Sangita Kalanidhi 2015

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 28 Jun 2015, 08:43

Yes , and from many reliable sources, he was more a devotee and baktha yogi than a crowd pleasing artiste. he even lost his voice for a year or so , and believed that it was god's thiruvilayadal to snatch it and give it back . I seriously wonder to how many the SK seriously matters. When the musicians have a knowledge that the rasikas are knowledged enough (hopefully soon) to discern the artiste's knowledge , then the artiste would not feel slighted by sabhas mesterious knowledge. If rasikas can climb to that stage of knowledge, the awards becomes redundant.

Knowledge is power.

vsuresh · Post by **vsuresh** » 28 Jun 2015, 09:11

ganesh_mourthy wrote:who is impressively shruti suddham to you these in the present day music? Just to know ho much it has improved over the years.

Purely from a shruthi shuddham standpoint, besides the obvious geniuses, there's N. Vijay Siva (+ sowkkiyam), TMK (+ good voice production, although a tad too nasal for my liking), and Neyveli Sir (+ seniority & a large disciple base). Among the women, Bombay Gayatri and Bombay Jayashree come to my mind among many others, because of their ability to innovate.

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 28 Jun 2015, 09:48

V suresh..

You mean Vijay Siva and Neyveli for shruthi sudham?

Usain bolt runs the fastest, and there are no two opinions of it. It is clear even to the naked eye, or just to a layman. You do not even need special technology to prove it /

One of the advantages of fine arts is simply that there are no concrete and precise bench marks to know who is the best (otherwise we can even sue Music Academy) , and just we can say anything we want , genius, shruthi , thaalam,noise, repertoire, toxic, sowkyam,azhutham, grace, style , smile.

In a way, by honoring Sanjay with SK (dishonoring?) and almost ready to send him to the trash can, many contemporaries got glorified with all those qualities in Rasikas. We brought them back to limelight. Or probably , is that all awards are all for??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!

inconsequential · Post by **inconsequential** » 28 Jun 2015, 09:52

arasi wrote: Resistance (indifference?) in tamizh-speaking rasikAs to tamizh only indicates that their CM territory comprises only of the trinity?

arasi,
I read all of your post. I choose only to respond to this comment>
If you have written this as a general observation / remark - fine.
If it is in response to my mention about tamizh in the context of CM and SS - i need to clarify.
Let there be music in all languages - No complaints. Let artists carve their own niches by digging into one composer or a language or a theme. Each artist has the liberty to explore his or her own way. My pain point is, by merely singing lots and lots of songs in a language, the rasika-world is putting the extra feather of "service to CM / tamizh" to that artist, which i feel is excess. I don't see an artist of the caliber of SS mastering a 1000 obscure tamizh songs and rendering them as any great service to the language. That's all. Nothing against the language or his music. Some body raised a concern when i talked about diction. Please play an audio (reading is enough) of our neighbors from the island you are referring to and an average "tamizh-service" artist. Whose reading is more pleasing?

Even in tamizh, there will be compositions that have contents equivalent (in quality) to trinity's that will stand the test of time. All else, will fall sooner or later. Be it mAdu mEikkum or Oho kAlamE.. This is not an individual opinion. This is how it is.

As for Lji's service - a normal rasika like myself can't even begin to describe the greatness of it!!

Regards
-Incon

inconsequential · Post by **inconsequential** » 28 Jun 2015, 10:00

vasanthakokilam wrote:Incon, there has to be some good reasons why you ingest the toxins (in jest), please write about that in a clear manner without mixing the parts you don't like (which you have already written about )

vk
reason is simple - repeatedly following from sabha to sabha, continuosly getting disappointed by not having a wholesome classical concert experience. koochal, mirattal, ulukkal, kulukkal. If i were an aspiring performing musician, i can benefit hugely from him - for the musical ideas, manodharma and all that. At SK level, i might expect some discrimination between what sounds and appears good and what does not. if that is being negative and caustic, i am guilty as charged.
Regards
-Incon

Ponbhairavi · Post by **Ponbhairavi** » 28 Jun 2015, 11:04

Freedom of expression !
After 255 posts, the probable achievements,!
THE MA.---1-we have done a mistake R asikas.org has indisputably proved it. we repent now and we should make amends. OR
2-A bunch of loquacious fellows who have lots of time to waste and who think that they are the supreme custodian and controller of C.M.

THE SK title:--1-A supreme title which establishes who is the greatest among all the living carnatic musicians to-day. OR

2--like any other title or award like Nobel prize orPadmasri. wrought with its own imperfections and prejudices.

The Contributors : 1- I have established the truth in an indisputable way and those who oppose are idiots or prejudiced with preconceived opinion. OR
2--There are groups and cliques as in a political party and cheerleader goshti for every group . the polarization has exposed everyone's affiliation.

The Award winner 1- I am the greatest living carnatic musician today.! OR

2-I wish I have not read this trash. Now I have a sense of unpleasantness and bitterness which prevents me from enjoying fully this occasion.

The Award non winner: !---The whole world acknowledges that I deserve the award. A great injustice has been done to me. I cannot digest this insult. OR
2- The institution, the award the winner everything is a social fraud The CM world stinks with dirty politics.

Rasikas.org …? 1- What a beautiful thorough analyses we have done.
2--We started with a guess and ended in a mess.

Ultimate result (?)

verall bitterness everywhere.
Suppose we treat it as a supreme court decision and make it a point not to comment on it ?
But freedom of expression is inalienable- (????) could not care less for the outcome.

sirsub11 · Post by **sirsub11** » 28 Jun 2015, 12:02

Year Date Awardee Category

This is the list of the National Eminence Awardees conferred by the venerable Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai.

2002 Semmangudi Srinivasier
2003 Pt. Bhimsen Joshi l
2004 Shri Vempatti Chinna Satyam
2005 Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasiya
2006 Pt. Shivkumar Sharma
2007 Dr. Padma Subrahmaniam

2008 Dr. Smt. Girija Devi
2009 Shri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
2009 Dr. R. K. Srikantan
2010 Shri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy
2011 Dr. Vyjayantimala Bali
2011 Pt. Birju Maharaj Kathak
2012 Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna
2014 Sanjay Subrahmanyan

And the following is the list of the Indira Sivasailam Award winners.

2010 Sudha Raghunathan
2011 Sanjay Subrahmanyan
2012 Aruna Sairam
2013 Bombay Jayashri
2014 T.M. Krishna

I produce these two lists without comment, in a reflective spirit, in the light of the ongoing dialogue. Methinks this will keep you all going for another 10 pages.

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 28 Jun 2015, 12:45

All the sabha awards in the recent times..Gosh! My my ! blunders everywhere! Some conspiracy plan controlled by ...who?

Ponbhairavi ,

I heard that you are from my place. Arasi told me about it.

That is a nice quip by my townsman.

punnagavarali · Post by **punnagavarali** » 28 Jun 2015, 13:41

Sangeetha Kalanidhi is the premier title awarded to those seasoned musicians who are irreplaceable in the field due to their multitude of contributions. The award confers to these musicians that they are truly treasures of the art that they perform. The Sangeetha Kalanidhi award has historically been presented to artists we consider as legends today. Musicians like Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, M.S. Subbulakshmi, D.K. Jayaraman, T. brinda to name a few; musicians that have proven their worth through being stellar performers, gurus, composers, and geniuses. Therefore one must ponder has the award in recent years held itself to the same integrity and standard it has in the past? It is imperative therefore to take a few considerations into account. What is true contribution to art? Is it only done through a proficient performing career and a couple awards here and there? It would be a travesty if this were the case. Art involves execution, aesthetics, innovation, tradition, spreading awareness, and strokes of genius. Thus it brings into question whether this award, one that is supposed to uniquely recognize artists for multifaceted contributions to the field, is really worth it's glorious title.

At an age when mediocrity is being idolized, awards like Sangeetha Kalanidhi were supposed to stand strong, delineating the boundary between performers and artists. To be an artist one must go beyond sheer gimmickry and understand the nuances of music in all of its glory. Are brilliant artists like Smt. A. Kanyakumari, revolutionary visionaries like Sri L. Subramaniam and Kadri Gopalnath, and genius musicians and composers like Sri N. Ravikiran not treasures of our art form? Have they not proven themselves through the decades that their contributions are innumerable and irreplaceable? Why then has the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award fallen from its grace into a muddle of hushed closed room meetings and behind the scenes political drama and maneuvering? Where has the spirit of the art gone? As an ardent rasika and budding musician I can only pray in hopeful respite that the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award regain the prestige it has so ungraciously lost in the past couple of years, by selecting musicians deserving of its title: artists who confer upon the title more prestige than they gain from it.

If one speaks of popularity, the argument itself fails. There are artists with much wider reach in terms of an international audience that should be getting it before some of the artists the last few years. Furthermore, I think it is high time that the selection criteria be made transparent to the public, as it would be wonderful to see reasoning behind why certain candidates are nominated for SK over others.

A professional career in Carnatic Music can only be sustained by those who work with self discipline and are willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the art. As rasikas we quibble over an artists worth, sometimes on the verge of belittling them and their contributions. I think we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard and respect each musician for the countless hours that they put in. At the end of the day are we even credible to criticize them?

Again, the concern I am bringing forth isn't as to whether SS is deserving of this award, rather has he been awarded this award for the right reasons and considerations?

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 28 Jun 2015, 15:11

One very constant artiste (or performer rather, punnagavarali has not mentioned it clearly yet) , Sanjay who has just become a mute victim in this thread just because he has become SK. But to me he is an artiste definitely with a multitude of talents , may not be super perfect which I doubt anyone is perfect at all.

There were many many criticisms about the artistes of the past. BMK sings carnatic totally bereft of purity, MS music has bhava and bakthi but sounds like devotional music rather most of the time, MLV is brainly but lacks the voice and power and there is no consistency, TNS does he ever know what a shruthi is...this is not math class for him to do all the mathematical acrobats, pattammal .. oh she is singing in a male voice, there were countless of them. But truly , they did have some beautiful and enjoyable rough edges to only highlight other strengths. Sanjay's rough edges were likened to them until he be became SK. All of a sudden they have become so glaring and blatant , and he is placed at a level of some C class singer.

And about Punnagavarli's recommendaitons... there are countless who still call into question the sound of Sax in carnatic music which cannot bring out the beauty of rakthi raga like saveri etc,, and the mediocrity of Kanya compared to lalgudi,msg, chandrashekaran.

In that manner everybody can be lashed out.

Ironically there is one constant and many variables in this thread . Constant is SS because he received the award unfortunately, and the deserving one according to Rasikas are so random. There were many casual insertions like Neyveli shudhi sudham, Abhishek a genius beyond SK , and several such statements.

vsuresh · Post by **vsuresh** » 28 Jun 2015, 16:06

Art involves execution, aesthetics, innovation, tradition, spreading awareness, and strokes of genius. Thus it brings into question whether this award, one that is supposed to uniquely recognize artists for multifaceted contributions to the field, is really worth it's glorious title.

At an age when mediocrity is being idolized, awards like Sangeetha Kalanidhi were supposed to stand strong, delineating the boundary between performers and artists. To be an artist one must go beyond sheer gimmickry and understand the nuances of music in all of its glory. Are brilliant artists like Smt. A. Kanyakumari, revolutionary visionaries like Sri L. Subramaniam and Kadri Gopalnath, and genius musicians and composers like Sri N. Ravikiran not treasures of our art form? Have they not proven themselves through the decades that their contributions are innumerable and irreplaceable? Why then has the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award fallen from its grace into a muddle of hushed closed room meetings and behind the scenes political drama and maneuvering? Where has the spirit of the art gone? As an ardent rasika and budding musician I can only pray in hopeful respite that the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award regain the prestige it has so ungraciously lost in the past couple of years, by selecting musicians deserving of its title: artists who confer upon the title more prestige than they gain from it.

Brilliantly said!! You beautifully captured the difference between a performer and an artiste, and the fact that true artistes confer more prestige upon the title, than they gain from it. The MA would have done itself some good if a different award had been instituted to recognize performers, and the big SK title had been left for the true stalwarts.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Jun 2015, 16:57

Now, the time to go march to a different field--to bash Sangeetha Kala Acharyas old and new, for their inadequacies in learning, teaching, singing, losing their voice etc etc...

Trumpets sound

On the other hand,

So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may take something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid

Robert Frost

vsuresh · Post by **vsuresh** » 28 Jun 2015, 18:21

sirsub11 wrote: I produce these two lists without comment, in a reflective spirit, in the light of the ongoing dialogue. Methinks this will keep you all going for another 10 pages.

I am posting the following list in exactly the same reflective spirit

Awards (Source: Wikipedia)

Ravikiran is one of the most decorated artistes from India at the International (probably the only Indian to have received these awards), National, State and artistic levels. In most cases, he has been the first or youngest to have received such recognition, including a Fellowship from The Madras Music Academy at age two.

International Level:

- Millennium Festival Award (Millennium Commission, Government of UK) – 2000
– Best Contemporary World Album (New Age Voice Awards, USA) – 2001
– Citation from City of Tulsa, USA - 2005 – Citation from City of Houston, USA - 2007
- "Melharmony Day" proclamation - City of Middleton, USA - 2013

National & State Level:

– President of India's Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 2006
- Star of India Award (Wisdom International) – 1985
– Sanskriti Award (Sanskriti Foundation) – 1990
– Kalaimamani (Tamil Nadu State Award) – 1985
– Kumar Gandharva Samman (Madhya Pradesh State Award) – 1996

Artistic:

· Arul Isai Selvan – 1973
– Music Academy Senior Awards – several, since 1979
– Lion's International Award – 1979
– Nada Sudharnava – 1980
– Tantri Gana Visharada – 1983
– Sangeet Samraat (Wisdom International) – 1985
– Rotary Vocational Award – 1985
– Madhura Naada Mannar – 1986
– Isai Peroli (Kartik Fine Arts) – 1991
– Sangeeta Choodamani (Krishna Gana Sabha) – 1995
– Chitravina Vidya Varidhi (Yarl Society, Perth, Australia) – 1996
– Kumar Gandharva Award (Kumar Gandharva Foundation, Bombay) – 2000
– Vadya Ratnakara (India Fine Arts, Austin, TX), 2002
– Lifetime Achievement Award (Kanchi Foundation, India), 2003
– Harvard Sangeet Award (Harvard University, USA), 2005
– TTK Award (Music Academy, Madras, India), 2003
– Sangeeta Sapta Saagara (Shanti Fine Arts, Chennai, India), 2005
– Nalli Season Award (Nalli Foundation, Chennai, India), 2006
– Ragalaya Sagara (Ragalaya Foundation, London), Jan 2008
– Sangeeta Ratnakara, Cleveland, USA, 2010
– Rotary Lifetime Achievement Award, July 2011
- Sangeeta Kala Sarathy, Dec 2013 (Parthasarathy Swami Sabha), Chennai
[84] - Sangeeta Shastra Virpannar - SAFE Lifetime Achievement Award, Chennai) Dec 2014
- ISAI Tendral, Feb 2015, ISAI, Chennai, India)

kunthalavarali · Post by **kunthalavarali** » 28 Jun 2015, 20:18

I have had the fortune of listening to CM from the late forties. The very first concert that made me a lover of CM for all these years was MLV singing along with her mother Lalithangi. I vividly remember young MSG on the violin, R S Krishnamurthy Rao and T S Vilvadri Iyer on the percussion. Since then I have been enthralled by the music of ARI, CVB, SSI, GNB, MMI, MSS, galaxy of Nadaswaram vidwans et al. Yes, 1950s and 60s were indeed the time when I enjoyed CM immensely. Why am I recounting all this? Today with a huge collection of recordings of those past masters there is an urge in me to go back and listen to each one of them. But what do I find? I am with their recordings for 30mts or at the most an hour before I switch over to Sanjay's music for the next three hours. This has been so for the last 5 years. I was wondering what makes me listen to Sanjay again and again for long hours. I reasoned out and thought of the following: Among the artists mentioned earlier, MMI and CVB were experts in swara singing, GNB was matchless in raga elaboration, MSS in the expression of bhava and bhakthi and so on (for me ARI, SSI provided wholesome music though the former was a little bit fast and too concise). In Sanjay’s music I get all that I look for and more in a CM concert. Hence it is very hard for me to understand why people criticize him so vehemently. Are they missing the woods for the trees or is my taste gotten poor? Be that as it may, Sanjay will remain my favourite. I always thank God for giving me this life to listen to his music.
Nithya Subha mangalam.

gardabha_gana · Post by **gardabha_gana** » 28 Jun 2015, 23:20

Delayed posting...
A week back, last Sunday, I was thinking of getting into the guessing game of who will be this year's Sangeetha Kalanidhi - awarded by the Madras Music Academy. After the aberration couple of years back when they awarded it to the relatively young Sudha Raghunathan, MMA had gone back to awarding the octogenarian, the redoubtable TVG last year. One had to be a senior or a very senior citizen to be considered for the coveted award. My thinking was it will go to (deservedly) TH VInayakaram or VV Subramanyam or they would spring a surprise with OST, Easwaran or Dorai. I was hedging my bets when I read on rasikas.org that afternoon that Sanjay Subrahmanyan had been awarded SK.
I didn't know how to react. I have been a big fan of Sanjay over the years especially since my return to India in 2008. IIRC, I did listen to him once in late 80s. The first real concert of his I heard was in 2000 or 2001 in the bay area, when he traditionally sang the Saveri Varnam with a Saveri RTP, the Begada, Tyagarajaya Namaste is still fresh in my memory. I was quite stunned with his effort and sincerity in providing a wholesome concert, with a challenging voice. Thereafter I became a regular listener of his, but not yet a fan.
I had some concerns with his concerts. His voice used to be a hit or a miss (what can he do). Sometimes his Pallavis were in hindustani-ish ragas - Ragesri/Bagesri/Desh... Once I even remember hearing a Pallavi in Hindi! Sometimes his diction was not always very clear.
In the last 6+ years I have converted into a big fan of his for the following reasons: He (almost) never repeats his items. He sticks to traditional format - begins his concerts with a (rare) Varnam such as Narayanagowla varnam (Maguva) or aptly the Neelambari varnam on Neela Ramgopal's 75th b'day. He sings without notes with strong neravals and stunning Tanams. He never takes his audience for granted and makes such a sincere effort. Always has a Pallavi in his concerts. He sings rare krithis from popular composers and beautiful compositions from rare composers - usually that results in a wow! In the last 5+ years, his RTPs are in heavy ragas - Kambodhi, Thodi, Sahana, Kedaragowla, Pantuvarali, Kanada etc. Sings in all traditional places such as the Venugopalaswamy temple in Malleswaram apart from the usual suspects. He sometimes ends the Pallavi with a beautiful song with the same ragam. There has been a significant shift in the post-main pieces with a nice blend of pasurams and devotional pieces.
He clearly was a Kalanidhi in the making and no longer did I wonder about his voice. Also, his music had gone up several notches - probably due to the training by Nagaswaram vidwan Semponarkoil SRD Vaidyanathan (especially the mallari). I was thinking, last year many of us lamented when Mandolin Srinivas passed away - without a Kalanidhi. Well, what’s wrong with giving it to some one so sincere, disciplined, traditional, has a vast repertoire and is in his prime! Kudos Sanjay Subrahmanyan - looking forward to hearing more of your concerts… Only regret is I may have to go at 4 AM during the season to get tickets instead of 5 at MMA smile emoticon
Hope MMA honors Vijay Siva and Ravikiran - two of my favorites from the same generation apart from Vinayakaram, VVS and Easwaran from the earlier generation, sooner rather than later!

balu3371 · Post by **balu3371** » 28 Jun 2015, 23:48

You narrated very nicely. I could have not said better. We love the way he sings with true tradition. He has truly earned this SK award.
K.Balu

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 28 Jun 2015, 23:58

In a nutshell, in a single post,
What Sanjay's music's about
Is described--why so many
Are drawn to his music too...

Let not publicity, press speak!
Of the young and old seeking
Subrahmanyan's music, here,
Kunthalavarali speaks,enough

Kunthalavarali,
Thanks for dispelling the dark clouds of negativity. We who have been typing mile long posts are awed by your brevity in conveying our sentiments so well...

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 00:33

g_g,
Then I see your post! How well you have chronicled your journey with the music of Sanjay!
I had not heard Sanjay in the eighties at all. A late comer in 2000, in the very first concert, he made me sit up (as I was thinking that here was a young but mature artiste), was shaken out of my thoughts when he began singing sabhApathikku. How the rAga bhAva and sAhitya bhAvA blended and give me goose bumps! I could not miss another concert of his that easily.

And that has made me see him progress. Early on, I remember asking his wife after a concert: how old is your husband? Hundred and thirty six? (adding a hundred years). She was a bit taken aback, and I added, ''at least, he makes me feel as if I am listening to one that old--how well he sings, like a veteran!''

There's also something new and substantial to look forward to in his concerts, a new kruti, new rAgA, a fresh sangathi, a neraval to engage us, a tAnam majestic and capturing. And an RTP of the most sumptuous kind...

As a musical person with not that much vidvat, I look upon Sanjay as a giant. My musical journey has got richer too over the years, listening to him.

If the press and the publicity machine go overboard, let them. I care two hoots. That's how the world operates today, anyway.

It's the music that stays and enriches. Ah, the music! The music of all the very gifted musicians who delight us rasikAs today

Balu3371,
Welcome to Rasikas.org! A breath of fresh air among new membership

g_g,
In your list of RTPs, I didn't see KalyANi

meenaakshi · Post by **meenaakshi** » 29 Jun 2015, 01:55

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs”



kunthalavarali, this is for you.
2 photographs from my archive of sorts



1. The SK designate

2. The SK, (S.Kalyanaraman)

No blaming The Academy, the SK embedded in his name threw them off, I guess.



https://picasaweb.google.com/Minavg/TheSK

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Jun 2015, 02:45

Whoa! Enough of SK 2015!

OK... who wants to talk SK 2016?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 03:35

Nicholas,
There's already a new thread. Scroll and see

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 03:44

After acres of typed lines, then pictures

Thanks,Meenaakshi!

thanjavooran · Post by **thanjavooran** » 29 Jun 2015, 05:18

Nick H wrote:Whoa! Enough of SK 2015!

OK... who wants to talk SK 2016?

One good thing to be noted. Present thread has attracted lot of new forum members. Request them to continue with their views on other messages too.
Thanjavooran
29 06 2015

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 29 Jun 2015, 05:32

Nick,

we have already started. No one seem interested yet. They want to beat the man to death.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 06:30

Exactly. See my post just above, my telling Nick about it.

As for this thread, and elsewhere too, we should cease bringing in beatings and effigies, and stay with the mangala vAkkugaL (words of blessings)

of Kunthalavarali, Thanjavooran and others, some much younger. Enough of breathing this polluted air where music gets battered with its practitioners...

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 29 Jun 2015, 09:57

The outcome of this thread + the various similar threads in the recent couple of months is simply that Rasikas would be snarling at each other if they were ever to meet ( so, better no lapel pin for this year). With Arasi and Nick recommendations I tried to healthily step into 2016 SK, but there is animosity everywhere. I am stepping back.

I recommended one of my friends to join Rasikas forum, for healthy, elite, interesting exchange of musical ideas. But, should that be deferred

?

sureshvv · Post by **sureshvv** » 29 Jun 2015, 10:54

I am sure that the aggression you find in the forum won't manifest in "real life". So please don't worry about that.

ganesh_mourthy · Post by **ganesh_mourthy** » 29 Jun 2015, 11:47

thanks suresh.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 12:29

'Hard-working' is not working all the time or any such thing. It means application on the details of what one is working at and getting the basics right and building step by step something of value. Otherwise it is hardly any work. SS eminently fits into 'hard-working'. His tenacity at whatever he is doing is remarkable. His diligence shows in his output. Only prejudice prevents people form acknowledging that he deserves the award; yes there are others. If the critics in this forum would have sat in the panel, he would perhaps never have got it. That was not to be.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 12:47

Kalki has Sanjay on the frontispiece and writes: "SK by MA is like Oscar by Academy and Nobel by the Swedisn institute. To get this pinnacle of an award, hard (asAdhya) work, flair for music, the power to draw the rasikas and eagerness to keep leaarning are needed. Sanjay has been chosen for the award this year." It quotes Murali, "SS is an unparalleled singer. He is in the forefront of contemporary singers."
Ram Narayan says, "Sanjay has mastered all aspects of music, be it alapana, kriti rendition, swaraprstara or RTP. When he sings Tamizh songs the pronunciation is precise. Above all, he is adept in gauging the mood of the audience. He enjoys listening to the senior vidwans and remembers their forte."

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 29 Jun 2015, 13:38

sureshvv wrote:I am sure that the aggression you find in the forum won't manifest in "real life". So please don't worry about that.

The other day, I met Suresh for a punch up... but we drank tea instead

ganesh_mourthy wrote:The outcome of this thread + the various similar threads in the recent couple of months is simply that Rasikas would be snarling at each other if they were ever to meet ( so, better no lapel pin for this year). With Arasi and Nick recommendations I tried to healthily step into 2016 SK, but there is animosity everywhere. I am stepping back.

I recommended one of my friends to join Rasikas forum, for healthy, elite, interesting exchange of musical ideas. But, should that be deferred ?

Well, they should understand that it is the internet, and not everything is "sweetness and light" all the time. Rasikas.org has certainly had its ups and downs. It has seen some very vicious behaviour in the past, and I admit having been part of at least one of those fights

.

Disagreement, even strong disagreement, is fine. It's just a pity when it gets personal, whether between fellow members or against musicians or other persons outside rasikas.

As to what Sanjay would think of all this, I expect that he wouldn't bother. Artists in all fields have to develop thick skins. I recall an artist friend, many years ago, saying that it was part of going to Art School; learning to have everything you do torn apart, and being able to take it.

...And I have already posted my note of dissent, about an artist who has a huge following and much admiration, on the 2016 thread

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 29 Jun 2015, 14:09

thaaye wrote:
Rsachi wrote: His acolyte V Sriram
True, the eulogizing writer/historian. SS must have known long back the benefits of having a writer around like erstwhile kings did (or were they comedians?)

Vidhushaka or court-jester is the word you are looking for. His job is to amuse the king when he is bored or to clown around so that the king comes out of his bad mood.

Here we have Vidhushaka Sriram!

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 29 Jun 2015, 14:12

kvchellappa wrote:I used to read and hear that apart from one or two (MS, MMI, KVN) no one else had sruti suddham. Thanks to Sanjay all others have now got it and only Sanjay is the offender. I think he deserves SK for making all others srthi compliant.

Thanks to Sanjay, we are all able to see big merit in Sudha Raghynathan's selection as SK 2 years back.

Maybe that was the message the Music Academy is sending: we are diving for sponges and we will go as low as necessary!

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 29 Jun 2015, 14:21

sirsub11 wrote:Let me once again disrupt - constructively. Another fine piece of writing, written well before the SK award for 2015 was announced. Worth reading for its own sake.

https://puliyogaretravels.wordpress.com ... rahmanyan/

Let me see.

I said that the tup-tup artist has been getting control over layam and sruthi only in the last five years.

You refer to a review written last year.

Is that supposed to refute my point?

I am simply astounded by your logic.

harimau · Post by **harimau** » 29 Jun 2015, 14:27

People talk about ignoring the rhinoceros in the room.

The Music Academy has been ignoring the mammoth.

After posting about Ravikiran and Ranjani-Gayathri's musical accomplishments, I challenged folks to write up an Excel spreadsheet comparing the tup-tup artist against Aruna Sayeeram, Bombay Jayasri, Nithyasri, etc.

There are no takers!

What are you Sanjay jaalras afraid of?

Can't we have a fair comparison?

What the heck; I am prepared to take an unfair comparison.

I rest my case against the Music Academy's decision.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 16:06

Nick;s words "As to what Sanjay would think of all this, I expect that he wouldn't bother." are on the dot.

behag · Post by **behag** » 29 Jun 2015, 16:24

I think Harimau really wanted to go for the inter school maths quiz. But miss chose Sanjay.

Thirty five years later. Revenge!

Ramasubramanian M.K · Post by **Ramasubramanian M.K** » 29 Jun 2015, 17:13

In all these discussions for SK I am saddened by the glaring omission of my name for SK(SANGEETHA KOLAINIDHI)!!!ET TU RASIKAS THEN FALL MKR!!!

SERIOUSLY THOUGH I AM A LITTLE MIFFED BY THE VITUPOR AND HEAT LATELY IN MANY DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS TOPICS.WE ARE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC WHICH AUGURS WELL BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TASTES AND OPINIONS ARE SUBJECTIVE.THE WORTHINESS OF ONE ARTISTE OVER ANOTHER IS AN ENDLESS DEBATE THAT CAN NEVER BE RESOLVED

HAVING SAID THIS I AM MIGHTY IMPRESSED WITH THE DEPTH AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE FORUMITES-YOUNG AND OLD. MY ONLY FEAR IS THAT THE INTENSITY OF OUR DEBATES AND DISCUSSIONS OUGHT NOT TO DETER SOME OF THE YOUNG FORUMITES FROM STAKING THEIR OPINIONS AND IMPRESSIONS.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 17:55

I do not know how many have seen this:
"My congratulations to Vidvan Sanjay Subrahmayan on being chosen as this year's recipient of the 'Sangita Kalanidhi' title awarded by The Music Academy Madras.

A musician who fits the bill of being a true 'Kalanidhi'. In honouring Sanjay Subrahmanyan with the 'Sangita Kalanidhi' the award has really honoured itself. It is a cliche to say this, but is wholly true.

TM"

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 18:55

Chellappa,
Missed you yesterday when the thread took a positivite turn...

Your definition of hard work in this context is admirable.'uzhaippu for pizaippu' (working hard for a living) is not the same in the case of an artiste. There, it is uzaippu for uyarvu (working for honing one's skills, keep trying to get even better). It's not a journey on the commuter train--it's a journey which hopes for discoveries.

Your last post--who said this? TM 'K' ?

Nick,
Yes, a south indian meal without pickles to many is incomplete. Our exchanges are fine with some kAram (chili-spiced). But vitriol is a flavor we need to avoid

See, I'm learning too, using emoticons I had not used before

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 19:24

Arasi,
Yes, it is TMK. (in FB, he has signed as TM). You would have seen Suryaprakash calling it deserved and SS as meritorious, in this column. Sowmya has congratulated him in twitter.
I stayed away for 3 days or so on purpose, to give a break to my overindulging.
Yes, uzhaippu is the word they use in CM. Being a poet also, you have the words at your command.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 29 Jun 2015, 19:37

Harimau,
Sanjay is synonym for 'excel'; no separate sheet is required.
If anyone or anything is adviteeyam, you cannot compare him, her or it with anyone/anything else.
(I am just balancing your hyper-criticism with hyper-admiration).

kedharam · Post by **kedharam** » 29 Jun 2015, 21:24

“What are you Sanjay jaalras afraid of?”

Afraid? You are nauseatingly pretentious.
Let me tell you what this “jaalra” is afraid of. Insanity.
Am laying low to preserve my sanity as I watch your insanity unravel like a Greek tragedy.

hnbhagavan · Post by **hnbhagavan** » 29 Jun 2015, 22:39

It looks that the oldest artist to receive SK award from Music Academy is Sri TV Gopala krishnan,past 80 years....

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 29 Jun 2015, 22:42

Ah, kedharam,
There you are!
One thing though. The big cat alone is not to be blamed here. How about a handful of others who jumped into the arena to join the pathetic show that was put up on hearing the news?

harahari · Post by **harahari** » 30 Jun 2015, 08:29

Just because there were others with different views ( not gushing about sanjay) , you don't have to call it a pathetic show. Sanjay has just carried forward from sangeetham.com. Just like the way he was manipulating the whole show there he is doing it to a certain extant here on rasikas. With so many jaalras ,chelas & even well meaning ,respected rasikas like arasi jumping to his defense the moment somebody says something negative ,I think that is what's pathetic.

Did anybody disprove me & a few other sanjay dissenters regarding his sruthi etc..?

Feel so sorry for kuntalavarali . After listening to GNB,SSI,MMI & others live for many years , all he could settle on was sanjay's music .

Please don't insult the memory of greats like GNB, SSI,MMI, MS & others by Including a sanjay in the same group.

ramamantra · Post by **ramamantra** » 30 Jun 2015, 08:33

harahari wrote: With so many jaalras ,chelas & even well meaning ,respected rasikas like arasi jumping to his defense the moment somebody says something negative ,I think that is what's pathetic.

I find that disconcerting too. A different take or disagreement is frowned upon in this forum. Basically, its like what Ford said about cars being black.

Sundara Rajan · Post by **Sundara Rajan** » 30 Jun 2015, 08:45

It is my opinion that disagreement about the choice and constructive criticisms have not been frowned upon here. Vituperation is what is objectionable.

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 30 Jun 2015, 09:06

arasi wrote:handful of others who jumped into the arena to join the pathetic show that was put up on hearing the news?

If you're referring to Nick, Always_Evolving or several others who made sober points based on musical merit and lifetime contribution to CM, that's a new (and rare) low for you Arasi

.

The several anonymous handles (for or the few against the MA's decision) help make it a "pathetic show"

.

kvchellappa · Post by **kvchellappa** » 30 Jun 2015, 09:38

What is pathetic is not that a different view is held, but that there was an unbecoming chorus that Sanjay lacks musical merit altogether. By no stretch of imagination, such a strident and baseless view can be described in any better polite term than what Arasi has chosen.