New look of MA - SK awards

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 29 Jul 2013, 02:23

Congratulations all around.

I don't want to be the lone curmudgeon here. With all due respect, I think the award is premature and it is a profound insult to the more senior and deserving artistes. TVG and VVS join the list of legendary artistes including MDR, Pazhani, Lalgudi, TNR and others.

While I appreciate the youth, the pattu pudavais and the huge blob of trademark malligai that have become emblematic of Sudha, I find that she is substantially weak on the theoretical aspects of musicianship and mentorship that we often associate with people who have achieved the status of Sangeetha Kalanidhi. It is always said that one does not get the award, one becomes it.

Yes, I understand that the award ushers in a new era and perhaps a generational shift in the roster of Sangeetha Kalanidhis. I just did not think we were quite done with the earlier era yet! We are after all a music based on tradition and bound by seniority & respect. Why the rush to move on to the next phase?

I don't mean to rain on Sudha's parade. But someone has to point out the emperor's new clothes. She would have qualified for the award in her own time with the natural flow of events. This is not the breaking of a mythical glass ceiling anymore. Again with all due respect Sudha has not shattered any barrier that MSS, DKP, MLV, Brinda, Vedavalli, Mani Krishnaswamy, Sikkil or Bombay sisters didn't.

This is the dawning of the age of the Marghazhi couture not culture.

My sincerest congratulations to the other awardees Vocalists D. Pasupathy and Kalyani Sharma: for the Sangita Kala Acharya awards. Prapancham Sitaraman and senior nonagenaraian mridangist Thanjavur Ramamoorthy: for the TTK award. R.S. Jayalakshmi for the musicologist award. And the Pappa Venkataramaiah award recipient Sri H.K. Narasimhamurthy, especially noteworthy in the year that marks the passing of the great Sri MSG.

".She was the unanimous choice. The award to her represents the transition from musicians from yesteryear to the next generation,” said N. Murali, president of the Music Academy."

Word on the street is that in Sri Murali's dictionary the words unanimous and unilateral might be synonymous.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Jul 2013, 03:23

The award to her represents the transition from musicians from yesteryear to the next generation...

I don't think that was a good thing to say. I'm glad to see a younger person honoured, and I don't think that 'being old' should be a criterion for the award, but these words sound too like saying it's going to be youngsters from now on. That wouldn't be right either: far too many great oldsters remain.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jul 2013, 03:37

Mahavishnu,
Points to ponder, definitely.
And we also know that the world kept changing rapidly--even the old CM world.

There is a parable there somewhere in all this.
At some point, the CM scene started struggling to keep up with the popularity of the cinema, then television. And then, color television, commercial television, all consuming television.
Sponsorship came to the rescue.

As for the Hindu, a newspaper where you did not see any color ad at all, at some point started sporting them even on its revered front page! Home life in TN changed too, celebrations of weddings and birthdays started reflecting the popular culture which surrounded it.

I keep harping on the differences between the olden times which is reflected in vintage pictures and what we see today. Dress does not make a man (or woman), but it's truly indicative to a degree, of the way of life and how individuals express themselves.

The poll which was started here did not favor Sudha at all. Even the one vote came after the news broke, as srkris noted. Those rasikAs and performers who are into the popular CM culture may call this a supercilious attitude!

Art reflects life, and even the maDi sanchi (orthodox) form of CM had to make way for new trends (though the canteen fare isn't going to change their menu to usher in gObi manchurian and such!).

Personally, I was hoping that a veteran was going to get it this year. The golden girl would have satisfied my wanting a woman winning the award, even if the top contenders (in my view) did not win.

If at all a younger person, why not Ravikiran?...I did wonder.

Yes, the arts reflect life in another way too. Think of this: "We want our most accomplished and beautiful daughter to marry a music-loving man, coming from a highly cultural family, looks are not important, nor money", some folks say, and the next thing you know, they are bragging about their tall and handsome son-in-law who's making millions. Music appreciation? Don't ask.He loves doing night clubs...

Now that we have a winner, I'm happy a woman won, a smart and talented woman won the prize.

How about all the veterans who deserved an SK? well, SK does not mean what it used to mean--and that's what it is...

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 29 Jul 2013, 04:16

If the choice of Smt. Sudha can divide us, it sure must have divided the Academy's selection committee as well. There goes the "unanimous" claim of Mr. Murali out of the 'window of reasonable probability'.

However, what is always the case is that musicians are all judged by the rasikas, and no two musicians are considered equal by a discerning rasika even if they both happen to be Sangeetha Kalanidhis. People will continue to have their own preferences. It's not that Smt. Sudha is going to gain an incremental massive following due to this award, is it?

SivaSiva · Post by **SivaSiva** » 29 Jul 2013, 04:51

Conferring SK is MA decision and not the entire CM world.

I think the whole SK process appears to be a very private affair between receiver and giver, whatever may be criteria used in scope and selection,filter etc.,
Since MA owns the SK title, it can change, from to time the selection criteria and it is best left to them what they will do with it.

If they mess, SK will lose its value/importance/recognition and there will be consequences, short or long. So the system will self correct in the long run if there are mistakes in the selection process.

After all, these awards are not from heaven nor has divine endorsement that CM is.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 29 Jul 2013, 05:01

Much awaited SK award for 2013 is in. There may be differences of opinion. Many of us consider MA as the last bastion of Traditionalism in CM. Some of us may be stunned by the selection process. SK is considered the pinnacle of achievement in CM. In many cases creativity and originality stops after getting the SK award. Many of us consider that Age and Experience are important and the award honours our Aging veterans. There is an invisible queue in our minds among the eligibles. Once when I mentioned SK nomination to Sanjay he quickly remarked: " Sure I would love to get it! After many years!"
Now by the present trend who will be the next SK?
Roll the dice.
Will it be Abhishek Raghuram/V Sankaranarayanan or even Bharat Sundar..
All bets are on!
Pl discuss and express your views in a "decent" language...

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 29 Jul 2013, 05:24

Very well said, mahavishnu. I have nothing to add except that this choice is nothing but a cheap publicity stunt for the MA- a way of getting attention via glamour, brahmam okaTE, and kATRinilE varum gItam. It is a triumph of form over substance. If the Academy were even serious about this alleged transition from the "old" (and pray tell me what is wrong with the old?) to the "young", knowledgeable vidwans and teachers like Neyveli Santanagopalan, Ravikiran, Vijay Siva, and R.K. Shriramkumar would have bridged this divide admirably and less contentiously.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 29 Jul 2013, 06:54

At some point, the CM scene started struggling to keep up with the popularity of the cinema, then television. And then, color television, commercial television, all consuming television.
Sponsorship came to the rescue.

Arasi, While I agree with you in parts, I think the history of this era needs a closer look. I was very much a member of this generation you speak of. It wasn't just the CM scene that was struggling then. A whole generation of young middle-class, educated Indians (pre-liberalization etc) felt extremely disenfranchised. Many looked to other sources, nations and musical systems for inspiration in this age of economic and cultural uncertainty.

At that time, efforts by people like Vijay Siva, RKSK, Arun Prakash (also Sanjay, Sowmya, BJ and others) were instrumental in introducing this generation back to the glory of Carnatic music through YACM.

Sudha was already on the scene then as an upcoming musician, independent of the YACM movement. I recall her as being brilliant, true to the MLV style, taking on tough pallavis and packing a lot of power in her brighas. She was equally active in the AIR/Doordarshan with M.B.Srinivasan's choir (with Rajkumar Bharathi et al). They had such a unique way of delivering Bharathi's songs!

The relentlessly commercial age came later, possibly in the mid-nineties and with this came the advent of the "sponsorship" era as you call it. And yes, Sudha certainly rode the tides of this era with surgical perfection. Following the larger migration of Indians abroad (and not just CM intellectuals), Sudha's popularity grew by leaps and bounds. From Malaysia/SGP, the old tamil diaspora in the Indian Oceanic islands to the more standard Indian code coolies (to borrow Harimau's term) in the West, Sudha carried her stardom and popular appeal. And continues to do so.

But it was not through the power of GNB/MLV style, but as Bilahari observes, through encores of "brahman okate" and faux-bhava versions of "katrinile" and "vishamakara kannan". Yes Aal pAdi and Adai pAdi, but there is precious little room for negotiation at the 50% boundary

Yes, these are certainly contributions worthy of note. But Carnatic music has always remained an elite musical form and the MMA its grand impregnable fortress. While popular appeal has always been a desirable trait, it does not replace rigor, scholarship and the fastidious route to perfection established by the past masters.

On a slightly different note, I am not even certain if the sponsorship era has been good for CM. It took the pockets of power from the cognoscenti to money launderers, shady silk saree dealers around Panagal park and tax dodgers who put their excesses into CM in the form of largesse and received prominent positions on sabha boards in exchange. One might say that is the zeitgeist of the times and a walk around Luz Church or Usman road will illustrate the cultural state of affairs in present day Chennai.

Many of us consider that Age and Experience are important and the award honours our Aging veterans. There is an invisible queue in our minds among the eligibles

Very good point, CML. In essence what this invisible queue does is that when one person moves ahead out of turn, the ones who were already waiting in the ranks do not see the award as being valuable anymore. So, yes there is an implicit order that comes with age/seniority in this process. It would take some serious convincing to make a veteran-in-waiting accept this award after this year's announcement. But then again, Sri Murali has surprised us in the past with his powers of persuasion.

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 29 Jul 2013, 07:40

God save MA !
Thanjavooran
28 07 2013

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 29 Jul 2013, 07:44

As long as guru-shishya parampara exists, as long as CM is a musical form rooted in tradition, one should ponder deeply before discarding veteran and much-loved musicians of yester-years in the consideration for awarding SK.

If MA and Mr. Murali decided to go for the modern, concert-puller, prime of one's career, musically highly active type of artiste, it is easy to see how Sudha qualifies. She also has many admirable qualities including her activities in social welfare.

Mahavishnu has listed several extremely important considerations. It's not very different from cricket actually. The way BCCI is bedding with corporate houses and money bags is influencing world cricket and creating new gods, with helicopter shots and brand depots. Winds of change. Period.

On the other hand, if one were to read for example the last 3 years of The Hindu coverage of CM, especially the season, I think one could have predicted this outcome or change of course sooner than later. We as rasikas have to contend with the winds blowing over MA if not CM itself. That's just it.

Maybe the way is for other awards to be recognized as equally important as SK. What needs to be done for that? How can or should rasikas.org institute an award?

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 07:55

atrocious! i hearby mourn the "expert" committee and condole the decision. I am seriously thinking of boycotting music academy this december. I have nothing personal against the kalanidhi designate, in fact i am great fan of GNB, MLV and TSK. there are are many more worthy artists needing recognition. I am sure more of them will decline the award when their "turn" comes...

If at all academy want to transition to next generation, sanjay would have been apt choice.

long live expert committee

Extremely painful to read that expert committee is unanimous in this choice..this goes without saying that lobbying still exist...i heard from unconfirmed sources that she is one of popular choice right during May itself

I can write pages and pages on this topic, but holding off right now to avoid emotional thinking :-BD

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:05

CML,
You and I are the only senior rasikAs in this discussion, it seems. Well, Nick is lagging behind, but catching up. You still seem to see the aged waiting on the line (I do too, but let's say I'm disenchanted enough to say que sera sera).

The interesting thing about this thread is that Mahavishnu who could be in age my son and Bilahari a grandson, are not only agitated by it all, but want the tradition to stay the way it was! Srkris is between them in age!

Mahavishnu,
You know I'm an admirer of your keen intellect and your wealth of knowledge in many things--your feel and care for CM is appreciated by so many here, let alone me. Rajesh, Semmu, Srikanth, Bharath and others--all belong with you in keeping the old traditions.

Yes, you were very much there when the changes came, and observed the phenomenon closely (sorry for making a generalized statement on that).

Being the oldest mega award, SK still carries with it a lot of weight, I suppose! There again, all the hype which surrounds it, will help to keep it that way. And like the groundhog watchers, we will all get excited about it, come summer!

The appreciation of serious CM will go on too, with the younger generation of discerning rasikAs.

When there are a hundred and one awards given every year by other big and small sabhas so that shawl merchants can catch up with sari vendors in making a fortune, why should we be bothered? That's what I feel.

As it's believed, we who have left the native CM scene seem to be caring for our music more, accompanied by our regard for the musicians who are truly the masters. Cleveland is not only an example for it, it has been instrumental in dusting off old treasures of musicians and in bringing them to our attention.

Not a bad idea, if Rasikas.org can honor two musicians (one vocal) and one instrumentalist every year, by honoring them with a purse and with a no hoopla of an event! Just their music and a few words of appreciation, and the great facility of watching all this from wherever we are!

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:14

"Not a bad idea, if Rasikas.org can honor two musicians (one vocal) and one instrumentalist every year, by honoring them with a purse and with a no hoopla of an event! Just their music and a few words of appreciation, and the great facility of watching all this from wherever we are!"

Sangeetha priya is already doing this...can this esteemed forum join hands, and strengthen this further?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:17

That the committee was unanimous in the choice--is a worrying statement, I agree. It may be indicative of what's coming--that the older musicians may not be considered for the award, and even among younger ones, the choice will be for a musician who has most popularity...

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:33

why not aruna sairam then? She has very great bhavam, great diction, and excellent crowd puller... may be she is "old" ?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:37

When there are a hundred and one awards given every year by other big and small sabhas so that shawl merchants can catch up with sari vendors in making a fortune, why should we be bothered? That's what I feel.

Well articulated, Arasi. If it were a dime-a-dozen award, then I suppose none of us would take the affair of these nominations so seriously. But this is the equivalent of the Carnatic Nobel, which comes with the added responsibility of chairing the academic proceedings of the conference. Hence we probably take these processes more seriously than we should

I had just booked my tickets for my music season pilgrimage yesterday. Your more recent post reminds me that there is a whole generation of musicians that will not be performing for much longer and I have to make it a point to see them before a complete changing of the guard!

bilahari · Post by **bilahari** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:37

Pattamaa, that's exactly what I was thinking! How funny it is that Aruna, who is the natural inheritor of this throne, may be too old for consideration!

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:41

arasi wrote:Not a bad idea, if Rasikas.org can honor two musicians (one vocal) and one instrumentalist every year, by honoring them with a purse and with a no hoopla of an event! Just their music and a few words of appreciation, and the great facility of watching all this from wherever we are!

Is this a serious suggestion? I do not find anything wrong with the idea itself, but what will ensure that our selection is any less contentious than M.A.'s selection? Will the selection committee be a group of purists?

That apart, there are various sabhas and organizations doing the same thing i.e. recognizing the vidwat of musicians and giving awards. Why one more?

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:42

My well-placed source tells me that AS's name did come up, but was not considered further for being weak on the "service/mentoring/training" component! But I wouldn't quote me on it :-$

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jul 2013, 08:59

Mahavisnu,
Thanks

Carnatic Nobel? History and the venue make it so, I suppose.
A Nobel laureate himself was part of it a few years ago, and a couple of others were patrons earlier on

On seeing your new post about Aruna: really?!!
Somehow, the word 'unanimous' had a dramatic impact on me and I thought, as soon as they sat down to 'discuss', they all said "Sudha!" in unison, rose, and returned home

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 29 Jul 2013, 09:47

'Somehow, the word 'unanimous' had a dramatic impact on me and I thought, as soon as they sat down to 'discuss', they all said "Sudha!" in unison, rose, and returned home

[/quote]

Arasi, that is what I thought too!

Yes, what will be will be.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:01

arasi wrote:Somehow, the word 'unanimous' had a dramatic impact on me and I thought, as soon as they sat down to 'discuss', they all said "Sudha!" in unison, rose, and returned home

At least, they did not have to send out plumes of black or white smoke!

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:12

Accepting and receiving SK award is like facing the veiled waterloo, more than an accolade. Most musicians start wasting away after receiving it. Many middle aged musicians suddenly tend to age after that. So, it is all the same if given to older people who wld even otherwise age naturally or youngsters who have achieved the 'pinnacle' and don't know what to do. Why bother! ymwhisle

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:13

Of course it must have been unanimous
I mean un animous- without any animus (enthusiasm)!
Our respect for SK is dead! Long live SK!

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:22

Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen,
But this banter seems, to my limited mind, a bit excessive if continued in this vein, and then there will be no winners.

Let us celebrate the newly named SK.

rananthga · Post by **rananthga** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:25

If you measure SK worthiness by the impact that individual has had on the growth / appreciation of CM across the world - I'd argue Sudha definitely deserved it. While staying within the boundaries of chaste carnatic music and bhakti to her guru MLV - she's popularized it to many parts of the world. While this can be viewed as a controversial decision, I cannot imagine any year - where SK announcements have not been without controversy. When it comes to awards like this - a highly subjective process left to the whims and fancies of a few in the committee - we should expect these things.

However - I do feel saddened by Murali's statement (about transition from yesteryear to new generation) - my dear TVG sir, VVS, Kanyakumari, OST, NSG, Guruvayur Dorai Sir etc. are not considered SK worthy anymore ??. There are so many "endharo mahanubhaava's" whose contributions to music has been unparalleled. Before they signal the end of yester-year artistes, MMA should do something to honor these individuals.

This leaves me with a question - what's really the purpose of SK?

1. Is it a career booster?
2. Or acknowledgement of culmination of an amazing impact an individual has had on CM?

If SK is viewed as a career booster - I'd ask what's the point in giving this to someone in their 70's? If SK is an acknowledgement of the culmination of a successful journey then there are several deserving folks that need to be recognized before Sudha.

mahavishnu · Post by **mahavishnu** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:31

Following RSachi's sage advice, I am happy to move on (albeit begrudgingly so).
Congratulations again to Smt Sudha Raghunathan!

And in the prophetic and immortal words of Bob Dylan from 1964:

"Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'. "

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:37

>> Let us celebrate the newly named SK.

Exactly.. i haven't attended her concert often... can some technically equipped person review her recent concert without any bias or being judmental on following

1. patantaram, sangathis intact on well known keerthanas - are sangathis adultrated/modified ?
2. manodharmam - alapana, neraval, swaram - how much of her school stamp is intact, and how much is her contribution
3. RTP - what's the complexity, and what's new
4. thukkada/post tani section

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 10:39

"with any bias" => should read as "*without* any bias" ...sorry about that

Corrected. -
Moderator

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 29 Jul 2013, 11:00

Hi,

I didn't want to take lead in stirring up the hornet nest. I fully agree to pattamaa Posts: 142. The fact that mr murali had to say that the decision was unanimous... we can be sure that there was something...
hard lobbying and what not.... the charm of sk has gone... with due respect to the sk designate... let me say its too early for her to take an award like sk... whatever may be the moto of MA.... this has brought down the weight of SK....

I had posted some honest opinion about other stuff much earlier in rasikas.org only to receive brickbats

so refrained from commenting...

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 29 Jul 2013, 11:00

In the spirit of what Sachi has said, I guess one has to accept that every year the choice is bound to leave a segment of us disappointed, but at the same time, one should probably also acknowledge that at the very least, the past several choices, including this year's have passed the red-face test. I may be setting the bar too low, but given the history of the MMA, I think the test is the answer to the following question: Was it awarded to avert a suicide! :p

raghavt · Post by **raghavt** » 29 Jul 2013, 11:04

"Was it awarded to avert a suicide!" hahaha l liked it rshankar sir... that was too good.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 29 Jul 2013, 11:08

Or, probably a one-up on Bombay Jayashree who failed to win the Oscars

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 29 Jul 2013, 13:02

It certainly was not unanimous--anonymous sources tell me that when these-- initial discussions came up for SK there was a drum-beat for Sudha but Murali was quoted to be ambivalent and is purported to have remarked Ippo Enna Avasaram(a la Tiger style of remark purportedly made to LGJ's father in the early forties when LGJ's father persisted in requesting Tiger to sit thro' LGJ's maiden debut@ the Thyagaraja Aradhana--LGJ must have been 12 or 14 @ that time!).
I agree with Mahavishnu on most of the points. But my take on this--- based on my late father's interactions with the MA authorities over time--the initiative had steadily shifted from the Musicians who used to form the Experts Committe which used to choose the SK to the Executive Committee.All sorts of pulls and tugs dominated the discussions with no transparencies or criteria for selection ever laid down orally or written. The slights and insults to veterans like TMT or LGJ and many others too proudto toot their horns--all these have eroded the credibility and respect for MA amongst the Musical fraternity over the years--the Rasikas opinion expressed thro fourms like ours seldom made any impression on the MA authorities.
Even the when the Doyen of CM Music was alive(SSI) they(MA)selectively used his endorsement as a good Housekeeping Seal of Approval but more often ignored his recommendations. In fact MA got SSI "trapped" in the TMT=TNK SK selection process--forumites might recall(those old enough to be around @ that time) TMT was the original recipient for that year and he had also been informally sounded about it but before they could make it official, several forces vigorously campaigned for TNK and "steamrolled" the Committee in favor of TNK much to the embarassment of TMT who was so outraged that he had to be assuaged that he would be the nominee for next year--an unusual step inasmuch as the awards are decided only annually and not in advance-- and SSI was torn(afterall both were his disciples) but unable to stop/stall the process acqiesced in it with a warning to the MA folks that given that TMT is a principled man if they played this hanky panky again there would be serious consequences to the reputation of the MA. SSI personally appealed to TMT to accept the title when proposed--after demurrhal TMT agreed ---. still seething with the feeling of betrayal by his own guru.
Caveat: If I am not mistaken this was the first time two disciples of the same guru were honored consecutively not because of "due process" but because of extraordinary machinations and manipulations.

It is sad that all the prior lessons have not been learned and the MA has not thought of a "fair selection" process that enhances the credibility to music lovers all over the world--we all have our favorites but if given the right background of information,I believe we --CM lovers are reasonable people who would go along with the selection.
Rsaachi: I agree the banter may seem excessive but this forum's views --collective I might add--need to be vented not that this would be a factor in the selection process!!!

sruthi · Post by **sruthi** » 29 Jul 2013, 13:27

Wasn't Semmangudi himself just 39 when he got the SK award in 1947? I am sure several senior artistes at the time must have been equally upset by the decision of MA, as now.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 29 Jul 2013, 14:09

Dear Rasikas,

MA should not use ACHARYA awards to deny SK award.There is a great vidwan Sri Madurai GS Mani.His music is scholarly.
Definitely in any scale Sri Madurai GS Mani is a SK.He has been awarded Acharya a few years ago.
TVG,OST,Vijaya siva still stand a chance of becoming SK as they have not been conferred ACHARYA.Pl correct me if I am wrong.
It is difficult to digest this year's SK award.It would be good if the award criteria is transparent.

satyabalu · Post by **satyabalu** » 29 Jul 2013, 14:15

* My best wishes.
* She is popular. However, I do not think she gives Lec-Dems . as compared to her contemporaries.
* For her lineage she can give presentation of specialities of her Guru viz., Purandaradasa, Rare ragas, Sruti bedam,Dikshidhar kriris including Sri Viswanatham -Raga malika, Ekamberasa nayike-Poorvi kalyani...(neraval in "Omkara rupam sivam") &GNB favourites. to suggest a few.
* I also want to know details of her disciples who are performing.
* Curious to know if she can play any instrument besides being a vocalist.?
* She can use her celebrity status for furthering her mission of organising benefit program for the underprivileged.
* Any compositions /added chiitai swaram for any kriti? published any books/research papers in India /Abroad.?
* Any jugalbandi done by her ?

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Jul 2013, 14:33

cmlover wrote:Now by the present trend who will be the next SK?

On the one hand, one event doesn't make a trend, and, with an annual event, a trend takes quite a few years.

On another hand, The Hindu reminds us of the several people who have been awarded SK at a relatively early age. Mind you. I do not comment here on the relative stature of those great people: only on the age.

Very well said, mahavishnu. I have nothing to add except that this choice is nothing but a cheap publicity stunt for the MA- a way of getting attention via glamour

Maybe. And I agree absolutely with your list of alternatives: were we on that committee there would be no dissent between us!

However, I have long felt that Sudha is an artist who is not taken as seriously as she deserves, and, as exhibit number one, I offer the fact that I do not take her as seriously as I believe she deserves! If the MA has made a mistake or an error of judgement here, then let that be pronounced in January 2014. Those who frequent the Academy season, and especially the early-morning events and lecdems will be in a position to report on how this year's season leader [what do they call it?] conducts and contributes to the affair.

arasi wrote:You and I are the only senior rasikAs in this discussion, it seems. Well, Nick is lagging behind, but catching up

Oh for those wonderful days when people used to think I was forty-something and not senior at all X. Anyway, everybody in this thread, even if they are twenty years younger, is senior to me in music (But hey, that doesn't get them a discount on the trains, hee hee

)

The appreciation of serious CM will go on too, with the younger generation of discerning rasikAs.

well, exactly (although the numbers of the young give cause for concern, but that is another story) and SK is but one award, one event in the year.

That the committee was unanimous in the choice--is a worrying statement, I agree. It may be indicative of what's coming--that the older musicians may not be considered for the award, and even among younger ones, the choice will be for a musician who has most popularity...

As I said, one event doesn't make a trend. It's only one year. What, by the way, is the average age of this committee? I would expect that many of them could make feel young. Or has Sri Murali (whom I have nothing against, and without whom the MMA might not still exist in any respectable form) surrounded himself with youngsters?

mahavishnu wrote:chairing the academic proceedings of the conference.

Oh yes, that's what they call it

I had just booked my tickets for my music season pilgrimage yesterday.

Oh good! Happy you will be in Chennai this year and looking forward to seeing you

ramamantra wrote:Accepting and receiving SK award is like facing the veiled waterloo, more than an accolade. Most musicians start wasting away after receiving it. Many middle aged musicians suddenly tend to age after that. So, it is all the same if given to older people who wld even otherwise age naturally or youngsters who have achieved the 'pinnacle' and don't know what to do. Why bother!

I think there may be some cause/effect confusion there. At a certain age, people tend to waste away, and at middle age, people tend to start ageing fast (as I bemoaned above

).

The list of currently-surviving SKs includes some who are very active indeed, and a few who seem to defy age itself.

Pardon me, ladies and gentlemen,
But this banter seems, to my limited mind, a bit excessive if continued in this vein, and then there will be no winners.

Let us celebrate the newly named SK.

Yes, I agree. My congratulations to Sudha stand, and I say again, that we should at least wait and see until December.

However, regardless of individuals, if the MA has taken a decision to "youth up" then I think that deserves comment and is just as wrong as being elderly-focussed. Age should not be the criteria.

rananthga wrote:However - I do feel saddened by Murali's statement (about transition from yesteryear to new generation)

Quite.

mahavishnu wrote:Following RSachi's sage advice, I am happy to move on (albeit begrudgingly so).
Congratulations again to Smt Sudha Raghunathan!

And in the prophetic and immortal words of Bob Dylan...

Ahhh... SK for Bob Dylan? The committee (as Arasi imagines it), sitting down, speaking the word "Bob," with one voice, getting up and going home again? At least it would give me the opportunity to bemoan that they never gave it to Gerry Garcia!

devan · Post by **devan** » 29 Jul 2013, 16:26

sruthi,you have hit the nail on the head.had it been awarded to sanjay (a male)this uproar would not have happened.yards sticks are different still.

pattamaa · Post by **pattamaa** » 29 Jul 2013, 16:58

devan - in my opinion - with vidwat alone - there is no comparison between sanjay and sudha.. Sanjay is far far apart ! I am not biased in saying this. if you look for mass appeal, sudha is the winner...but, you have nityashree, and aruna sairam also in same bracket...

kunthalavarali · Post by **kunthalavarali** » 29 Jul 2013, 18:09

Let us welcome the selection (of Sudha Ragunathan) whole heartedly. In a way it is good that MA has chosen some one active in the field. Hope this welcome change is continued in future.

doyoucare · Post by **doyoucare** » 29 Jul 2013, 18:47

>>and SSI was torn(afterall both were his disciples) but unable to stop/stall the process acqiesced in it with a warning to the MA folks that given that TMT is a principled man if they played this hanky panky again there would be serious consequences to the reputation of the MA<<

ROTFL at the irony!!!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jul 2013, 19:19

skris,
About the two awards I suggested: If you think it's superfluous, considering that there are other no-fuss, rasikA-based ones like the sangeethapriya award (Pattamma also brought it to my attention), then my suggestion serves no purpose, I see now.

pvs · Post by **pvs** » 29 Jul 2013, 19:32

MA is fast becoming BCCI - if not already. one may justify with all kinds of logic but this choice will remain an insult not only for the ones who are left out this year, but also to the awardees of the recent past. All respect to her music, but its not there yet!

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 29 Jul 2013, 19:43

satyabalu wrote:*
to suggest a few.
* I also want to know details of her disciples who are performing.
* Curious to know if she can play any instrument besides being a vocalist.?
* She can use her celebrity status for furthering her mission of organising benefit program for the underprivileged.
* Any compositions /added chiitai swaram for any kriti? published any books/research papers in India /Abroad.?
* Any jugalbandi done by her ?

AFAMK goes ' NO ' is the answer. Let us hope that the above items will be taken care .

Thanjavooran
29 07 2013

Lakshman · Post by **Lakshman** » 29 Jul 2013, 20:03

She has produced a jugalbandi CD with an HM artist.

Rsachi · Post by **Rsachi** » 29 Jul 2013, 21:29

Listen here: http://mio.to/artist/8/2608-Sudha_Ragun ... Panshikar/

gardabha_gana · Post by **gardabha_gana** » 29 Jul 2013, 21:39

She did a fusion of sorts on a US tour recently!

GNB_LGJ_PR · Post by **GNB_LGJ_PR** » 29 Jul 2013, 21:45

On the one hand I feel happy that MA has recognized the reach, appeal and greatness of the GNB bani but as MKR sir(our forum Tiger) aptly put it "Ippo Enna Avasaram". Atleast four great vidvans of the previous generation deserved it IMHO (TVG, VVS, GD and KRM) and I feel very sad for them not being recognized by MA yet

I see this as a tactical move by MA to exonerate itself when they award SK to "you know who" next year.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Jul 2013, 21:50

I'd rather see it go to you-know-who than to you-know-who