Subtle, precise and constructive
R.RAMACHANDRAN
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K. S. Mahadevan loved cricket as much as he loved music, à la Neville Cardus.
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K. S. Mahadevan
K. S. Mahadevan, who passed away in Chennai on Sunday was an excellent music critic, and a peerless writer in English. One could describe him as a Cardusian. For Neville Cardus, the famous cricket commentator for the Manchester Guardian, the daily routine was to lounge during the day on the cricket fields watching the game, and listening to music in the concert halls in the evening. He would later repair to his office to write about his day's experience. He had a keen knowledge of cricket and music and wrote delightful prose.
KSM too was a passionate music lover as all know. What many may not know is that he was a crazy cricket follower who vividly remembered the game Bradman or Amarnath played and would surprise you not only with statistics but also the way they played.
In an issue of Straight Bat, a monthly newsletter on Tamil Nadu cricket, he wrote about Lala Amarnath, the charismatic cricketer and stormy petrel and the introductory para, in his inimitable style, said, "All the world loves a sinner perhaps because we are all of the same ilk to a more or less degree. Lala Amarnath must be one of the most scandalised, vilified sportsmen of his time."
Not a day passed without a chat with KSM over the phone, which was most enlightening. He would lavish praise on a rising star's concert he had heard the previous evening and our small talk would be interspersed with delightful quotes from English poetry.
Acquaintance with M.S.
KSM and his wife had close to 70 years of association with M.S.Subbulakshmi. In a review of an MS concert, he wrote, "It is the unique voice of the world - its beauty, clarion quality and splendour aglow with brilliance. Yet while executing the brilliant chords and phrases in the tara sthayi her voice would stay within rather than beyond the limits of resonant power. In her bird-like flights, her great sweeps, one would come across precious masterpieces of vocal jewellery. How much inner life she must have to achieve such triumphs is well left to the imagination."
Born in 1913 in Tirunelveli in a family devoted to classical music, KSM studied in P.S.High School, and Presidency College in Chennai. He had his exposure to music while yet young, from his mother and later listening to Ariyakkudi, Maharajapuram amd Chembai and Harikatha exponents Saraswathi Bai and Annaswami in his impressionable years.
He shifted to Mumbai and entered Central Government service in 1940. He joined the Shanmukhanandha Sabha in 1944 and became its secretary, which helped him to build a good rapport with musicians of those days.
After his golden years in Mumbai, fostering music and emerging as a connoisseur, KSM returned to Chennai 25 years ago, but he retained his links with Shanmukha magazine as a consulting editor, contributing informative articles on musicians.
His reviews of music concerts and special articles were marked by profound knowledge, subtle and constructive criticism and precision. He was remarkably alert and mobile to the end, thanks to his thin frame. Musicians revered him and were keen to be corrected by him. His book, "Musings on Music and Musings" makes fascinating reading.
(The author is secretary, Hamsadhwani)
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