TM Krishna takes on bigotry with music, vows to release one Carnatic song on Jesus or Allah every month

“Considering the vile comments and threats issued by many on social media regarding Karnatik compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one karnatik song every month on Jesus or Allah,” renowned Carnatic vocalist and Magsaysay awardee TM Krishna tweeted on Thursday.

When this writer reached out to the eminent musician about what had prompted the tweet he said: “The grotesque attacks on Karnatik musicians for having sung songs on Christ triggered this response. I waited for a few days to see how things went and then decided that the best way to challenge this bigotry was with music and hence this announcement.”

When asked if there are existing repertoire of compositions or new ones will be especially composed, Krishna explained: “We have a tradition of songs on Christ and Allah in Karnatik music. Composers such as Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, D Vedanayagam Shastriar, Abraham Pandithar, Kunankudi Mastan Sahib have all composed in Karnatik ragas. I plan to render their compositions and hopefully newer, contemporary ones too.”

Here's what TM Krishna tweeted - 

Considering the vile comments and threats issued by many on social media regarding Karnatik compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one karnatik song every month on Jesus or Allah.
T.M. Krishna #art #religion #jesus #allah #communalism #freedom #music

— T M Krishna (@tmkrishna) August 9, 2018

Readers might be aware that rabid right group called Rashtriya Sanatana Seva Sangham (RSSS) has been threatening to attack Carnatic musicians who either sung Christian hymns/compositions or perform for a Christian organisation/institution.

Calling it “criminal misappropriation of rich Hindu heritage,” Coimbatore based head of the RSSS Ramanathan Seetharaman who has threatened to beat up TM Krishna, said: “My organisation has tried to make artistes understand their wrongdoing peacefully but it is not working. So we had to use strong language,” speaking through an interpretor. 

Though unasked, he took great pains to underline how his organisation was not linked to the RSS in any way. “Our fight is for Hindus in Tamil Nadu. What happens elsewhere will not be allowed here!” When asked whether this meant physical attacks on people he tried to avoid a direct answer: “We have to use strong language with people who do not understand what we are saying nicely.”

Grand-daughter of Carnatic vocal legend DK Pattammal, Nithyashree Mahadevan who has sung a Christian Carnatic album has also been targeted viciously many comments on her videos using vile expletive-ridden language. “I have been shocked at the vile abuse coming my way. I don't see why musicians should be targeted for politics,” she rued.

India's leading ethnomusicologist Dr Pappu Venugopala Rao called the opposition by the right wingers as “nonsense.” According to him, “Music goes beyond lyrics and can't be put into boxes based on region, religion or any person's whim. Pure music and ragas are about manodharma.” He also added, “People citing tradition for creating such polarisation need to remember that what is a trend now can be a tradition tomorrow. The arts will remain secular irrespective of such efforts.”