Carnatic Blues: After Composition Controversy, ‘Hinduphobic’ TM Krishna’s Concert Shifted From Maryland Temple

The venue for a concert by well-known vocalist T M Krishna got shifted in the United States after a section of people refused to host the performance describing the vocalist as "Hinduphobic."

The venue, reported the Times of India, was shifted "from the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (SSVT) outside Washington DC to Georgetown University in the city."

The English Daily reported that the concert, which was scheduled to take place at a temple in Maryland, got shifted following a controversy in India where some artistes were criticised for "praising non-Hindu deities" in their compositions. Some rasikas had accused the artistes of tampering with Thyagaraja kritis.

Last month, Deccan Herald reported that T M Krishna, surrounded in the controversy on compositions sung in Carnatic music, said that he would compose one song dedicated to Jesus and Allah every month.

While the raging controversy thickened after Krishna expressed his views on the issue, purists accused the artistes, including Krishna, of "sullying" Carnatic music. Some called the opposition to the unconventional compositions sung and propagated by these artistes as "stifling" creative expression. Others, mostly purists, raised sharp objection to the singing of "Christian hymns" in Carnatic music.

On the repertoire of compositions, new and old, DNA quoted TM Krishna saying: “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.”

Krishna is also a Magsaysay Award winner.