T. M. Krishna

2022-03-27T01:50:47Z

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{{Short description|Carnatic Vocalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox musical artist 
| name = T. M. Krishna
| caption = TM Krishna At Kollam, Kerala 2021
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| alias = TMK
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|1|22}}
| origin = [[Tamil Nadu]],
India
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], India
| death_date =
| instrument =
| genre = [[Indian classical music|Indian classical]]
| occupation = Singer, Lecturer, Author, Activist
| years_active = 1988–present
| website = http://www.tmkrishna.com
| image = TM Krishna at Kollam 6.jpg
}}

'''Thodur Madabusi Krishna''' (born 22 January 1976) is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] vocalist, writer, [[activist]], author and Ramon Magsaysay awardee. As a vocalist, he has made a large number of innovations in both the style and substance of his concerts, thereby inviting controversy from some quarters.

In the year 2016 he was awarded with the [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for “his forceful commitment as artist and advocate to art’s power to heal India’s deep social divisions, breaking barriers of caste and class to unleash what music has to offer not just for some but for all”.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/tm-krishna-magsaysay-awardee-profile-2938049/|title=TM Krishna, the man who used music to heal India's deep social divisions|date=2016-07-27|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Background and personal life==
Krishna was born in [[Chennai]] on 22 January 1976, the son of T. M. Rangachari and his wife Prema Rangachari.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vidyavanam.org|title=Vidya Vanam - School For Underprivileged Children - Provide Schooling For Underprivileged Rural Indian Children|website=Vidya Vanam - School for Underprivileged children|access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> His mother and maternal uncle Dr. Sriram Subramaniam founded and run a school named [[Vidya Vanam]] for tribal and underprivileged students in Anaikatti, [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vidyavanam.org/governance|title=Vidya Vanam - School for underprivileged children|website=Vidya Vanam - School for Underprivileged children}}</ref> Krishna is the grand nephew of [[Indian National Congress|Congress politician]] and freedom fighter [[T.T. Krishnamachari]] (former Indian finance minister and industrialist), who was also one of the founding members of the [[Madras Music Academy]].<ref name="icmschicago.org"/>

Krishna is an alumnus of The School (Krishnamurti Foundation of India), Chennai. Krishna received his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree in economics from [[Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College|Vivekananda College]], [[University of Madras]]. He is married to Sangeetha Sivakumar, a reputed carnatic musician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Sangeetha-Sivakumar-160337897331613/|title=Sangeetha Sivakumar|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> and they have two daughters.

==Career==
[[File:T.M. Krishna sings at Kollam 2021.ogg|thumb|T.M. Krishna sings at Kollam,Kerala 2021]]
Both of Krishna's parents had deep interest in the arts, especially [[Carnatic music]]. His mother had received music lessons in her childhood in the typical south Indian style, and had even taken a degree in Carnatic Music.<ref name="icmschicago.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.icmschicago.org/Artists/krishna.html|title=Indian Classical Music Society of Chicago - T.M. Krishna}}</ref> Krishna's parents ensured that he received exposure to the classical arts from a young age. They arranged for him to receive music lessons from a very young age. Krishna began his musical training under Bhagavathula Seetharama Sharma. He later underwent special [[Ragam Thanam Pallavi]] grooming under [[Chingleput Ranganathan]].

Krishna's performing career began at the age of 12 with his debut concert at the Spirit of Youth series organised by the Music Academy, Chennai (India). He has since performed widely at various festivals and venues across the world, including the [[Madras Music Academy]], [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)]], [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]], [[Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts]], [[Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay]], to name a few.

His music is often appraised as being soulful and full of 'raga bhava'. Among his many renditions, some of the most popular among his listeners include 'Jambupathe' in Yamunakalyani and 'Manavinala' in Nalinakanthi. His music during the last decade was reputed for his powerful, deep voice and his ability to sing rapid swaras in many rare ragas. He now shows a focus on Neraval, an improvisational form which he believes has been distorted over the ages. He is also famous for his 'innovations' in the method he presents his concerts, one of the primary issues that purists have being that he renders varnams (traditionally introductory pieces) in the middle of a concert. He is also working towards a project in which Dikshithar compositions from the Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini are rendered exactly according to their notation in the book.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://jnanarnava.org/|title=Jnanarnava Trust - Home|website=jnanarnava.org|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref>

Krishna speaks and writes about a wide range of issues, not confined to the cultural sphere. His interests span the breadth of leftwing activism, be it the environment, the caste system, social reform, religious reform, combating communalism, innovation in classical music and so on. He has started and is involved in many organizations whose work is spread across the spectrum of music and culture. Recently, he has spoken out against the revocation of Article 370,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/article-370-revoked-carnatic-vocalist-tm-krishna-responds-to-the-crisis-in-jammu-and-kashmir-through-poetry-music-7125401.html|title=Article 370 revoked: Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna responds to the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir through poetry, music-Living News , Firstpost|date=7 August 2019}}</ref> and the destruction of statues of Lenin, Ambedkar, Gandhi and Periyar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/culture/perumal-murugans-poem-in-solidarity-with-statues-set-to-music-by-t-m-krishna|title = Perumal Murugan's Poem in Solidarity with Statues Set to Music by T.M. Krishna}}</ref>

Krishna is part of the team of activists that organizes the Urur-Olcott Kuppam Festival in Chennai and the Svanubhava initiative in Chennai.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/urur-olcott-kuppam-vizha-an-alternate-space-for-art-to-thrive-in-chennai/article22464309.ece|title=An alternate space for art to thrive|first1=Parshathy J.|last1=Nath|newspaper=The Hindu|date=18 January 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/an-art-festival-for-the-young/article19967852.ece|title=For the young, by the young|newspaper=The Hindu|date=2 November 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> He has been part of inspiring collaborations, such as the Chennai Poromboke Paadal with environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82jFyeV5AHM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/82jFyeV5AHM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Chennai Poromboke Paadal ft. TM Krishna|last=Vettiver Collective|date=14 January 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He has collaborated for performances with the Jogappas (transgender musicians) and has brought on to the concert stage the poetry of Perumal Murugan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tm-krishna-to-lead-a-concert-for-equality-in-bengaluru/article8245966.ece|title=T.M. Krishna to lead a concert for equality in Bengaluru|first=Ranjani|last=Govind|date=17 February 2016|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> He also speaks in various conferences and academic institutions, including Harvard University, [[Chennai Mathematical Institute]], the [[Indian Institutes of Technology]], and the [[Indian Institutes of Management]].

Among his awards are the prestigious [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] (2016) in recognition of ‘his forceful commitment as artist and advocate to art’s power to heal India’s deep social divisions’, the [[Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration]] (2017) for his services in promoting and preserving national integration in the country, and the Professor V. Aravindakshan Memorial Award (2017) for connecting Carnatic music with the common man.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Magsaysay-award-for-Wilson-T.M.-Krishna/article14511463.ece|title=Magsaysay award for Wilson, T.M. Krishna|last=Correspondent|first=Special|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref>

The song 'Venpura' of the movie [[Gypsy (2019 film)]] directed by [[Raju Murugan]] is Krishna's first playback song. [[Santhosh Narayanan]] is the music director.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tm-krishna-on-debuting-in-tamil-cinema-as-a-singer-in-gypsy/article27273908.ece|title=Every artist would love to be a gypsy in spirit, says TM Krishna|last=Ramanujam|first=Srinivasa|date=2019-05-28|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-05-29|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

=== Books ===
*''Sebastian And Sons: A brief history of Mrdangam makers.'' In his most recent book, T.M. Krishna talks about the integrity of the Mrdangam on the Karnatik stage and the Dalit Christian communities involved in the making of the percussion instrument. {{ISBN|9389152186}}<ref>{{cite news | title=In his new book, TM Krishna explores how caste oppression invisibilised India's mridangam-makers | first=Arshia| last=Dhar | url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/in-his-new-book-tm-krishna-explores-how-caste-oppression-invisibilised-indias-mridangam-makers-7974311.html | work=Firstpost. | date=3 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Keeping the cow and brahmin apart | url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/keeping-the-cow-and-brahmin-apart/article30686002.ece | work=The Hindu | date=30 January 2020 }}</ref>
*''Reshaping Art (2018).'' T.M. Krishna raises questions about how art is made, performed and disseminated, and addressing such issues as caste, class and gender within society while exploring the contours of democracy, culture and learning.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/reshaping-art-review-the-art-world-as-a-free-space/article23464582.ece|title=Reshaping Art review: The art world as a free space|first=Murali|last=Sivaramakrishnan|newspaper=The Hindu|date=7 April 2018|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=RESHAPING ART: Harnessing art for social change|date=1 September 2018|publisher=ALEPH|isbn=978-9386021977}}</ref> The book was published by Aleph Book Company.
*''Katrinile Karainda Tuyar'' (2018). Krishna's long-form essay [https://caravanmagazine.in/reportage/ms-understood-ms-subbulakshmi 'MS understood'] was translated into Tamil and published as a book ‘Katrinile Karainda Tuyar’ by Kalachuvadu Publications.
*''MS understood'' (2017). His long-form essay 'MS understood', for The Caravan was featured in The Caravan Book of Profiles published by Penguin in 2017, as one of their “twelve definitive profiles.”<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/ms-understood-ms-subbulakshmi|title=The myths and misconceptions around MS Subbulakshmi, India's most acclaimed musician}}</ref>
*''[[A Southern Music: The Carnatic Story]]'' (2013). Published in 2013 by Harper Collins, the book was released by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and Chairman of Kalakshetra, Gopalkrishna Gandhi.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/make-classical-music-accessible-to-the-masses-amartya-sen/article5467278.ece|title=Make classical music accessible to the masses: Amartya Sen|newspaper=The Hindu|date=17 December 2013|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> It discusses the philosophy, aesthetics, sociology and history of Carnatic music. The book was awarded the 2014 Tata Literature Award for Best First Book in the non-fiction category.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Southern Music: Exploring the Karnatik Tradition|first=T. M.|last=Krishna|date=21 April 2015|publisher=Harpercollins|isbn=978-9350298213}}</ref>
*''Voices Within'' (2007). Carnatic singers [[Bombay Jayashri]] and T.M. Krishna along with [[Mythili Chandrasekhar]], got together to publish the first-ever coffee table book on Carnatic Music in January 2007. The book is a labour of love and pays tributes to seven Carnatic music maestros. The first copy of the book was received by the former President of India, Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This book was later translated in Tamil and published by Ananda Vikatan Publications in the year 2011.
*''Ashis Nandy: A Life in Dissent'' (2018). Krishna has contributed one chapter to this book, which contains several essays by various people, all written in praise of the Indian sociologist [[Ashis Nandy]]. The book is a reflection on Ashis Nandy's life work as a thinker.<ref>{{cite book|title=ASHIS NANDY- A LIFE IN DISSENT|last=RAMIN|date=1 September 2018|publisher=OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS|isbn=978-0199483945}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-ashis-nandy-a-life-in-dissent/1165106/|title=Book Review: Ashis Nandy: A Life in Dissent|date=13 May 2018}}</ref>

===Articles and lectures===
Krishna also frequently writes on topics ranging from music (including its practice, musicians, history and future) to society, culture, politics and religion. His articles have been published across most leading Indian newspapers and magazines such as The Indian Express, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Outlook, India Today, and Open, as well as several online portals such as Scroll, The Wire, DailyO, and Firstpost. Krishna has also delivered lectures at a variety of institutions, including leading universities across the world. Noteworthy among these lectures are:
* Art Politics and Society (2020) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veH0rBkyOLo][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veH0rBkyOLo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veH0rBkyOLo] [http://tatalitlive.in Tata Literature Live]
* Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2018/07/29/news/19th-neelan-tiruchelvam-memorial-lecture-todaycarnatic-musician-t-m-krishna-will|title=19th Neelan Tiruchelvam Memorial Lecture today:Carnatic musician T. M. Krishna will deliver the Oration|date=28 July 2018}}</ref>
* AK Ramanujan Lecture (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/nationalism-debate-rages-at-ramjas/articleshow/63005228.cms|title=Nationalism debate rages at Ramjas - Times of India}}</ref>
* Professor Ram Bapat Memorial Lecture (2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/others/sunday-read/crossing-the-line/articleshow/59612567.cms|title=Crossing the line}}</ref>
* Dr. Ashok Da Ranade Memorial Lecture (2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ashokdaranade.org/wordpress/index.php/lectures/t-m-krishna/|title=T M Krishna – Dr. Ashok da Ranade Memorial Trust|website=ashokdaranade.org}}</ref>
* Kumar Gandharva Memorial Lecture (2014)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/kumar-gandharva-memorial-lecture/article6427733.ece|title=Kumar Gandharva Memorial Lecture|newspaper=The Hindu|date=20 September 2014|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>
In 2016, along with Gita Jayaraj, Dr A. Mangai, [[S. Nandagopal]], and [[Baradwaj Rangan]], Krishna taught a semester long course called Indian Art in Context at Chennai Mathematical Institute.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chennai Mathematical Institute|url=https://www.cmi.ac.in//activities/arts-initiative/indian-art-in-context-2016.php|access-date=2020-06-18|website=www.cmi.ac.in}}</ref>

===Initiatives and collaborations===

'''<big>Chennai Poromboke Paadal</big>'''<ref name="auto"/>

The Chennai Poromboke Paadal music video was released on 14 January 2017 on YouTube. An initiative by T.M.Krishna and environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman - the Tamil song was written by Kaber Vasuki and composed by [[R. K. Shriramkumar]], and the video was directed by Rathindran Prasad. The video featured Krishna performing in and around the Ennore creek and highlighted the environmental damage done to the creek by the power plant in that region, [[Ennore Thermal Power Station]]. The music video trended on YouTube India for a week after its release becoming the first Carnatic song to trend on YouTube. The song's title contained the word "Poromboke" which formerly meant land of the commons but has become a popular swear word. The music video also garnered attention for combining Tamil slang dialect with carnatic music. The song is a raga-malika and is based on the ragas [[Anandabhairavi]], [[Begada]], [[Hamir Kalyani]], [[Devagandhari]], [[Salagabhairavi]] and [[Sindhu Bhairavi (raga)|Sindhubhairavi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/music/here-comes-the-chennai-porombokkku-paadal/articleshow/56563269.cms|title=Here comes the Chennai Porombokkku Paadal - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Notes-from-the-south/article17103275.ece#!|title=Notes from the south|last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-03-09|language=en}}</ref>

'''<big>Kodaikanal Still Won't</big>'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhZz5vKi01c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/UhZz5vKi01c |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Kodaikanal Still Won't|last=jhatkaa|date=29 June 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Krishna collaborated with rap and gaana kuthu artists in this multi-genre music video in protest of multinational Unilever's double standards and its refusal to apply the globally accepted environmental standards in India. Directed by film maker Rathindra Prasad, this was a second video after the original Kodaikanal Won't video which protested Unilever's 2001 dumping of toxic mercury in the South Indian hill town of Kodaikanal, which is said to have poisoned its workers and the forest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/kollywood/240618/kodaikanal-wont-it-still-wont.html|title=Kodaikanal Won't– It still won't|date=24 June 2018}}</ref>

'''<big>Chennai Kalai Theru Vizha (formerly Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha)</big>'''

Krishna was part of the team that started this festival with an aim to heal art, and help art heal by opening art and artists to new audiences and different environments. The festival made its debut in January 2015 at Urur-Olcott Kuppam in Chennai. In 2016, it was designed also as a celebration to help relieve some of the trauma suffered by people hurt by the 2015 floods, and as a thanksgiving to the many who assisted with relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Today, the Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha is now Chennai Kalai Theruvizha, a new avatar that will begin exploring new locations around the city in collaboration with local communities.

== Activism ==
[[File:TM Krishna speak in Jay Kisan image exhibition at Kollam 2021.ogg|thumb|TM Krishna speak in Jay Kisan image exhibition at Kollam 2021]]
T. M. Krishna is an activist against caste discrimination. He also advocates for environmental activism and LGBTQ+ rights. He received media spotlight when he boycotted the Chennai Music Season citing caste favouritism in the Carnatic Music system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/who-is/who-is-tm-krishna-5447177/|title=Who is TM Krishna?|date=2018-11-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US}}</ref> He was involved with various organisations to bring Carnatic Music across the rural areas and to support underprivileged artists.<ref name=":0" />

== Political views ==
He has been a strong critic of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and the [[Sangh Parivar]]. He accused them of launching an unrelenting offense of hate and violence against minorities, their cultures, identities and their rights as India's equal citizens. He also alleged that they have made people believe that Hindus are under threat and have made mostly Muslims and Dalits as their main targets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha-2019/video/request-people-to-reject-pm-modi-bjp-musician-tm-krishna-1493383-2019-04-03|title=Request people to reject PM Modi, BJP: Musician TM Krishna|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/article/844858/the-tm-krishna-column-why-the-hindu-majority-must-push-back-against-the-bjps-politics-of-hate|title=The TM Krishna column: Why the Hindu majority must push back against the BJP's politics of hate|last=Krishna|first=T. M.|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref> In August 2018, Krishna received threats from right-wing groups after he sang Christmas hymns. He announced that he would release one Carnatic song about Jesus and Allah every month.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tilak|first=Sudha G.|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45179051|title=Indian musicians threatened over Christian hymns|date=2018-08-15|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-27|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In April 2019, he asked the people of Kerala to vote wisely and not to believe in the alleged misinformation propagated by the BJP that Hinduism is not safe in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/entertainment/2019/04/22/hinduism-safe-kerala-do-not-believe-lies-propagated-bjp-tm-krishna.html|title='Hinduism safe in Kerala, don't believe lies propagated by BJP': T.M. Krishna|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Iyengar, B.R.C., "Dulcet Tones", Kalasagaram, 2004
*Kumar, S. Vinaya, "Seasoned Musician", The Hindu
*Collection of [http://hi5songs.com/t-m-krishna-mp3-download.html T.M.Krishna songs] On HI5SONGS
*Nisshanka, "TM Krishna: Bravado and Loudness", Chennai Online

==External links==
{{commons category|Thodur Madabusi Krishna}}
* SVANUBHAVA https://web.archive.org/web/20130719064546/http://www.svanubhava.org/
*[http://www.matrka.org''Matrka Website'']
*[http://www.youtube.com/c/TMKrishnaOfficial''Youtube Channel'']
*[http://www.jnanarnava.org''Jnanarnava Website'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625220612/http://www.tmkrishna.com/reviews.html ''Other news reviews and articles'']
{{RMA winners of India}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krishna, T. M.}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Male Carnatic singers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Singers from Chennai]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male classical singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male classical singers]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]

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T. M. Krishna