Following Music Academy’s announcement of conferring ‘Sangita Kalanidhi’ award to controversial singer TM Krishna, Carnatic vocalist duo Ranjani and Gayatri have announced their decision to withdraw from participating in the highly anticipated Music Academy’s conference slated for 2024. Not only that, but they have also pulled out from presenting their scheduled concert on December 25th.
In a strongly worded statement, Ranjani-Gayatri cited their reason for withdrawal as the presence of controversial singer TM Krishna, who is known for his leftist and Dravidianist views.
They accused TM Krishna of causing irreparable harm to the Carnatic music world.
“He has caused immense damage to the Carnatic music world, wilfully and happily stomped over the sentiments of this community and insulted most respected icons like Tyagaraja and MS Subbulakshmi. His actions have tried to spread a sense of shame in being a carnatic musician and has been exhibited through his consistent denigration of spirituality in music.“, the Carnatic sisters said in their statement.
They also slammed TM Krishna’s glorification of anti-Hindu ideologue EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) saying,
Ranjani Gayatri emphasized their commitment to a value system that honors art, artists, and the cultural heritage of Carnatic music. They argued that participating in the conference, given Mr. Krishna’s involvement, would constitute a moral violation of these values.
About TM Krishna
TM Krishna belongs to a family that boasts of a hoary and extremely wealthy past. His grand-uncle is TT Krishnamachari, son of a Madras High Court judge TT Rangachari during the British Raj.
TM Krishna is known more for his ‘activism’ than his music. He often courts controversy with his leftist views and plays second fiddle to the tunes of Dravidianists. He had also participated in the blatantly anti-Hindu global conference titled “Dismantling Global Hindutva“. Before that he had felt sad when 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab was hanged.
He has hailed EVR and has even sung songs revering him. Recently, he had released a song titled “Sindhikka Sonnavar Periyar,” which means “EVR told us to think,” in contrast to what EV Ramasamy Naicker told his Dravidar Kazhagam followers. EV Ramasamy Naicker always wanted his followers not to think and just follow his orders like a military organization.
Honouring Periyar with this special song along with Perumal Murugan and Pazha. Athiyaman – Commemorating the Centenary of the Vaikom Satyagraha. @perumal_murugan
Watch the full video here: https://t.co/tL7aLUFTbt#tmkrishna #musician #perumalmurugan #periyar #vaikomsatyagraha
— T M Krishna (@tmkrishna) March 30, 2023
He had extended solidarity to controversial ‘activist’ Meena Kandasamy who had called Brahmin community as ‘dicks’.
I do not know the context of @meenakandasamy 's
tweet but stand in solidarity and agree with all that she has expressed in this thread https://t.co/R9TY8eDkUv— T M Krishna (@tmkrishna) December 29, 2020
He had even advocated for equating Lord Ram with a dog.
Ranjani Gayatri duo withdraw from participating in the Music Academy’s conference 2024 as it is presided over by "Sangeetha Kalanidhi" TM Krishna – who wanted Sri "Rama to be equalised with a palm tree or a dog"
Kudos to your courage of conviction ma'am! https://t.co/MIWNAmbKC3 pic.twitter.com/eOy6OhPTFz
— Tamil Labs 2.0 (@labstamil) March 20, 2024
He had also written an hitjob piece on the revered carnatic singer Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi for rabidly leftist rag The Caravan.
He has even distorted carnatic music to display his secular credentials by singing Islamic songs in Carnatic tunes.
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