Dr. Yesudas has popularized Carnatic Music to the masses. Even as a lay man, I can enjoy his rendering

When they say 'the ecosystem', do they mean plants, animals and other organism or are they just talking about the carnatic world or the brahmanical hegemony? Love when we use new words to describe same old thing. A huge fan of the sisters and even now when I hear them sing, I am in awe but when they smile after their half-assed response, it's giving me president snow vibe from The Hunger Games film

These are Non resident Tamilians who sing in Telugu and call it Karnatic Music. If only people knew the history of this music and who used to sing it before it became a elite music. Shows a certain round about arrogance in their reply for direct questions. Kudos to the interviewer for asking them questions that brought out their mindset.

The interviewer deserves kudos for (1) preparing well for the interview (2) asking pointed questions (3) waiting for the respondents to answer in full without interruption.. This is a wonderful interview. The sisters are excellent and need full support for being direct, sharp and clear in both their position and explanation. We're so grateful that they can take this stand and explain this important value based judgement.

THESE TWO SISTERS SHOULD NOT BE SINGING THUKARAM MAHARAJ JI'S ABHANGS IN MUMBAI AS WHAT HE CONVEYS THROUGH HIS MUSICAL OUTPOURINGS IS NOT VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHRI TM KRISHNA JI SAYS

In one sentence madame Ranjani says "we are all doing our bit", but apparently there is no time due to the demands of making money from carnatic music and teaching it to your own families? So doing our bit is doing little to nothing it seems. Why do they not wake up in the morning to think of how to help others? Came to this interview with hope, leave feeling that the hegemony is likely to persist.

Why i feel that both their smiles looks so fake

Ranjani and Gayatri have just shown they are not just musical masters - but great intellectuals who can very convincingly put forth their point of view without getting entangled in emotions. Hats off to both of them !

Appreciate the steps taken by The Print to let the other side speak after the lopsided " Brahmin meltdown " article. Happy that a discussion is happening.

Vidushis your decision to boycott or withdraw from MMA programs certainly is the most wise, valid, tenable, sathwik, ethical, moral and courageous decision in support of the tradition and art of karnatak classical music. We expected in fact many more musicians to join the suit. Nevertheless as on date six brave ethical wise musicians have come out with similar decision as the tip of the ice berg of classical musicians. Kudos.

Both of you are brilliant .a well articulated thoughts of yours..you said it right its sadhana indeed.connecting to our paramatma,and artists experience that and for some moments tranfer that to the listeners too Thats their skill and takes years of dedicated practice.you have every right to put your best foot forward.Good interview and both of you cleared the air around your decision.And not to exclude the anchor ,showed such maturity and cool calm ,composed and smiling. approach .just right ,made the show taste good.

Gayathri- not just in music, you are great at communication as well. Go girl, AmbaAl bless.

Yesudas, with a Christian background has sung in Madras Academy.

There are `1000s if not lakhs of Nadaswaram artists who are not Brahmins. In fact, it is even more difficult if not the most difficult and most melodious musical instrument in the world. People do not respect the Nadaswaram artists nor that art form. May be it is changing, but it needs more recognition.

RA Ga have done Raja by raga concerts to take Carnatic music to larger audience. Why nobody is talking about it. Why hail only Krishna?

These sisters are brilliant in both music and devotion to Thyagaraja Dikshitar and Shyama and their traditions

I am a rasika and i fully support your decision. At all the time you sing in the sabhas except music academy, you can count my presence.

As regards the point that Brahmins have been dominating Carnatic music field, it is factually incorrect. There have been and there are doyens from non Brahmin community...eg The great Nagaswara Chakravarthy T N Rajarathnam pillai leading that group with Thiruvengadu subramania pillai, p s veeruswami, nachiyarkovil Raghava pillai 10:43 and plenty of thavil vidwans,mridangam pazhani Subramania pillai and a host of others, chittoor Subramania pillai, Madurai Somu, in recent times, jesudas,TMSoundararajan, sirkhazhi Govindarajan..have all populRised through cinema too to laymen. So" Brahmins have dominated" argument does not hold water.

Hats off to you sisters! A professor from U S has brought out the point about the urgency in announcing this, months in advance and that too to coincide with the elections. It gives the impression that mount road mahavishnu is all out to support the anti brahminical dravida parties. Apart from your knowledge, I admire your expressions. Gone are the days when Brahmins were quiet. Today , you have proved that women from the community can counter effectively

Well done RAGA sisters. I hope other senior musicians of madras also join your stand and boycott this "good for nothing" Music Academy 's present management, who are not even a pale shadow of the people at the helm of affairs in the Academy way back in the mid late 1960s , 1970s and 1980s. Shame on them for having brought this whole issue to this point of disgust. We music lovers, who have been coming down to madras every December- January will jointly boycott the Academy 's programme ensuring it to be a total washout and a flop show. Kudos to both of you for the courage shown in initiatiating this commendable move against --- you know what!!!

Ranjani and Gayatri did present their views very well. Kudos

These two do not deserve anyway I stand in support of Krishna ji . Music is universal and any body with talent and interest can learn music casteism should not be brought into any kind of music industry

The sisters sing beautifully. But their hypocrisy also shines through. They complain about others casting aspersions on them, but do not hesitate to cast aspersions, in a condescending manner, on "activists" and fans who, they are sure, have not listened to even hour of Carnatic music. You don't need any training or cultural background to appreciate good music in all its forms - folk to classical. TMK fights that condescending attitude. They question what his 10 years of activism has achieved. The world has seen what he has achieved. He has raked up the issue of caste-based discrimination, discrimination against women, the sexual harrassment cases that are not followed up in the "ecosystem", how the instrument makers have been sidelined for centuries (Sebastian and sons), the issue of free speech and shrinking space for dissent, socio-environmental issues through songs like "Porompokku," the validity and credibility of "folk" art forms... the list goes on. Periyar's social reformist credentials cannot be doubted, even if he used bad language. TMK might not be perfect (his music is close to it.. even transcends it at times), but no single artiste in the music world has done what he has done to highlight systemic injustices to date.

I totally agree with sisiters' words.

carnatic music needs training for years and years..Instead of wasting time on unnecessary controversies let tmk concentrate on music and try teaching carnatic music to all sect without discrimination..as carnatic music or all types of music has no barriers and nobody has created any barrier as tmk says...There are many people from all relegion who pursue carnatic music nd sings well too ! So why this controversy? Let everyone comeforward nd learn music instead of wasting their time

1. T.M.Krishna boycotted Music academy citing it casteist . 2.He has happily accepted award from same institution which he has accused. If 1 is TRUE, then 2 should be logically and morally false . If 1 is FALSE then he should not have said that 1 is TRUE. Full contradiction and hypocrisy by T.M.Krishna.

What is this hagemony ???? any body.Can come and sing ; No one is controlling anyone ; Brahmins they work hard on that as their life ; TMK had not attended any concerts for 9 years in the academy and got awarded ; RG question the basis of award ;

Award is not be all and end all of music. Music academy is losing its value.

Why this award has announced it so early before election?😅😅

At 7.15, the interviewer says tmk is fighting for including other communities. Whom is he fighting ? Who is opposing inclusion ? Is there any evidence to prove opposition to inclusion ? If tmk decides to teach only non Brahmins ( in place of Brahmins whom he is teaching at present ) who will resist it ? Let him test it.

Carnatic music will remain the same even after this incident. The only thing now visible is people are ready to blame Brahmins for all things happening around.Let mrKrishna explain what are the efforts he has taken for left out people to learn Carnatic music we will be happy and thank him

Excellent interview...The interviewer and the interviewee....unhurried, yet informative....Me and my wife are huge admirers of the wonderful duo...have been fortunate to hear them live many times...(more than one hour!)….Ilayaraaja was not entirely welcome initially.... Now, widely accepted for his work in widening the musical base of fans/rasikas...Dr Krishna's musical nous is not in question...It is his method of popularizing it... Right? The sisters consciously avoided talking about Dr Krishna's musical brilliance....Why?

I was mesmerised when i heard the reality spoken by TM Krishna , this award or not what he has said on inequality in this art form he needs to be acknowledged. And an art form cannot be reduced to cast and religion. He stands for this so hats off to him.

The sisters are not only great singers but also in very good communicating what is right ..they belive...me too endorse their point of view.. Jai carnatic music jai vaggayakaras and exponents too.

Raga sisters You have to mention your own initiatives like Raga by Raja Rasa by Raga Etc To prove your point better You are already involved in transformative efforts

To the interviewer, they came on for this interview because they felt that they needed to use a democratic platform to defend their inclusionary views, however well masked they are. It was your job to not smile through every answer just to move onto the next one. Holding feet to fire. Holding thoughts to trial. I’m surprised by the questions that weren’t asked(you can reply if you want to know what they were). Truly dissatisfying but I do see your heart is in the right place.

fact- it so happens that this "so-called one community" kids work harder and longer than the average kid in this field -and great parental support. They are generally from a middle o r lower middle class background, unlike TM Krishna who comes from a rich powerful and elite family. Print- get your act together and not be shallow.

Presentation of clasical raag music as musician and enjoing it as listener; may be as amateur listener or connoisour I think is linked with personal choice towards own liking and nature and should not be mixed with socializing it irrespective of choices, likings and instincts of the masses because individuality prevails.

I still dont get what they are protesting. Are they mad cos he got the award? Through the entire conversation they dont make clear what are they objecting to. Why keep referring to the letter? Why not be honest n speak out here?

Where the ladies stand, for casteism or musi?. Music is divine.. But your intention is not beyond doubt..

We need clarity on what the "eco system" is.

There is no need to put more pressure on these sisters than they are in already! She made herself clear there is No mincing of words ! Think about it this way! Writing gana songs and dancing therukoothu belongs to a particular “ecosystem” or caste! No one is fighting with them for inclusion because interested person is always welcome to learn similarly any person interested to learn Carnatic music will have full access to the art form. There is no need to hold placards and do activism for seeking attention. The sisters are repeatedly saying the same. If TMK has made efforts for 10 years there should be at least one student of his performing in known spaces! On the contrary there are many lesser known Carnatic music teachers teaching this art form for all people irrespective of their origin! I am one of them and proud of it! All my students are music lovers, I have no clue what community they are from. If you are really inclusive you will do the job quietly without throwing blasphemy at some community to appease some other community !

Wonderful decision.

Many scientists,scholars etc have surrendered the awards they received during yester years from as reputed institutions as music academy in their respective field.there is no such commotion as what we are seeing today. Basically it is unfortunate that the technical excellence in music is not in question.many have a good word about his expertise.

Madras music academy has conveniently overlooked or wilfully kept away from the public domain the basic fact that TM Krishna is neither invited nor honoured by Christians or Muslims or Dalits in musical events featuring talented artists from their community.

Where are the other musicians ?? There are many seniors like Sudha Raghunathan, Sanjay Subramaniam etc . Are they only trying to protect their career interests and are willing to stomach insults like these?

The question about TM krishna award also is secondary and takes a backseat but what is good about this issue is that THE BRAHMIN domination is very subtle and needs to be addressed.

T M Krishna is Nephew of TTK family, founder of Academy, and so its natural that TTK family wants to award their family member whether he is eligible or not. If he was eligible, why T M Krishna did not sing in Music Academy all these years ? Why Academy did not allow him to give concert? Such questions arises to common public people. Murali should answer to it. There is something behind the screen. They are many stalwards like Nityasree etc. who are very senior and have high rank in carnatic music. Why they were not given till date? Politics in Music Academy.

It is important that listeners understand and appreciate the sahityam apart from sangeetham, the audience in AP once told The great Chembai Aravam lathu when he sang Tamil song at end of the concert,he told the audience that audience in TN and Kerala listen to Telugu and Kannada songs without opposing.

This interview did not get to anywhere

Madeas Sanskrit College started by brahmins open to all. K j yesudas has learnt carnatic music. Bharathanatyam all caste people learning already Not because of periyar e.v.ramaswamy

Will print question in the same way t.m.krishna. or atleast n. Murali head of music academy

Chowdiah-violin, Puttaswamiah-percussionist, Higgins-vocalist, MSS-vocalist, MLV-vocalist, KJJ-Vocalist, Devendrappa-vocalist, Mahadevappa-violinist, Mysuru Nagaraj-violinist, Mysuru Manjunath-violinist, Sheshappa-percussionist Numberless-All these persons are not brahmins. They are great by dint of their sadhanas, excepting an idiot by name krishnan, who doesn't want to know the greatness of our music.

They don't explain Mr Krishna is eligible or not for the award

Sangeeta Karunanidhi Sangeeta EVR Naicken award better for TM Chrishna

Traitors to the caste will not be tolerated.

That leads to the issue of can anybody learn for eg vocal music? Please try. If one can't match the pitch, can't go further. Can that one blame the guru and bring all other discrimination here? That will be sinful.

Support only TMK, Any people interested in music can enjoy it and not a monopoly for sny people

Where is your boss..

This was voiced by Mr Suresh Krishna from TVS group sometime back.

If they “ welcome diversity and various ideologies” I’m not sure why they withdrew?

I think people have the right to sing about whatever they want and whoever they want. It might be carnatic music or folk music. It is a free country. At the same time, people also have the right to boycott and call for boycott of an organization that does not serve its purpose anymore.

Sorry to say - Ra-Ga way of speaking and Singing sounds same - well articulated !

Unheard melodies are sweeter than heard ones.

Who is sitting in judgement to verify the truth in murali's letter. The society? Murali? Or a police constable?

The fact that Dushyant and Vishaka are together here is about brahminical hedgemoney

Well said sisters❤

Why are they fake smiling? If TM Krishna calls a spade a spade, what is your issue?

Also listen to Kalamandalam Late Hyderali Sir 🙏… for interested listeners..

Artists should be happy they have audience at their concerts. If you talk about Bhava and Rafika’s and all these divisions, I also like some other Voices like Sanjay Subhramanyam more than T.M.Krishna’s voice.Between Ranjani and Gayithri, I feel Ranjani has more Bhava than Gayithri. Gayithri has a high voice but not the Bhava of Ranjani. But I enjoy both their singing. Let’s get rid of the cast system and let truly gifted voices enthrall us.

awesome sisters. big fan of their guts to take a stance and musical excellence

Well explained separatists are always there to create problems thinking speaking about social service

Respect musicians for music but not for anti Hindu and anti divisive and anti Brahmin. God will not save you

QUOTE: "Whereever there was a holy place in South India there was widespread venereal disease (sexually transmitted disease). Four fifths of the affected were brahmin women" Page 110-111 of the 1924 year book The Dravidian Element in Indian Culture by Gilbert Slater (Madras University Professor 1924) UNQUOTE

mrinalini, good that you were listening to them, music is form if sadhna. It takes years and years of practice. You know why is Brahmin, it is one who does learning, tapasya. It can be anyone. Anyone from any community who works hard, spends hours and hours into learning this Carnatic music then he or she can become knowledgeable person called Brahmin. Not caste but varna. Who takes atoon. Enough of dena of attacking Brahmin. No one aha right to insult artists and music. TM krishna is vicious person and insulted hindua

Their speech also seemed like music to me. These artists speak chaste English and drop ornamental words while speaking. Have they also kept their art of speaking within their community? TMK supporters could allege there's Brahmin hegemony in Classical English too.

Can someone brief the issue?

Ranjani Gayathri chapter is over. All the best!!!

More power to both for standing against adharmic voices

Iam rather pained to hear so many discussions are made mostly un the social media channels which all these days discuss only Politics related matters for discussion. As Ranjini rightly says here today any one comment in anything without any basic knowledge or experience on it. Carnatic is one such art date back to 19th Century. It is for the Madras Music Academy , Mr T M.Krishna to dispel the doubts of only a handful of Musicians like RaGa, N .Ravikiran,Trichur Bros, and Priya Sisters. We the public or in the true sense Rasigas, want every Musician to say something on the TMK issues and they are free to take sides based on facts. I have a genuine fear that in the coming years Carnatic music will also be divided on the basis of Musicians, and their music, some singing Mummoorthigal kirtans based on Divine nature,while some others trying with Tamil songs. Many are non committal, and they are busy with their schedule in USA and other Countries. Along this, we also witness foreign singers learn and practice Carnatic music right from the days of John B Higgins, to a current day Chinese singer Hu or Chu student of lare DKP. Iam also amazed at a Muslim morher who praise her Daughter singing AYIGIRI NANDINI,and the mother also singing AYIGIRI openly admitting it is doing something in her. There are very many ways of improving our age old Music, by enriching it with more research.

You don’t have to listen to Carnatic music for an hour in ones life time to sight Brahmanism

politics behind the award. Why was it announced in March itself . Just before elections. What the role of N Ram in this ? Can someone explain ? The person who had vitriolic comments about the music academy all along gleefully accepts. Only the musician can answer

Muthumari was chennai NGS . AWESOME VIDUSHIS . WE HAVE HEARD MORE FREQJEBTLY ON WORLD STAGES AND WITHIN INDIA AS WELL

The Haul mark of great ness in any art form is becoming more and modest as one scales higher in their achievements That is missing with TMK His assertion that Karnatik music is Brahminical is a big lie . I don't know in Tamil Nadu but Andhras all way respected musicians like Dwaram Naidu garu ,Annavarapu among host of other great musicians in all kinds,light clasical, cine.Artists are respected irrespective of caste.Tamil nadu is unique.They rever Rogues like EVR also who is Evil personified

Is it just me or do their false smiles actually make them look scary? When she says "eco-system" I have an uneasy feeling that she is talking about the caste system. And just a reminder, you don't need to listen to classical music to protest against social injustices that are happening in the classical music field. That is the lamest and most arrogant response to a topic of such serious concern. Nowhere do they say that they will at-least try do some soul searching or fact finding to correct flaws.

Raga sisters are unique in their singing and also in their approach. Hats off to their wonderful and brilliant thoughts.May God bless this sisters.

Support fully r&g

Amazing interviewer 🎉

They are from Bombay who came to Tamilnadu to make money. They do not like TMK being inclusive. His family is in music for generations. Simply jealous. Obvious from their tone. Let them get lost...

❤❤❤

The print as a news person , award is criterion decided by the music academy for an understanding. The claims are mr t.k.krishnas inclusion of wider communities people from different faiths , people from different work places including fishing ,and haed workers so far sich as 10 years frkm his past

Totally contradicting and deflecting

I support RaGa sisters in their boycott of MMA season this year

Who is to bell the cat? Someone has to - sometime it does happen. As, in this case. Denigrating Hinduism and Brahmin community has been the strategy used by the 'so-called Atheists of Tamil Nadu to safeguard their interests and better their position and power. Previously it was Karnatic song against film-song and these lot used to cry hoarse upholding film-son as the better one. Then came Super singer, SariGamaPa and other such music programmes and competitions in Television channels where the judges would say, 'This is Shadjamam, That is Madhyamam, even for a cabaret dance. So it became evident that Karnatic music is the basis of all kinds of Music down South. Unable to stomach this they have now started to say that Karnatic music is in fact taken from 'Tamil Isai. Thus they go on. Mouthing such high-sounding terms as Equality, Reform, etc., anybody can voice all irrelevant things about this art-form. The Tamil writers who feel dutybound to give their opinions(of course unasked) on this issue should look within and think for a moment how it would make them feel enraged if an alternate magazine is compared with a pop-magazine. It is an open fact with proofs to substantiate that Periyar did denigrate the Brahmin community in the worst possible manner. If Periyar had said many other positive things with reformist zeal, why can't they be highlighted and propagated by those who hail him as the harbinger of reforms in Tamil Nadu(which is at best only partly true)? Instead, it is these lot who profess themselves to be the loyalists of Periyar who use his name only for demeaning Hinduism and Brahmins. And, mostly these lot target the middle-class and lower-middle class Brahmins while maintianing a cordial relationship with powerful and influential Brahmins who are the self-chosen champions of progessive ideas which mostly sound as those of pseudo-progressives. Divide and Rule Policy is still very much in vogue, by the powers-that-be of Tamil Nadu, to say the least. And, it is realy nice to see that these power-centres and hatemongers are made answerable, at least once in a blue moon. //Singing the glory of Lord Rama and also of he who garlanded him with chappals is unthinkable// said Dushyanth Sridhar which gives in a nutshell what the issue is all about.

🙏🏻Ranjani & Gayatri

I think both the TMK and R&G must go on their ways.. keep fighting, keep the discussions alive. And that will bring attention and curiosity of the people standing outside of this Carnatic universe into it. Also this sort of fights will lead the art to be evolved. As an European resident, people like me will get more opportunities to experience concerts live like Hindustani. Also Carnatic must do more exchanges like Vidwan Shashank is doing recently like playing Rumi poems in Carnatic style with Middle eastern artists or playing with Baroque Orchestra so on… let the Carnatic grow into the world. I’m absolutely against what R&G said “if you want to be a Carnatic musician, you have to be in such family backgrounds and conditions” No anyone can be anything. All depends on how strong is their inner call towards it.

Whether Raga sisters are right or wrong, that is not the question. The award will only make TNK stronger and he will upgrade his attacks on the carnatic music and it's practitioners. Music Academy has done a big mistake. In future senior vidwans and vidhishis will either be compelled to support him or suffer indignation in silence.

I am sorry are these sisters confused ?. in one breath they say award has nothing to do with TM Krishna social activism and they also say he is talented and deserves then why are you boycotting ? You girls want change and break the casteism but you have families and cant do much. Thats ok but why are you stopping someone from recieving an award for his music talent only because he is an activists !!

Why not Tamil Nadu musicians sing more of Tamil songs in every concert,

what they talking and what they expressing FEELS very FAKE.