Sangita Kalanidhi 2019

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 25 Jun 2019, 10:16

Isn't the time ripe for the announcement?
This thread has been dozing away, more or less...

Bharath,
Good to hear from you! Yes, it's a given fact that other awards mean no SK. Somehow, it's not registered in the minds of some of us. Hope the selection this year makes us happy...

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 25 Jun 2019, 21:51

It is with a deep sense of disappointment not to find my name even remotely being mentioned. Apparently my "start-and-stop" meanderings in the Forum are not adequate!!

I endure this along with other insults with a patient shrug because "SUFFERANCE IS THE BADGE OF MY TRIBE"(Shylock in Merchant of Venice)!!!!!

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 25 Jun 2019, 23:15

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: ↑25 Jun 2019, 21:51 It is with a deep sense of disappointment not to find my name even remotely being mentioned. Apparently my "start-and-stop" meanderings in the Forum are not adequate!!

I endure this along with other insults with a patient shrug because "SUFFERANCE IS THE BADGE OF MY TRIBE"(Shylock in Merchant of Venice)!!!!!

You may still contest for the Rasika shirOmaNi award.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 26 Jun 2019, 02:41

Ramasubramanian M.K wrote: ↑25 Jun 2019, 21:51 It is with a deep sense of disappointment not to find my name even remotely being mentioned.

The committee did consider your pallavi expertise, thought about giving you the award, and asked each other, "To do? Or not to do?"

Of course, we don't yet know their collective answer. So you had better make yourself available, in Chennai, for the period of The Conference.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 26 Jun 2019, 07:39

Nick; Thanks for your support. I believe they have introduced a Domicile requirement!! That rules me out!!

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 26 Jun 2019, 09:03

mkr sir
you had everything but you made tactical mistakes in revealing that you owe everything especially to gnb. gnb school took away a lot of awards like trichur ramachandran sudha sanjay akanyakumari. You may get it anytime from 2023 to 2030.Dont participate in any functions or some lecdems and become a TTK award nominee or even sangeetha kala acharya. I heard thru grapevine that few sk nominees refused to accept ska award. MKR in next 20 years your motto has to be be either be a MLV or SKalyanaraman .Keep singing only gnb song sonnadai seidida thamasama.

K Nagarajan · Post by **K Nagarajan** » 26 Jun 2019, 22:51

The award may be given this year to a Nama Sankeerthanam exponent and it will be a recognition of the contribution of the bagavatars in spreading bhakti through music.

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 03 Jul 2019, 17:05

Rajesh: Thanks for your input. As complimentary as it may be(referring to me as a GNB fan) I am afraid my allegiances to ARI,SSI,MMI have been understated.
Regarding reference to GNB and his disciples here is a GNB joke you may have heard before:

Once a sishya who was not upto the mark approached GNB and expressed a desire to offer GURU DAKSHINAI,GNB is reported to have said "You need not give me any Guru Dakshinai but please do not mention to anybody that you were MY sishya!!!That will be your BIGGEST Guru Dakshinai!!!

Pratyaksham Bala · Post by **Pratyaksham Bala** » 03 Jul 2019, 18:52

Once a sishya who was not upto the mark approached GNB and expressed a desire to offer GURU DAKSHINAI,GNB is reported to have said "You need not give me any Guru Dakshinai but please do not mention to anybody that you were MY sishya!!!That will be your BIGGEST Guru Dakshinai!!!

Unpalatable vicious discouragement.

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 03 Jul 2019, 20:47

Ouch.

I remember a similar story with T Brinda. Of course one has to see this in a lighter vein.

Nevertheless a disciple of a master has to keep the flag flying high. I have seen people who probably attend one workshop of some musician and then claim they learnt from them, regardless of how well they really sing (or not). It got to that point where said musician actually had to tell people not to inflate their "CV"

Saibhakthan · Post by **Saibhakthan** » 05 Jul 2019, 10:04

Senior Musicians like Hyderabad Brothers, Nagai Muralidharan, Thiruvarur Bhakthavatsalam, Karaikudi Mani deserves Sangita Kalanidhi. Their experience in the carnatic music field is more than 50 years.

vichu1947 · Post by **vichu1947** » 14 Jul 2019, 08:35

Unofficial news is that NSG has been selected for the award. Let us wait for formal announcement

HarishankarK · Post by **HarishankarK** » 15 Jul 2019, 13:08

Hope that's true and it is announced soon

rupavathi · Post by **rupavathi** » 21 Jul 2019, 11:18

The announcement has come! It is Dr Sowmya. Hearty congratulations.

samskriti · Post by **samskriti** » 21 Jul 2019, 11:30

Quite expected after the splendid Ghanta RTP at the MA in Dec 2018. Congratulations!

Venkat Ramachandran · Post by **Venkat Ramachandran** » 21 Jul 2019, 12:16

A tweet from Sriram V

Congrats all #MusicAcademy awardees

Sangita Kalanidhi - Dr S Sowmya
Sangita Kala Acharya - Seetha Narayanan
Sangita Kala Acharya - MS Sheela
TTK Award - Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman
TTK Award - Rajkumar Bharathi
Musicologist - Dr Arati N Rao
Nritya Kalanidhi - Priyadarshini Govind

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 21 Jul 2019, 13:44

Best wishes to all the awardees.
At last it is out.
Good luck to . Sowmya .
Thanjavooran
21 09 2019

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Jul 2019, 16:04

No controversy this year!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 21 Jul 2019, 19:32

Absolutely, Nick!
A scholar, though young, steadfast in her adhering to the tradition of CM and that of her beloved guru--a classic choice by the Music Academy. How much more we can look forward to, in Sowmya's service to music--given her age! Congratulations, nallAsigaL, Sowmya

All awards are well-deserved this year. Note how women lead five to two this year! Rajkumar Bharathi and Vyasarpadi Kodandaraman are excellent choices too

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 21 Jul 2019, 21:11

I am disturbed by the fact that Academy has not thought fit to consider Neyveli santanagopalaan,Vijaya Siva who are much senior and have contributed immensely.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 21 Jul 2019, 21:25

Congrats !
But doesn't deserve it .

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 21 Jul 2019, 21:28

NSG , BJ , Lalgudi Krishnan - Viji , VVS deserve it more .
Aruna S and Sowmya are both undeserving candidates. The selection criteria at MA is getting lower and lower every year. They better give it to an incompetent 20 year old Mr/Mrs Xyz next year for n number of reasons , and the forumites here will be going gaga.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 21 Jul 2019, 21:48

Bhagwan,
The SK award typifies the way we win some and lose other opportunities in our lives.
When NSG was hinted at, I thought, what could be better? As a veteran in teaching and in judging the abilities of youngsters, he would know how difficult it is to choose one meritorious entrant over other deserving ones. Even we the audience who hear the youngsters, have the problem of choosing a winner. It's even more complicated to decide on a Sangita Kalanidhi! So many factors have to be weighed in at the old institution which have been acquired during its long existence--add politics too, of course. So, supposing the choice had delighted you, there would have been others who would have been bitterly disappointed. All that we can hope for is that the MA's choices are not bad ones which displease too many of us!

It turns out that the Academy is honoring a very good set of musicians this year. All well-deserving. The recent trend that musicians from all states are considered and are awarded honors is a good thing too. It's not a Mylaporean exclusive any more...
Oh, and by not being SK this time, NSG hasn't lost an iota of his vidwat or status as an excellent vidwan, and it goes for the others too

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 21 Jul 2019, 22:02

hnbhagavan wrote: ↑21 Jul 2019, 21:11 I am disturbed by the fact that Academy has not thought fit to consider Neyveli santanagopalaan,Vijaya Siva who are much senior and have contributed immensely.

Who knows who they thought fit to consider? I'm sure many names passed lips.

By "no controversy," I meant that the MA has, it seems, gone with awarding very competent musicians, rather than attempting to make any statement of youth and fashion.

Whilst it seems that history can give us a list of names whose egos, in their later years, ached as much as their limbs might have done, the relatively youthful, names such as you mention, probably think nothing at all of not getting it.

SrinathK · Post by **SrinathK** » 21 Jul 2019, 22:43

Venkat Ramachandran wrote: ↑21 Jul 2019, 12:16 A tweet from Sriram V

Congrats all #MusicAcademy awardees

Sangita Kalanidhi - Dr S Sowmya
Sangita Kala Acharya - Seetha Narayanan
Sangita Kala Acharya - MS Sheela
TTK Award - Vyasarpadi Kothandaraman
TTK Award - Rajkumar Bharathi
Musicologist - Dr Arati N Rao
Nritya Kalanidhi - Priyadarshini Govind

Congrats to Smt. Sowmya for the SK, as well as all the others!

@ratanabhinav, Don't know when (or if) the Lalgudi School is ever going to be sufficiently acknowledged by the Academy.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:25

S Sowmya is just another garden variety pudavai artist . Nothing remarkable about her musicality .
Semmangudi , ARI deserved it at their ages due to the invaluable contributions that they had made to CM as an art , namely , tuning of kritis and tiruppavais , setting up new banis / styles and establishing the modern kutcheri paddhati. There was something original and phenomenal about their music and their musicalities . Even Lalgudi . They were giants .

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:28

Can anybody list out the contributions of Smt S Sowmya to the Carnatic music field ?

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:46

The award for the past three years has been going to the T Brinda T Mukta school - Ravikiran , AS , and SS now.
They should strictly have some criteria for selection of artistes -
A. Must have tuned kritis , composed ragas .
B. Must have performed in the academy for atleast 30 years.
C. Must possess phenomenal musicality - a melodious voice and a remarkable imagination .
D. Must specialise in some aspect of CM or the other - say RTP or padam javali or Dikshithar kritis.
Come on , you could come up with your criteria .

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:51

Sri Murali remarked in the HINDU that there is no set criteria for selection.It can be a Senior or Junior.Perhaps the rapport with Academy plays the biggest role.
Vijaya Siva has fallen out of favor of MA.He is not accommodated in any slot morning or evening.Some are in metoo list.

shankarank · Post by **shankarank** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:53

Without getting into who is more deserving, I congratulate the academy for choosing Dr Sowmya for sangeetha kalanidhi award. I can myself see that it is a choice based not just on scholarship, but many a wonderful performance as well, for those like me who have avidly followed the YACM generation of musicians.

That said , instrumentalists always knew their turn is for the latter. Vidushi Kanyakumari was senior to many vocalists that preceded her being awarded.

As regards when the Lalgudi school should have been honored , the year should have been 1972 or 1974 ( in fact just looking at the list on wikipedia - I pulled out the years very specifically without much thought!) very closely following Alathur Brothers and Sri Palghat Mani Iyer.

Carnatic music has paid a heavy price and will pay a heavy price for undermining instrumental music, specifically violin. And leading organizations which shoulder the propaganda and messaging responsibility , when they flounder it has a wide impact. I am told Sri MSG was not selected on his year for the worthy reason alone, whole heartedly! It happened somewhat indirectly to shunt another choice out.

And my post is not about the award and recognition to these giants - something they may not have cared or needed. At a minimum, I think it would have ensured a better sense among the core community about instrumental music. Unfortunately that train has left and it is very difficult to recover.

In a recent panel discussion of teachers in DFW there were many questions considered, and the final one was about intrinsic value of music. During questions, I raised the issue of how the panelists felt about lack of support to young budding vocalists as well as senior violinists of late, with violin being a "western" instrument to boot, learnt by many kids. No convincing answer.

But they were talking about how the learning students (3700 in DFW as per some survey!) should attend concerts. With their parents, who have never sat for a minute ever in any concert!

Shouldn't the people who are in the habit of thronging to celebrity concerts , first take the step? I am not asking them to listen to VINA! Rather the one that is familiar on the vocal circuit.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 09:57

hnbhagavan wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:51 Sri Murali remarked in the HINDU that there is no set criteria for selection.It can be a Senior or Junior.Perhaps the rapport with Academy plays the biggest role.
Vijaya Siva has fallen out of favor of MA.

Clearly shows that the standards of the MA are getting lower and lower.
That shows that influence and power come before music . I'm reminded of Vedavalli Amma's talk about music for music's sake.

Has the value of the award been lowered ? Do you feel so ?
Yes , they did award the SK in the 1900s to people under the age of 50 , but that was if and only if the musician had done something phenomenal to the CM field ! It was not awarded for making a statement.

rupavathi · Post by **rupavathi** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:06

ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:46 They should strictly have some criteria for selection of artistes -
A. Must have tuned kritis , composed ragas .
B. Must have performed in the academy for atleast 30 years.
C. Must possess phenomenal musicality - a melodious voice and a remarkable imagination .
D. Must specialise in some aspect of CM or the other - say RTP or padam javali or Dikshithar kritis.
Come on , you could come up with your criteria .

Guess what? Smt Sowmya fulfills every one of these criteria that you've come up with.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:08

shankarank wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:53 I can myself see that it is a choice based not just on scholarship, but many a wonderful performance as well, for those like me who have avidly followed the YACM generation of musicians.

What do you mean by this ?
That she can sing around 200 ragas with grammar intact ? Is that what you mean ?
Every musician does that ! From SSI to NSG to Lalgudi to R Vedavalli to Sriram Parasuram to Ananya Ashok !
Is that what you call vidwat ? That's the bare minimum to get on stage !

shankarank · Post by **shankarank** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:12

I saw the notification that somebody has quoted me even while I started researching through your posts ( based on your complaining here!) especially in the concert review section to gain some understanding of you as a rasika before I respond to you! Give me sometime! At this time I see not that many reviews from you. Very few!

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:13

rupavathi wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:06
ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:46 They should strictly have some criteria for selection of artistes -
A. Must have tuned kritis , composed ragas .
B. Must have performed in the academy for atleast 30 years.
C. Must possess phenomenal musicality - a melodious voice and a remarkable imagination .
D. Must specialise in some aspect of CM or the other - say RTP or padam javali or Dikshithar kritis.
Come on , you could come up with your criteria .
Guess what? Smt Sowmya fulfills every one of these criteria that you've come up with.

Could you list out the compositions tuned by her ? How famous are they ? Has she composed kritis or varnams , tillanas ? Has she created any new ragams that sound aesthetically pleasing and deserving of an award ? Is her voice so sensational that it's the sensation of the CM music world ( like how it was for GNB , SSI or MS Subbulakshmi ) ?

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:15

shankarank wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:12 I saw the notification that somebody has quoted me even while I started researching through your posts ( based on your complaining here!) especially in the concert review section to gain some understanding of you as a rasika before I respond to you! Give me sometime! At this time I see not that many reviews from you. Very few!

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30437&p=327292#p327292

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=30428&p=327201#p327201

I don't attend concerts much. I listen online.

shankarank · Post by **shankarank** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:21

ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:13 Is her voice so sensational that it's the sensation of the CM music world ( like how it was for GNB , SSI or MS Subbulakshmi ) ?

After those musicians that you listed, can you name a few who have those qualities? There have been many awardees after the legendary musicians you listed! Please leave out those who might fit into "sensational voice" criteria of the 80s , 90s tastes and who gained popularity just because they started singing in films!

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:27

shankarank wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:21
ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:13 Is her voice so sensational that it's the sensation of the CM music world ( like how it was for GNB , SSI or MS Subbulakshmi ) ?
After those musicians that you listed, can you name a few who have those qualities?

R Vedavalli - you should listen to her when she was in her 50s and early 60s . What an exotic voice !
https://youtu.be/D7WnLNrIh-4
Bombay Jayashree
TN Seshagopalan
Nityashree
Sudha Ragunathan
I don't care if they have sung in films or not .

shankarank · Post by **shankarank** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:43

I don't agree that Smt. Bombay Jayashree and Smt. Nithyashree are phenomenal Carnatic voices. Bombay Jayashree had some popularity before her sojourn into films, but most of her upshot is afterwards. As regards Vid. Nithyashree it is entirely from films.

That leaves only 3 of them out of so many people. So that is not a big criteria by itself.

As regards Vid. Sowmya have you heard her even as late as early 2000(s). Her voice was in great shape.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:51

shankarank wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:43

As regards Vid. Sowmya have you heard her even as late as early 2000(s). Her voice was in great shape.

Smt Sowmya has a pleasant but ordinary voice .
BJ's , Nityashree's and Sudha's voices are often 'gaga'-ed over by most CM-ville residents, if you know .

shankarank · Post by **shankarank** » 22 Jul 2019, 10:54

Well then that says the Academy have done their duty! They looked beyond cosmetics!

I am no judge of vidvat of musicians. There are many more knowledgeable musicians, forums members here.

The very first time , I heard Smt. Nithyashree's dhanyAsi I knew that was simply not Carnatic music. This is a very basic authenticity test - even somebody like me could spot.

In that era late 90s, early 2000, alas , that could not be taken for granted. It does not matter how many in Carnatic-ville go gaga over their voices!

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 22 Jul 2019, 13:56

Nityashree is all hype - DKP lineage etc..Music Academy is making a big mockery of SK award.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 22 Jul 2019, 15:59

Happy to see the names of the awardees. Happy to see Smt. Sowmya chosen for Kalanidhi. One is more thrilled at Smt. Seetha Narayanan getting Sangeetha Kala Acharya. Pranams to these artists on chosen for such honors.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 16:14

shankarank wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:54

The very first time , I heard Smt. Nithyashree's dhanyAsi I knew that was simply not Carnatic music. This is a very basic authenticity test - even somebody like me could spot.

I never stated that an attractive voice is the only condition to get the SK. Plus , I think that Smt Nityashree can wait for a lot more years and improve her musicality , in order to get the SK.

ratanabhinav · Post by **ratanabhinav** » 22 Jul 2019, 16:17

hnbhagavan wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 13:56 Music Academy is making a big mockery of SK award.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 22 Jul 2019, 17:02

To the press, they may announce that there are no set criteria. however, it is anybody's guess that artists are chosen based on past records and accomplishments.

It is so easy to sit on the laptop/smart phone and write up essays and essays about what someone needs to do and pass opinions on that should have been done and this must not have happened and all that. It's a real game to run an organization to promote art forms. To run a music-sabha in chennai, especially to the standings of an organization like Music academy, it needs a lot of effort, talent and what not. Its not even imaginable for a layman.

And what is wrong if some organization or person chooses to award/recognize someone who is closely associated with. If you are to choose between two people who are equally qualified in all aspects and you know one of them personally and you dont know the other. Would you not like to choose your friend? even if he/she is one shade less qualified? why should academy bother to go and bring someone who has fought with them and give him/her an award? is there so much of dearth for talent? Every other organization does that and why shouldnt the academy do it?

Only since they have been living upto their name, everyone is keen on what is going to happen with them next. If you are unhappy with the functioning of a certain person/system, why bother to notice?

In my personal opinion, the Academy have been keeping their standards intact. Whether it is about the choice of awardees or giving concert slots, they are doing what is best possible for their framework. nothing to complain. They have been a few blinks once in a while. Yes. Some choices have made people look up with curiosity. Thats ok. Mistakes are always bound to happen. And, this year's choices are no blinks or mistakes. They are given to people who are deserving.

PS: I have written all this on a personal capacity and have nothing to do with any music-related-organization presently. The intention of this post is not to defend the organization Music Academy or its awardees, past or present or future.

sankark · Post by **sankark** » 22 Jul 2019, 21:29

rupavathi wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 10:06
ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:46 They should strictly have some criteria for selection of artistes -
A. Must have tuned kritis , composed ragas .
B. Must have performed in the academy for atleast 30 years.
C. Must possess phenomenal musicality - a melodious voice and a remarkable imagination .
D. Must specialise in some aspect of CM or the other - say RTP or padam javali or Dikshithar kritis.
Come on , you could come up with your criteria .
Guess what? Smt Sowmya fulfills every one of these criteria that you've come up with.

Tch tch tch. So bad, so bad, so bad - didn't you know "alternative facts" is The Thing. Back to (internet) fundamentals 101 course for you.

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 22 Jul 2019, 23:17

ratanabhinav wrote: ↑22 Jul 2019, 09:46 They should strictly have some criteria for selection of artistes -
A. Must have tuned kritis , composed ragas .
B. Must have performed in the academy for atleast 30 years.
C. Must possess phenomenal musicality - a melodious voice and a remarkable imagination .
D. Must specialise in some aspect of CM or the other - say RTP or padam javali or Dikshithar kritis.
Come on , you could come up with your criteria .

You can add one more.

E. Must have at least one student who has demonstrably imbibed the musical values of the artiste.

Sivaramakrishnan · Post by **Sivaramakrishnan** » 23 Jul 2019, 09:41

I hope those at Music Academy follow this thread to have an understanding of what a cross section of rasikas in general, feel about the SK awards -the perspectives - rather not regarding the selection this time.

RSR · Post by **RSR** » 23 Jul 2019, 13:07

Sivaramakrishnan wrote: ↑23 Jul 2019, 09:41 I hope those at Music Academy follow this thread to have an understanding of what a cross section of rasikas in general, feel about the SK awards -the perspectives - rather not regarding the selection this time.

--------------
I would suggest that immediately after a music academy season ends, say, sometime in march first week, the MA selection panel can give a public announcement, regarding the names under consideration for the awards and invite this forum experts to offer the pro and con views of the proposed names. Then, MA can get fresh suggestions, and well-reasoned and unbiased and softly-worded ,critical views of the experts in this forum, dedicated to CM ,about the artistes rather than the selection committee.
---------------
One more thought. How proper is it for the musical luminaries to have their own blogs and websites? As an old-timer, I do not think, greats of the golden era( 1936-1966) ,had such self-promoting social media activity. If an artiste is good , it is for others to extol in THEIR blogs and websites.