The Hindu : National : "Bring out CDs, cassettes of veterans for posterity's sake"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

National

National

"Bring out CDs, cassettes of veterans for posterity's sake"

By Our Special Correspondent

Justice K.S. Bakthavatsalam honours Vellore Ramabadran, mrindangam artiste, at the 78th annual conference of the Music Academy in Chennai on Sunday. Looking on is the vice-president of the Academy, M.S. Pattabiraman. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI, DEC. 19. A fervent appeal was made at the 78th conference of the Music Academy for the release of audio compact discs and cassettes featuring legendary Carnatic musicians for the sake of posterity.

Inaugurating the 78th conference of the Academy dedicated to the memory of the great Carnatic music exponent, M.S. Subbulakshmi, the Chairman, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra, and former judge of the Madras and Karnataka High Courts, K.S. Bhakthavatsalam, said that documentation of performances by the veterans using modern technology was the need of the hour.

`Honour dance artistes'

The organisations, which stood for promoting and nurturing fine arts, should also come forward to honour classical dance artistes as Carnatic music and dance were inseparably intertwined, Mr. Bhakthavatsalam said. He appealed to the sabhas that "really respected classical art forms not to collect donations from musicians for providing them slots to perform." It would be good for the young musicians to learn Sanskrit and Telugu so that they could perform well after understanding the meaning of the `keertans.'

He commended the Music Academy for supporting and preserving the fine arts of the country in a glorious fashion. Its more than 70-year-old history would vouch for the Academy's role in nurturing and encouraging both young and old artistes, he said and expressed the hope that the organisation would continue to function as a beacon of hope for the classical traditions of India.

Stressing the need for organising music festivals, he said music had been an integral part of human life. In Indian classical art forms, religious philosophy, mythology and other features did not remain watertight compartments but they contributed to each other, he pointed out.

Vellore Ramabhadran, mridangam maestro, was elected to preside over the 78th music conference of the Academy. He said the music concerts would win the appreciation of one and all if the accompanists understood their role and performed with involvement.

`Great pillars'

The Academy's vice-president, M.S. Pattabhiraman, said the festival would go on till January 4, 2005. He described the late M.S. and her husband, T. Sadasivam, as great pillars of the organisation. Veterans of Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam, including Rukmani Rajagopalan, V.P. Dhananjayan, Balamani and Ayyampatti Ganesan, would be honoured with awards during the festival.

An audio-video presentation on M.S., supported by photographs provided by The Hindu, was featured at the inaugural function. On the 6' x 4' portrait of M.S. painted by renowned artist, M.F. Hussain, which adorned the stage, M.S. Venkataraman, secretary of the Academy, said it was an apt tribute paid by one legend to another.

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