masses: Amartya Sen. The Hindu. 17 December 2013. www.thehindu.com.
  22. Book: Krishna, T. M.. A Southern Music: Exploring the Karnatik Tradition. 21 April 2015. Harpercollins. 978-9350298213.
  23. Book: RAMIN. ASHIS NANDY- A LIFE IN DISSENT. 1 September 2018. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS. 978-0199483945.
  24. Web site: Book Review: Ashis Nandy: A Life in Dissent. 13 May 2018.
  25. Web site: 19th Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture today:Carnatic musician T. M. Krishna will deliver the Oration. 28 July 2018.
  26. News: Nationalism debate rages at Ramjas - Times of India. . 21 February 2018 .
  27. Web site: Crossing the line.
  28. Web site: T M Krishna – Dr. Ashok da Ranade Memorial Trust. ashokdaranade.org.
  29. News: Kumar Gandharva Memorial Lecture. The Hindu. 20 September 2014. www.thehindu.com.
  30. Web site: Chennai Mathematical Institute. 2020-06-18. www.cmi.ac.in.
  31. News: Here comes the Chennai Porombokkku Paadal - Times of India. The Times of India. 2017-03-09.
  32. News: Notes from the south. Rangan. Baradwaj. The Hindu. 2017-03-09. en.
  33. Web site: Kodaikanal Still Won't. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UhZz5vKi01c . 2021-12-21 . live. jhatkaa. 29 June 2018. YouTube.
  34. Web site: Kodaikanal Won't– It still won't. 24 June 2018.
  35. Web site: Who is TM Krishna?. 2018-11-15. The Indian Express. en-US.
  36. Web site: Request people to reject PM Modi, BJP: Musician TM Krishna. India Today. en. 2020-04-27.
  37. Web site: The TM Krishna column: Why the Hindu majority must push back against the BJP's politics of hate. Krishna. T. M.. Scroll.in. 25 July 2017 . en-US. 2020-04-27.
  38. News: Tilak. Sudha G.. Indian musicians threatened over Christian hymns. 2018-08-15. BBC News. 2020-04-27. en-GB.
  39. Web site: 'Hinduism safe in Kerala, don't believe lies propagated by BJP': T. M. Krishna. The Week. en. 2020-04-27.
  40. Web site: Krishna . T. M. . On Israel-Palestine, false equivalences based on ignorance, prejudice . 2023-11-07 . Deccan Herald . en.
  41. News: 2017-07-01 . T. M. Krishna writes about the human impact of the Israel-Palestine crisis . en-IN . The Hindu . subscription . 2023-11-07 . 0971-751X.
  42. Web site: Our names . https://web.archive.org/web/20220927125619/https://musiciansforpalestine.com/our-names-2-0 . 2022-09-27 . 2023-11-07 . Musicians for Palestine.