Podcast interview by Mycarnatic

[jeevanraju]

I had a chance to listen the interviews in the podcast site http://www.mycarnatic.org/podcast/.

While most interviews deal with musicians and their expertise I was curious by the ones by Cleveland Sundaram and another one after his. The latter’s interview was lengthy but the content perhaps warranted the length. This guy, I believe is based in the US, brings out pointed questions that need answers. He talks about “industrialization” of CM which perhaps makes sense given the proliferation. This is impossible with a “volunteer” attitude. When something is done by volunteers there is no accountability, no expectations other than to fulfill the ego of the “volunteers”. I couldn’t but connect this interview with that of Mr Sundram, an MBA from the US and most qualified to “industrialize” CM in North Amercia. Has he done that or is he striving to do that? This is the million dollar question. Mr Sundaram gave a historic perspective of the Aradhana which is good. But beyond that it was disappointing, more pompous if I may say so. Let me briefly touch upon some aspects

(1) Mr Sundaram says that very senior artists sit as judges in the competitions which they will never do in Chennai. The problem is most participants are students (thanks to Skype) of these very judges and invariably they all get prizes. Last year there were several first prizes in some categories, obviously to please all the judges who are also teachers of the participants. One suggestion; let the participants be judged by any musician other than their own teachers. Make sure the participants don’t tell the name of the gurus. It is irrelevant. The vidwans from India can ask intelligent questions but not judge.

(2) Mr Sundaram says 5-6 slots are provided out of 65 to NA artists. Is this a reasonable number to “encourage” NA artists? And that too these artists are featured in the afternoon slots when the so-called “senior artists” are taking a nap in Comfort Inn! There are competitions in several fields and winning those mean something. What about Cleveland? The winners are not deemed fit even for a prime slot in Cleveland and how can they expect a slot at the Music Academy?

(3) Mr Sundaram talks about recognizing NA artists by giving them an “award” that they will receive along with other award winners from India.A welcome gesture. But the last years choice is simply inexplicable. What has that artist done except that she is a medical student at Stanford? There are so many NA artists who have taken CM seriously and are much better at it. Obviously Mr Sundaram is enamored by “medical” student “Stanford” etc. What is more, with all the title and award she was asked to perform at 2PM!

(4) Mr Sundaram boasts of the concert competition and the audience response to it. He is right about it. But then the winner of the competition is asked to give a performance at 1PM. Is that what the winner deserves? Why not ask him/her to perform at 6PM? If these artists approach Chennai sabhas they will easily get few slots in December albeit in the afternoon. Cleveland is doing no favor to them.

My observation is Mr Sundaram or for that matter any organization in the US is run by people who are steeped in a Chennai culture bag that they carry around and all they have accomplished is to transport a Mylapore Fine Arts or Krishna Gana Sabha to the US. As long people with that back ground and “genes” continue to be in charge, nothing will change.

I have no personal issues with Mr Sundaram. I challenge him to conduct Cleveland Aradhan one year with no competitions. The turn out will be what he saw in 1970. Of course he will not do it since competitions are a cash cow. The recent “money making” schemes followed by Cleveland Aradhana validates my observations.

On a personal request, Mr Sundaram should avoid using names. When you recite 2-3 names of artists as crowd pullers and deserving of major attention and mention other names as “upcoming and potential” etc, it is too judgmental and harms the scores of others who don’t feature in the “list”. This is poor interview skill.

J Raju

New Jersey

[mohan]

On a personal request, Mr Sundaram should avoid using names. When you recite 2-3 names of artists as crowd pullers and deserving of major attention and mention other names as “upcoming and potential” etc, it is too judgmental and harms the scores of others who don’t feature in the “list”. This is poor interview skill.

Haven't heard the podcast but I don't find any issue with using names. I am sure the names used were just an example. Just because some people were mentioned it does not mean that others are not worthy.