In his acceptance speech after receiving the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanithi Award for 2024 by The Music Academy, Madras, Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna stated that figures like Ambedkar and Periyar should be incorporated alongside traditional Carnatic masters like Thyagaraja and Dikshitar.

The award ceremony was held at the Academy’s venue on TTK Road, Chennai, as part of its 98th annual festival celebrations. Professor David Shulman from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who was the guest of honour, presented the award to Krishna, in recognition of his ‘contributions’ to Carnatic music.

In his acceptance speech, Krishna expressed heartfelt gratitude to those who have supported him throughout his journey, even during challenging times. “Standing by me, despite knowing the path I tread, is not easy. I owe my gratitude and love to all who have stood by me,” he remarked.

Later, during an interaction with Sun News, Krishna spoke elaborately and said there was a need for inclusivity and dialogue in Carnatic music. Beginning with the award presenter, he said, “David Shulman, who presented this award, is an extraordinary individual. He has contributed immensely to understanding Carnatic music, South Indian arts, spirituality, religions, and languages. He speaks and writes in about ten languages and has done numerous translations. He’s not only a thinker but also a social activist, championing causes like Palestinian rights. Receiving this award from him is deeply meaningful to me.”

Speaking on the “challenges” he faces, he said, “There’s nothing particularly special about it. I’ve made decisions to prioritize equality—be it spiritual, religious, or societal. I believe all humans, spaces, thoughts, arts, and artists are equal. But, achieving this realization emotionally is challenging. I was born into an upper-caste, upper-class environment, but I’ve constantly questioned it. Questioning your environment is crucial. Challenges will arise, but they lead to meaningful insights. The challenges don’t stop with you; they extend to those around you—family, friends, students. It’s not easy for them to understand my thoughts immediately. But I refuse to live a lie and accept the societal pressures that discourage questioning. They give more trouble to those around me, that’s the pressure tactic. In English, we call it collateral damage. They plant a bomb in a place to plant a bomb, to kill someone, but 100 people die. Why do they kill 100 people? They say that’s collateral damage. This is what they are doing to target them. I have no answer for that. So, they are suffering a lot. I feel that suffering, that’s why I feel it’s difficult for them. Beyond that, if they are with me, that is a great strength of theirs. They don’t need to come out and say, “I am with you.” They don’t need to hold a flag and come to a big protest. But they are with me. I know they are. They can sing and come and talk. That is what friendship is. That is a real strength. You need great courage to take it. I am grateful for that for life.”

Answering a question on the “themes of equality, Ambedkar, Periyar’s thoughts, and interfaith harmony“, Krishna said, “Whether it’s Ambedkar, Periyar, Narayana Guru, or Buddha, they all arose from their contexts and political philosophies. My role is to share these ideas through music. Carnatic music is my vehicle. It’s up to the audience to internalize and reflect on these ideas, I am not ready to force them. But if you say this should not come in music, that should not come in music. I will definitely oppose it until the end. I will never accept it. Politics is embedded in every aspect of life—from where you are born, the doctor you see, the school you attend, to the food you eat. Even poetry and whether you can go to the beach are political. Music, too, must reflect diverse perspectives and emotions. Carnatic music should include Ambedkar and societal questions alongside Thyagaraja and Dikshitar. Thiagaraja must also be there, that is the beauty of it. Everyone is there – Thiagarajar, Dikshitar, Narayana Guru, Ambedkar, Periyar – that is community. Community means being together, but it doesn’t mean everyone must agree with everything. Music is a tool for asking questions. Thyagarajar has also asked questions. Why have we forgotten that? He is asking questions through his kirtanas, with the exposure he had during his time. He is also questioning. What am I asking? They have given us a new idea. What are we doing about our world? “

Speaking about the “standing ovation” he received for his 25 December 2024 free concert, he said, “It has been ten years since I performed at the academy. Conversation happens in different ways. I quit Music Academy, that was a conversation. During these 10 years, I have seen many small changes. Not big changes, but small changes can be seen. Secondly, when an institution also participates in that conversation, I think it is very important that we also participate in that conversation. So now a conversation has begun, what happened in the last eight months is a conversation, now I said that this award is being given to me and when I agreed to accept that award, a lot of conversation has happened since then, it means there is some spark in the society, that is what we need.”

He further said, “I have a lot of conversations with the audience I have been in touch for 10 years. I have organized many Nadaswaram concerts. I have organized many events through our foundation. So if I want to say it in English, I am an insider outsider. It is very easy to become an outsider. It can happen in a second. It does not require any courage. It is more difficult to be inside and do what you want to.”

Speaking about the song he chose to sing and his attire, he said, “The song goes like this “We want freedom, we want freedom, we want freedom to speak, sing, listen to, read, etc. That song was written by the writer Perumal Murugan. It has become something that needs to be said today. It shouldn’t be like that. After 78 years, this shouldn’t be asked. It’s not a matter of asking. But we have to ask because even today there is a problem. There is a mistake, this fear. In English, there is something called self-censorship, so we censor ourselves when the threats become too much. It is because there is a fear in your mind that if you speak about it and worry about what others will say. That is not freedom. When will there be freedom? There should be no fear. Freedom is freedom When our minds and hearts are free without that fear. We don’t have it today. Violence has increased, especially in social media. If there is freedom, I must also have that freedom to wear what I want. No one knew what I was wearing. It was a sarong. This is worn in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. It was made in Yazhpanam by Tamils. Should we not support the Tamils suffering there? Is it not a respectable attire? Just because the oppressed class or labourers wear the lungi, has it become ugly because of that, call lungi, what are you saying about them? If a Muslim wears it, what do we say about it? Why is everyone wearing a salwar kameez, don’t wear it. I don’t care what they say about me.”

Praising the Margazhi Makkal Isai being taken forward by Dravidianist director Pa Ranjith, Krishna said, “These two worlds should meet. Now it is happening as two separate worlds. If the community wants to unite, those two worlds should meet, but they should meet with equal strength. So these two are now happening during Margazhi. On one side, there are changes, and I am making them. I will do whatever I can. Ranjith said that it is makkal isai. These two environments are a basket of art. Let’s say these are two baskets. When they come together, it will become a real Chennai Margazhi festival.”

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