Move to stop attempts to communalize Carnatic music, says T M Krishna
Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 11:After Carnatic musicians are being targeted for compositions praising non-Hindu deities, eminent vocalist T M Krishna has decided to fight attempts to communalize Carnatic music.
Krishna took to social media to announce he will compose a Carnatic song on Jesus and Allah every month. “Considering the vile comments and threats issued by many on social media regarding Carnatic compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one Carnatik song every month on Jesus or Allah (sic),” Krishna tweeted.
The controversy started a few days back, when singer OS Arun was target of social media backlash as he had agreed to participate in event 'Yesuvin Sangama Sangeetham' on August 25 in Chennai.
This show was conceived by T Samuel Joseph (Shyaam). Shyaam, a student of Lalgudi G Jayaraman, has long been an exponent of Christian Carnatic music and is well known in the film and music circles.
Not just Arun, singers Aruna Sairam, who has been chosen for this year’s prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi title by Music Academy, Nityasree Mahdevan, and P Unnikrishnan were criticized for singing songs in praise of Jesus.
The singers were termed 'traitors of Hinduism', 'shamers of Carnatic music' and 'disgusting cretins'.
One twitter user also called Arun a “cheapster for doing Christian Bhajan programme for money”.
Following the threats, Arun cancelled his participation in the programme citing personal reasons. Meanwhile, Nityasree took to social media to clarify that she would not sing anymore compositions on non-Hindu gods.
“I firmly believe that it is an unforgivable offence to be involved in an act that would tarnish the image of our rich tradition and heritage, community, society, nation, and mankind. I shall never ever commit or abet one myself,” she said.
T M Krishna, a Magsaysay award winner found support online after his tweet. One user Aparajith Raman (@aparajithraman) suggested, “While you’re at it, can you have some qawwalis/Sufi-style music on Krishna or Rama made as well? It’ll definitely be nice to hear them too.”
Krishna said many such compositions exist, and posted a link to one he likes: Krishn kanhaiya by Hafeez Jalandhari. Suresh R (@iamabofh) cited a song on god Krishna from the film Baiju Bawra, created by three Muslims: Naushad, Mohammed Rafi and Shakeel Badayuni. “The story is that the production company’s accountant heard the song being recorded and went into an ecstasy,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that Christian Carnatic music is an established genre in itself, practised for several decades. Abraham Pandithar (1859-1919), who composed Christian devotional kritis in the Carnatic style, is acclaimed as a musicologist.
Muslims too are known to have taken up the nadaswaram (a wind instrument) and have been active participants in Carnatic music.