(Adam and Eve..)
In other words, something as structured and intellectual as Carnatic music cannot be anywhere as innocent as tribal or folk music. But that is not a big No-No for me. After all, all music is a measured human effort, harnessing melody and presentation for the intended audience. When a child cries for his mother, maybe hoarse and offkey, it will be very different from the Carnatic composer crying out, "Devi brovasamayamide!"
And yet, I strongly believe that all Carnatic music has an element of innocence. Just like when someone expresses love for someone, and there is that innocence of purpose. After all he doesn't know if the feeling will be requited or even understood.
When a musician performs, however famous he may be, however well publicised his concert, however well branded with a theme, in THAT MOMENT, as the music comes out, it is innocent. It is like shooting an arrow, and saying, "I shot an arrow into the air, and it fell to earth I knew not where."
To remove the heartburn of innocence exposed to unpredictable responses, we have mounted an elaborate game plan in Carnatic music. We have Sangeeta Lakshana, compositions, well-trained musicians and architected presentation styles, "Bani", branding, websites, blurbs, themes, stage and audience arrangements, accompaniments, and many other devices, all intended to reduce the unpreditability of the effect of the music when it is presented. But none of these things ever take away the core element of innocence. I can see it sometimes when the musician makes eye contact with me.
I think it is that element of innocence that really connects me and the musician. And my innocence is in being true and total in my response, without any pretensions or ostentations.
Even a hugely marketed Kabali cannot avoid that moment of innocence in the eye of Thalaivar, if ever he can make eye contact with the audience and ask, silently, for that response. That moment is when the hearts connect and communicate, whether happily or not.
What do you say?
PS: William Blake invented a method of illustrating his works. This is his orginal work!
