‘Respect her wishes’: Madras High Court restrains Music Academy from conferring M S Subbulakshmi Award to T M Krishna

The decision was prompted by a legal suit filed by V Shrinivasan, the grandson of Subbulakshmi, who argued that the institution of an award in her name was a direct contravention of her last will and testament.

In her 1997 will, MS Subbulakshmi, the iconic voice of Carnatic music, had specified that no memorials, foundations, or trusts should be created in her name. Justice Jayachandran upheld Shrinivasan’s claim, saying, “The best way to honour a departed soul is to respect her wishes. If anyone has reverence for MS Subbulakshmi, they should not continue to give an award in her name, knowing her mandate.”

Shrinivasan, as a beneficiary of the will, was deemed by the court to have the locus standi to challenge the award’s presentation. The court, before disposing of the petition, also heard his argument that granting the award in Subbulakshmi’s name may be causing irreparable loss and suffering.

The Hindu Group had instituted the award in 2005 to honour the memory of Subbulakshmi by annually recognising a Sangita Kalanidhi awardee chosen by the Music Academy. Krishna is a well-known figure in Carnatic music, celebrated for his exceptional talent and commitment to social causes.

The decision has reignited longstanding debates over Krishna’s relationship with the Carnatic music fraternity and his criticism of its traditional power structures. Shrinivasan’s plea cited the violation of his grandmother’s will as well as Krishna’s controversial remarks about Subbulakshmi, which he claims trivialised her contributions to the art form.

In his arguments, Shrinivasan highlighted Krishna’s past statements in public forums and writings, where he allegedly described Subbulakshmi as “one of the greatest hoaxes” in Carnatic music and as a “saintly Barbie doll”. Shrinivasan contended that honouring Krishna with an award in her name would amount to bestowing a “Bhakti prize on an atheist,” given Krishna’s vocal critiques of caste dynamics in Carnatic music and his efforts to challenge the genre’s orthodoxy.

The controversy over the award had polarised the Carnatic music community too. While some musicians and cultural critics have lauded Krishna for his willingness to address uncomfortable truths about tradition and inclusion, others argue that his comments about revered figures like Subbulakshmi have crossed the line.

The Music Academy, in its defense, maintained that the Sangita Kalanidhi M S Subbulakshmi Award was not a trust or foundation but a commemorative accolade funded by The Hindu Group, which did not violate her will. Nevertheless, the court found the use of her name for the award inappropriate, emphasising the need to respect her posthumous wishes.

Krishna, a Magsaysay awardee, has denied disparaging Subbulakshmi’s legacy.

“Known for his powerful voice and his adherence to tradition when it comes to the art, he has experimented widely with its format. He has also worked towards expanding the listener base of the art by taking it to varied social settings and focusing on its exploratory as opposed to tightly defined structures. He has used music as a tool for social reform,” a statement from the Music Academy said in March 2024, during the announcement of the award.