The Times Thyagaraja Awards announced

[VijayR]

The Times Thyagaraja awards have just been announced and the winners for this year are Ramakrishnan Murthy, K. P. Nandini, and Vignesh Eswar. See news article below:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ente ... 564844.cms

While I have not heard Vignesh, I did hear Ram multiple times this past season and Nandini as well (although as an accompanist on the violin and not vocal). Congratulations to all of them; I am so glad to see them receive such well-deserved recognition and encouragement at this early stage in their careers. Still remember the absolutely wicked ragamalika viruttam (Kathalagi kasindhu) that Ram sang in NGS... Absolutely top-notch! I heard from multiple people that his academy kutcheri was stellar as well (I missed that one).

Of late, there seems to be an excessive number of (somewhat cynical?) posts on these forums expressing (in various flavors, some explicit and some in a more subtle way) the sentiment that today's musicians are not really worth listening too... I, for one, am very optimistic that CM is very safe (and if anything, will only reach new heights) in the able hands of the large number of supremely talented young artists of today.

[VK RAMAN]

When did Times of India get into Carnatic Award? Who are the judges and is this award based on the knowledgeable judges attending various concerts in Chennai and throughout Indian cities? Does this award go with monetary benefit too? Interesting!

[kedharam]

"I, for one, am very optimistic that CM is very safe (and if anything, will only reach new heights) in the able hands of the large number of supremely talented young artists of today"

amen:):):)

[VijayR]

When did Times of India get into Carnatic Award? Who are the judges and is this award based on the knowledgeable judges attending various concerts in Chennai and throughout Indian cities? Does this award go with monetary benefit too? Interesting!

Th process is mentioned in the article (although not in any detail)... Evidently, sabhas were asked to nominate artists based on their performances in the season. The nominees were asked to sing before a panel of judges, who made the decisions. Not sure how many judges, but Smt. Aruna Sairam and violinist Dr. Lalitha were two of them.

[VK RAMAN]

Thanks Vijay

[tkb]

Congrats to all the winners and TOI for the effort!

[harimau]

When did Times of India get into Carnatic Award?

Anybody can get into the Awards Business.

Give the equivalent of $1000 and tell some sabha to award the cash to someone.

The sabha will happily accept the money and do the dirty work involved.

That the same old retreads will get the money is something that you cannot control.

But you can control that by selecting the awardee and getting the sabha to hand out the cash during their Inauguration of the December Season too.

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

[VijayR]

That the same old retreads will get the money is something that you cannot control.

@harimau: I understand that you have a cynical view about this (which, obviously, you are fully entitled to), but I can only request you to refrain from making such statements in the context of this thread. It is very discouraging (and outright insulting) to the talented young artists who have gotten this award. I can assure you that none of them is old (in age or otherwise) and even more so, that none of them is a retard. It is easy for any of us to mouth off on a forum (I don't mean this in a disrespectful way), but please pause a bit before penning down such opinions...

[vasanthakokilam]

Vijay: I can understand your problem with harimau's built-in cynicism on these matters on a thread started by you with joy and celebration. If the 'r' word is the most objectionable, harimau actually wrote 'retread' and not 'retard'. Had he said 'same old retread'.. that may have communicated it better. Still it is a downer..

On his point, if one is shelling out the money for the award, they should also select the awardees and not leave it to the sabhas. Now, that is an interesting thing. Does it usually happen that way? I guess in the case of TOI, they are footing the bill and so it is in accordance with that principle, in the sense they specified the process.

[sureshvv]

On his point, if one is shelling out the money for the award, they should also select the awardees and not leave it to the sabhas. Now, that is an interesting thing.

This really piqued my interest. May be we should have an "All-Star" type ballot for a dozen different categories (best korvai, best abhang etc.), that can be handed out during the season at all the sabhas with some nominees and the winners can be declared in early January. May be even call it the "Rasikas choice" awards!

Now who is ready to run with this?

[vasanthakokilam]

Sounds like an excellent idea, Suresh!

[harimau]

Vijay: I can understand your problem with harimau's built-in cynicism on these matters on a thread started by you with joy and celebration. If the 'r' word is the most objectionable, harimau actually wrote 'retread' and not 'retard'. Had he said 'same old retread'.. that may have communicated it better. Still it is a downer..

I think both Vijay and you have eyes that load data into your CPUs faster than the CPUs can process the data. I did say "the same old retreads"!

I meant no disrespect to the young artists who got the Times awards. My point was about the same people getting titles and cash awards from several different sabhas for nothing other than the fact that they are currently at the top of the heap.

On his point, if one is shelling out the money for the award, they should also select the awardees and not leave it to the sabhas. Now, that is an interesting thing. Does it usually happen that way? I guess in the case of TOI, they are footing the bill and so it is in accordance with that principle, in the sense they specified the process.

A couple of years ago, the organizer of a small sabha asked me for my opinion on who he should give the senior of the two awards (with a purse of Rs 25,000) to. When I mentioned the name of a respected vidushi who has since been recognized by the Music Academy, his answer was that the sponsor who was going to pay the purse money had laid down certain conditions; among which were, someone who is better known, is popular among the (unwashed) masses, has at least a Padma Sri, etc. In this case, it ended well because the chosen recipient fulfilled almost all of the conditions but the fact that a well-respected vidushi who is an excellent teacher as well was rejected causes me to look at the awards handed out by sabhas with a jaundiced eye.

Recently, a person I know instituted some awards through the Brahma Gana Sabha. The selection was left to a committee of judges, Smt S Sowmya being one of them. The awards went to Trichur Ramachandran, Akkarai Subbulakshmi and two others whose names escape me.

Imagine someone giving Rs 100,000 as the purse. The sponsor wants publicity, wants to see photos splashed in newspapers, wants to be lauded by the press, etc. Excellent artists without mass appeal do not stand a chance under such conditions.

Just check out how many awards/titles popular performing musicians got in Dec 2011. That will justify my phrase "the same old retreads".

[VijayR]

I think both Vijay and you have eyes that load data into your CPUs faster than the CPUs can process the data. I did say "the same old retreads"!

@harimau: You never cease to be hard-hitting, do you? Thanks for the clarification... my bad, then!

[Ranganayaki]

I think both Vijay and you have eyes that load data into your CPUs faster than the CPUs can process the data. I did say "the same old retreads"!

[vasanthakokilam]

harimau: OK, mea culpa. That one little phrase of yours was potent

But you also need to acknowledge Vijay's anguish that at least in one case where they are giving awards to non-retreads, you need not have rained on that good parade by airing your angalaippu about the 'same old retreads' issue.