Several prominent Carnatic musicians and artists have withdrawn from participating in the Music Academy’s annual conference in 2024, citing the selection of TM Krishna as the presiding figure of the event. The artists, including Ranjani Gayatri, who decided not to perform on 25 Dec, Dushyanth Sridhar, who communicated his non-participation for the 1st January 2025, and the Trichur Brothers, have publicly announced their decisions, highlighting their disagreement with TM Krishna's views and statements on various subjects including dharma, Ayodhya, Sri Rama. Additionally, musician Ravikiran has announced his decision to return the Sangita Kalanidhi award previously awarded by the Academy, emphasizing that principles larger than individual achievements are at stake. This series of withdrawals and protests comes amidst a broader controversy surrounding the awarding of the Sangita Kalanidhi to TM Krishna, a decision that has been met with mixed reactions within the Carnatic music community.
Row over Sangita Kalanidhi award for musician TM Krishna. "I have no authority to question the selection of his name for the award. I am pained by many of his public statements on dharma, Ayodhya, Sri Rama, and more...," says @dushyanthsridar. "We have communicated our decision… https://t.co/kT7Rurl3QC
RETURNING SANGITA KALANIDHI AWARD from ACADEMY: I’ve taken this step after careful consideration as principles much larger than all of us are at stake. However I’ll always remain deeply grateful to the org for its role in my career from childhood 🙏 #musicacademy #award #Music https://t.co/EfXVtkUTns
Formal announcement that we are pulling out of the Annual Conference 2024 of The Music Academy , Madras, for obvious reasons. To participate in a conference presided by Mr TM Krishna would make us outright hypocrites in our own eyes. Sincerely, Trichur Brothers
More power to Ranjani Gayatri actually. Not easy taking a stand against an influential sabha. https://t.co/hLzusEpmDF
#Astikas - I have conveyed to the Madras Music Academy that I will not be performing on the 1st January 2025 (after the sadas). Below is a copy of the letter drafted to them. https://t.co/MRx9b8Z6qR
Ranjani Gayatri withdraw from participating in Music Academy conference https://t.co/mhzOdo2r9L
#thread 1/6 We have communicated our decision to withdraw from participating in the Music Academy’s conference 2024 & from presenting our concert on 25 Dec. We made this decision as the conference would be presided over by TM Krishna. #madrasmusicacademy #respectcarnaticmusic
The chairman of the foundation. which chooses honorees and organizes the event independent of the late Supreme Court justice's survivors and estate, said that the group was pulling the plug to avoid fueling controversy over the 2024 recipient list. https://t.co/e1FKj2DoQI