Nithyashree Mahadevan, the grand-daughter of Carnatic vocal legend DK Pattammal, who has released a Christian Carnatic album has also been victim to this bigotry, with many commenting on her videos using vile expletive languages.
Renowned Carnatic vocalist and Magsaysay awardee TM Krishna had a fitting reply for all the hate messages on Twitter over Carnatic compositions on Jesus. He slammed the scornful twitterati on Thursday saying: "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 Carnatic song every month on Jesus or Allah."
When asked what had prompted the tweet, he said: "The grotesque attacks on Carnatic musicians for singing songs on Christ triggered this response. I waited for a few days to see how things turn out and then decided that the best way to challenge this bigotry was with music and hence this announcement."
When asked if there's an existing repertoire of compositions or new ones will be specially composed, Krishna said: "We have a tradition of composing songs on Christ and Allah in Carnatic music. Composers such as Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, D Vedanayagam Shastriar, Abraham Pandithar, and Kunankudi Mastan Sahib have all composed songs on Christ based on Carnatic ragas. I plan to render their compositions and hopefully newer, contemporary ones too."
A 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" Ramanathan Seetharaman, the Coimbatore-based head of the RSSS 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."
He went ahead to underline how his organisation is 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 did not give a clear answer: "We have to use strong language with people who do not understand what we are saying nicely."
Nithyashree Mahadevan, the grand-daughter of Carnatic vocal legend DK Pattammal, who has released a Christian Carnatic album has also been victim to this bigotry, with many commenting on her videos using vile expletive languages. "I am shocked by the vile abuse coming my way. I don't see why musicians should be targeted for politics," she said.
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 to justify 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."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "TM Krishna")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}