And The Sk For The Year 2007 Is ............................

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 11 Jan 2007, 05:28

Hi folks

I know it is too too early for this to be broached....so early in the year...but then I thought

a. the person who is going to be crowned SK is already there in the field
b. he or she must be known to every body in this forum
c. by starting this early, gives ample opportunity for rasikas to discuss, analyse and grade ( mark ) their candidate
d. gives abundant time for rasikas to change their mind depending on developments during the year

and so on.

What I am expecting is for the members/viewers of this forum to mark their candidate, say, 1 to 10, one being very poor and 10 being excellent on various aspects of the probable SK of their choice. Those aspects could cover, inter alia,

a. no of years in the field
b. his/her current status in the field
c. contributions to the music by way of being a vagyakara, excellent disciples, research work
d. his contribution in bringing in people from all walks of life ( you know exactly what I mean !!) to this glorious art

etc etc.

I am quite happy to maintain a tally of various candidates, by each week, and submit that to this forum so that we can all see how each candidate is progressing in their climb to claim the halo of SK.

Would appreciate your comments...........regards...............Sam

meena · Post by **meena** » 11 Jan 2007, 05:47

Sam

Lets just stick with discussions/learning CM/HM music here.
All the casting/selections etc. we'll leave it to the SK committee.

Thanku.

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 11 Jan 2007, 05:52

I agree with Meena. Without meaning to be a wet blanket, wah iota of difference is our voes or choices going to make for the selction of SK in the real world. Are we not wasting time that could be used for more fruitful discussions instead. Just my opinion.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 11 Jan 2007, 07:08

Please allow me to disagree with your opinion..Meena and DRS. It would only be fair if moderators do not jump in as early as this. Please provide for some time and space for members to read, think and contribute before moderators to offer their views on the subject ?

Meena, in all the articles, comments and criticisms flowing thru this forum, have we restricted ourselves only to "discussions/learning CM/HM music here"?

DRS, sure our opinion may not be basis on which SK committee decides on....but our discussions could guide them or make them think?

Can I please have some latitude here ?

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 11 Jan 2007, 08:58

Sam, I think the front runners would be two senior Keralites Sri Palghat Raghu and Sri Trichur Ramachandran.

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 11 Jan 2007, 15:33

Sam Swaminathan wrote:Please allow me to disagree with your opinion..Meena and DRS. It would only be fair if moderators do not jump in as early as this.

I did not jump in as a Mod but as a Rasika. I thought you would know. Anyway, my opinion on thi poll does not change.

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 11 Jan 2007, 17:58

Sam,
I like the Brit kind of election campaigns--NOT the US variety which drags on and on and on. Let the present SK enjoy the honor bestowed upon him for some time. You know how it all starts percolating fom October onwards--speculations, preferences and plenty of excitement.
I hope the Academy spends enough time on choosing the future SK, implementing your ideas while deliberating on this...

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 11 Jan 2007, 18:01

I am with Swaminathan on this one. As he says, there's so much of 'vambu' stuff that other members have talked about before, and no-one has objected to that.

While voting may be not my cup-of-tea, we could surely throw up some names and predictions. Going by the pattern of late, perhaps this year it would be a percussionist? If yes, then Shri Palghat Raghu is the top candidate.

Other names:
TRS - politics may dampen his chances though
SRJ - great musician & musicologist
MS Anantharaman - senior violinist

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 11 Jan 2007, 20:09

Nothing wrong in discussing this subject now except it should have a termination point soon. As most of us know the Academy already has so many names in its pot to be considered for SK (every year it considers so many people and only one (or two) is (are) chosen. So it behooves us to take a look inside the pot. I am sure the discussion will taper off soon.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 12 Jan 2007, 10:46

Considering not only merit but also age, giving it to Palghat Raghu would seem in the fitness of things although there are dozens of deserving candidates including all the names mentioned above and some more. However, if the trend over the past few years is anything to go by, it should be a non-percussion instrumentalist this year:

2001 - UKS
2002 - Sikkil Sisters
2003 - TVS
2004 - Vellore Ramabhadran
2005 - MC
2006 - TNS

That could mean that Raghu may have to wait until next year...perhaps a violinist like MSA this year? Of course it could also be a musicologist/teacher/composer - SRJ is certainly a very deserving candidate...what about "the man who decides" Dr. VV Srivatsa - or does he already have one?

Vijay

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 12 Jan 2007, 14:13

DR.VVSrivatsa is not yet SK. I strongly feel he could be one this year.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 12 Jan 2007, 14:31

jayaram wrote:TRS - politics may dampen his chances though
SRJ - great musician & musicologist
MS Anantharaman - senior violinist

all the three of them have Sangeetha Kala Acharya. which means, their chances of kalanidhi are almost closed.

Others in this list of Acharya who hence would loose out on Kalanidhi are

Kalpakam Swaminathan
T Mukhta
Thanjavur Sankara Iyer
Chingleput Ranganathan
T H Vinayakram (?)
many more...

I wish Palghat Sri Raghu gets it next in line, before anybody else.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 12 Jan 2007, 15:19

i feel strongly for some Instrumentalists - Flutist or a Vainika this time.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 12 Jan 2007, 16:23

DR.VVSrivatsa is not yet SK. I strongly feel he could be one this year.

Isn't he closely associated with MA?? That may rule him out.
My bet is on Raghu sir. REcent pattern of SKs (perc-instr-voc-perc-instr-voc-??) suggests that's a possibility.

ignoramus · Post by **ignoramus** » 12 Jan 2007, 16:57

whatever be the pattern, I think Raghu sir deserves it , whether it be a question of seniority or brilliance. Long deserving as far as my opinion goes

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Jan 2007, 17:37

Can someone give me an idea of how the systems work
in the case of Oscars, Nobel Prize, European Footballer of the Year award , and Choosing the Pope.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 12 Jan 2007, 21:45

In the case of Oscar, nominations are received from anyone, usually those in the film/broadcasting industry. The voting is done by the members of the Motion Pictures Academy, I think.

For Nobel Prize, anybody can nominate. No self-nominations! Most of the nominations are from those who are in a particular field, such Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature etc. For peace it is a free-for-all stuff. A committee of members (consisting of experts, political and government personalities etc.,) vote for each discipline.

The Pope is elected by the college of Cardinals in secret ballot. The process can go on for several rounds until the winner is chosen. Usually a senior Cardinal is chosen. Politics (in terms of region, strength of the contingency etc.,) plays a role too. Usually a middle-of-the-roader is chosen.

MaheshS · Post by **MaheshS** » 12 Jan 2007, 22:47

The Ballon d'Or is the European Footballer of the Year award chosen by the football writers of the highly respected magazine, as well as by a select number of journalists from around the continent. The trophy was first awarded in 1956 when Blackpool's Sir Stanley Matthews was chosen and between 1956 and 1995, only players born in Europe were eligible.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 12 Jan 2007, 22:54

...and the SK is chosen by members of this forum!
(sorry, was day-dreaming there...

)

rajeshnat · Post by **rajeshnat** » 13 Jan 2007, 16:51

Shri S rAjam , can be considered too for SK.

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 24 Jan 2007, 15:37

In as much as we have cases piled up in all our Courts in India, I think the list of senior vidwans to be given SK recognition too is piling up. I believe that the committee members of Music Academy must take stock of the situation and bring about some method by which all those listed herein are given the due recognition. It might be a crazy idea but when once implemented, it would help them to start afresh again.

Nonethless, if the committee members are open-minded enough, I think they should read the views of this forum atleast. Those who have recommended the names in this thread should now proceed to write to Mr N Murali of The Hindu who is the President of Music Academy as of date.

Kaumaaram

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 24 Jan 2007, 16:08

Kaumaram - good point. Especially considering many of the deserving artistes are quite old. But who's to bell the cat?

Btw, I left out Manakkal's name from the list. He should have recd the award years ago.

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 26 Jan 2007, 09:47

Hmmm.. why not give the award to that Susheela Raman woman, and call it the "Sangeetha Kolainidhi"?

But seriously, amongst the deserving I don't think T Muktha will receive it, having shied away from the limelight for so many years, and P Raghu also might not receive it since there have been too many accompanists receiving it in recent years (Umayalpuram, Ramabhadran, Chandrasekharan). Probably a vocalist.. It would be a nice feather in Manakkal Rangarajan's cap but I doubt he would receive it. Again probably because he is not a very public figure and he doesn't seem to be a man who is crazy for awards. If they give S Rajam I would be disappointed that they left out his illustrious brother, the man with the golden fingers, Balachander, but then again if we go down that road there are hundreds of others. But I don't think it will be S Rajam either. Maybe he's too associated with paintings? I don't know.. just a gut feel.

They MIGHT give it to TVR, as one of the more senior vidwans but I am not too optimistic about that outcome happening either. That silly Kerala connection nonsense that denied MDR his might just come up again (Note about TVR though: I remember my granduncle calling him up after a concert to express disappointment that in the 2004 season he basically just sang the same pieces in three different concerts! He was a perfect gentleman about it and acted on the feedback, earning my admiration, although I still find his concerts somewhat a gamble to go to but anyway I digress).

What about Dwaram Mangathayaru? Surely she deserves some recognition for playing for someone like Mali for so many years? Am I the only guy here who thinks she's probably one of the best violinists we have produced? (In my opinion she was a superior accompanist to LGJ/MSG/TNK or even T Rukmini. Chandrasekharan probably was somewhere in her league, partially because of his spectacular laya gnanam but when it came to tonal quality and skill as an accompanist she was unsurpassed).

Or a vainika? It has been years since any veena artiste has won the SK (IIRC the last few were Thanjai Sivanandam in 1993, Doreswamy Iyengar in 1984, and KS Narayanaswamy in 1979, and I can't recall many veena artistes who received it before 1979 apart from the legendary Karaikudi Sambasiva Iyer in 1952). Since 1993 we have had three mirudangists (TKM, UKS, VR), two violinists (MSG, MC), three flautists (NR, Sikkil Sis's), many vocalists (Vedavalli, TNS, TVS, etc), even nagaswaram (Chinnamoulana). It's high time for another veena artiste to claim the SK. More than twenty years and just one SK for the most melodious instrument in the world is a bit too much, but sadly no names immediately spring to mind. Are there any of SK material? I really would love to hear of some.

But then again they might do what they've usually done in these circumstances, give it to some music scholar. If so I hope it's Prof V Ramarathnam. Nothing inherently wrong with it of course but it just means that there will be a lot of outcry here afterwards about how ABCDE was being done in by politics and all that. It's always better to give it to some popular artiste just to quieten the noise created in discussion forums!

(tongue in cheek remark, people! Where would a bala747 post be without one?)

We are running out of the old guard to give awards to... they ought to start looking at the third generation of artistes already. Sanjay? Sudha? TMK? Somehow I don't think any of them have reached that level yet. All may have put on consistently good performances but somehow I can't picture any of them as being SK's yet. Maybe in 10 years time. The only artiste of recent times I can think who might receive it a bit earlier is OST, solid performances, good padanthara, and generally simple persona, but he's surprisingly underrated.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 26 Jan 2007, 16:54

bala747 wrote:What about Dwaram Mangathayaru?

definitely a deserving violinst. but she hasnt been actively performing for many years now. i hope that the academy atleast rememebers her existance.

bala74 wrote:Or a vainika? Are there any of SK material? I really would love to hear of some.

my vote is anyday to Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan. She must be decorated with the honour soon. She has been reguarly performing and attending MA sessions for donkey's years now. However, i doubt if she would be considered. They gave her the acharya, prolly to just tell that she wont get kalanidhi. I think she should have got the kalanidhi quite a few years ago.

Another vainika to consider could be Trivandrum Venkataraman. however, he is also a shy man and when was the last time he played at the academy?

bala747 wrote:P Raghu also might not receive it since there have been too many accompanists receiving it in recent years (Umayalpuram, Ramabhadran, Chandrasekharan).

That would be bad. I dont think PR should loose out because of such reasons. but then u never know, MA has always given such frivolous reasons.

bala747 wrote:The only artiste of recent times I can think who might receive it a bit earlier is OST, solid performances, good padanthara, and generally simple persona, but he's surprisingly underrated.

I thought he has been quite monotonous and stagnating for years now. a personal opinion.

bala747 wrote:They MIGHT give it to TVR, as one of the more senior vidwans but I am not too optimistic about that outcome happening either.

he would most probably get it. however they might delay it quite a bit.

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 26 Jan 2007, 17:36

my choice is OST.

Musicfan · Post by **Musicfan** » 11 Feb 2007, 13:08

My vote is for Palghat Raghu. In fact even if you asked me in 1980 or 1990, I would have voted for Palghat Raghu. He is a giant among musicians and it is rather improper that musicians who did not reach his level ever( irrespective of vocal/violin/mridangam etc) are already SK's. If I ever got a chance to speak to Palghat Raghu, I will request him to reject SK even if given to him..He is too high for these things. He should follow the Lalgudi way of rejecting SK.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 13 Feb 2007, 03:04

Raghu Sir....indeed an extremely deserving artist....but please, do not dissuade him from accepting this great honour, if offerred to him...please..

What about multiple Kalanidhis....there are so many deserving vidwans/vidushis...and it will take a yugam to honour every body if we give just one each year...why not one for vocal, one for veena etc etc each year ?

your comments please...

mohan · Post by **mohan** » 13 Feb 2007, 05:16

Sam Swaminathan wrote:What about multiple Kalanidhis....there are so many deserving vidwans/vidushis...and it will take a yugam to honour every body if we give just one each year...why not one for vocal, one for veena etc etc each year ?

The SK nominee presides over the December Music Festival at the Academy every year. If there are multiple awardees of the SK then who will preside over the festival?

The Music Academy has thought about this issue and instituted the Sangeetha Kala Acharya award which is issued yearly - sometimes to more than one person. It seems this award is for respected musicians and music scholars who the Academy think are worthy of recognition but not the SK title.

Further to what rbharath mentioned earlier, some of the recipients of Sangeetha Kala Acharya include PS Narayanaswamy, Calcutta Krishnamurthy, BV Raman, Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer, Prof SR Janakiraman, Prof TR Subramaniam, Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana, Kalpakam Swaminathan, VP Dhananjayan, TS Partasarathy, T Mukta, Tanjavur Sankara Iyer, Chinglepet Ranganathan, Sulochana Pattabhiraman, TS Balakrishna Sastri, Bombay S. Ramachandran & S. Rajam

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 13 Feb 2007, 05:46

Mohan

I can understand your view point....but for Academy to think

PS Narayanaswamy, Calcutta Krishnamurthy, Tanjavur Sankara Iyer...just to mention a few..

"worthy of recognition but not the SK title"

hmmm....

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Feb 2007, 11:04

Sam, fortunately or unfortunately, the Academy shows a preference for stars over scholars (barring few exceptions like Vedavalli/TKG etc.)...of course, some of the stars are scholars too...

bala747 · Post by **bala747** » 14 Feb 2007, 07:06

Maybe vijay the academy also has to think in terms of the presidency of the festival. Most of the 'scholars' are largely hidden from the average CMing public's eye. I mean how many of us, even for those living in Chennai, have had the privilege of hearing CKS Krishnamurthy or even TRS (A far more public figure) sing? So putting that person as an SK would leave a lot of people confused as to who this person is, and how come thier favourite artiste does not get the award while some 'utter unknown' (to them) seems to be getting it? I can only imagine then the hate mail that the academy would receive.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 14 Feb 2007, 10:39

You have a point Bala but I have a slightly different take...if the Academy carried enough credibility (maybe 20-30 years back?), the very conferment of the SK would be assurance enough, of the individual's merit...that it no longer does is a different matter altogether...

Hmmm I confess that I haven't heard KSK although I am a resident of Chennai and have considerable roots in Calcutta besides...TRS, on the other hand, is right on top of my list - no one deserved the SK more than he did...and I am talking only about his abilities as a performer

coimbatorerasigan · Post by **coimbatorerasigan** » 27 Feb 2007, 07:18

Sudha thiis year...after all, she agreed for TNS to be given ahead of her....

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 27 Feb 2007, 07:23

WHAT?

gumki_thatha · Post by **gumki_thatha** » 27 Feb 2007, 08:46

...and the hilarity ensues

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 27 Feb 2007, 09:08

coimbatorerasigan

"Sudha thiis year...after all, she agreed for TNS to be given ahead of her...."

You are kidding.....right ?

Not that I have any issues with Sudha getting it...she is a great artist...all in good time, I suppose.....regards.....Sam

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 27 Feb 2007, 10:58

sudha :O

jnaanasoonyam · Post by **jnaanasoonyam** » 27 Feb 2007, 14:19

c'rasigan... tongue-in-cheek humour is lost on a lot of people here!

coimbatorerasigan · Post by **coimbatorerasigan** » 27 Feb 2007, 18:39

Who else....if not the one and only Sudha....Hindu folks have ruled that Aruna is the next MDR...sadly, she's gonna have to go in his path...no SK.....

clueless · Post by **clueless** » 27 Feb 2007, 19:36

Like a good chess player planning many moves in advance, maybe we should also discuss the SK for the year 2008, 2009 and so on..............

Clueless

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 27 Feb 2007, 22:35

gumki_thatha wrote:...and the hilarity ensues

I would call it 'hillary issue'

If Hillary wins there will be a global tsunami of feminism which will sweep sudha into SK

Don't ask me what if Obama wins..
But if Rudy wins she sure will not get it

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 27 Feb 2007, 22:45

coimbatorerasigan wrote:Who else....if not the one and only Sudha....Hindu folks have ruled that Aruna is the next MDR...sadly, she's gonna have to go in his path...no SK.....

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 03 Mar 2007, 18:29

and for SK usually how many teeth should be missing?

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 03 Mar 2007, 22:11

chalanata,
I visualize it as a boxing match now!

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 03 Mar 2007, 23:11

Arasi,
I think chalanata meant the ravages of old age and not the outcome of a 'WWFRAW-like' scenario.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 04 Mar 2007, 00:30

and for SK usually how many teeth should be missing?

hope you are not suggesting they should award babies with these pattoms!?

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 04 Mar 2007, 03:39

No...just the baby boomer generation!

coimbatorerasigan · Post by **coimbatorerasigan** » 04 Mar 2007, 06:40

On a More serious note: 2007: Sudha!