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{{more footnotes|date=April 2012}}
{{Short description|Dance and music critic}}
[[File:A portrait of Shri P.V. Subramaniam 'Subbudu' who will be presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Scholarship Overall Contribution in performing Arts by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on October 26.jpg|thumb|A portrait of Shri P.V. Subramaniam 'Subbudu' was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Scholarship Overall Contribution in performing Arts by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on October 26, 2004]]
{{more footnotes needed|date=April 2012}}
'''P. V. Subramaniam''', popularly known as '''Subbudu''', was one of the most important dance and music critics of India. He was born on 27 March 1917, and died in [[New Delhi]] on 29 March 2007, only two days after his 90th birthday.
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{infobox person
|name=Subbudu
|birth_name=P. V. Subramaniam
|image=A portrait of Shri P.V. Subramaniam 'Subbudu' who will be presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Scholarship Overall Contribution in performing Arts by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on October 26.jpg
|caption=A portrait of Shri P.V. Subramaniam 'Subbudu' was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Scholarship Overall Contribution in performing Arts by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on 26 October 2004
|occupation=critic
|birth_date=27 March 1917<ref name=su>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=1&id=178793&usrsess=1|title=Veteran critic Subbudu dead|access-date=9 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103029/http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=1&id=178793&usrsess=1|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref>
|death_date={{death date and age|2007|3|29|1917|3|27}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070408/spectrum/main6.htm|title=Critic with a cutting edge|access-date=9 December 2023|work=Tribune India|date=8 April 2007}}</ref>
}}
'''P. V. Subramaniam''' popularly known as '''Subbudu''' (27 March 1917 29 March 2007) was an Indian dance and music critic.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Subbudu spent his early life in [[Burma]] (present name [[Myanmar]]). In the wake of the World War II,  under general evacuation orders by the British, his family left Burma, undertaking a long and hard journey on foot through the [[North-East India]]. In India, first he moved to [[Shimla]] and soon blossomed into a cultural critic, when he started commenting local [[carnatic music]] soirees. Soon [[Kalki]] the Tamil magazine started by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] and [[T. Sadasivam]]. published his first full-fledged review. A chance meeting with [[V K Narayana Menon]], the then Deputy Director of [[All India Radio]] resulted in Subbudu's appointment as dance and music critic for the newspaper [[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]].
Subbudu was born in a [[brahmin]] family<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-10|title=Kishori Amonkar soared despite media neglect of classical music|url=https://zeenews.india.com/blogs/kishori-amonkar-soared-despite-media-neglect-of-classical-music-1994627.html|access-date=2022-02-16|website=Zee News|language=en}}</ref> who spent his early life in [[Burma]] (present name [[Myanmar]]).<ref name=su /> In the wake of the World War II,  under general evacuation orders by the British, his family left Burma, undertaking a long and hard journey on foot through the [[North-East India]]. In India, first he moved to [[Shimla]] and soon blossomed into a cultural critic, when he started commenting on local [[carnatic music]] soirees. Soon [[Kalki]] the Tamil magazine started by [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] and [[T. Sadasivam]]. published his first full-fledged review. A chance meeting with [[V K Narayana Menon]], the then deputy director of [[All India Radio]] resulted in Subbudu's appointment as dance and music critic for the newspaper [[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]].


==Music and Dance Critic==
==Music and dance critic==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Subbudu.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Subbudu]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Subbudu.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Subbudu]] -->
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Subbudu's acerbic wit and deep knowledge of music made many readers look forward to his views. But he also made many enemies. A board saying "Dogs and Subbudu not allowed," was hung outside the [[Madras Music Academy]] in [[Chennai]] during the 1980s.[http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=1&id=178793&usrsess=1] An example of his commenting is what Subbudu said about the doyen of Karnatic Music, [[Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer]]: "Even the dreaded [[Emergency]] has come to an end, but there seems to be no end of Semmangudi" . Madras Music Academy convened an emergency meeting to condemn Subbudu and reaffirm their faith in the greatness of Semmangudi. He was no mere wielder of an acid pen; he had deep insight into both arts—dance and music—he commented upon. For example, he compared the Hindustani and Carnatic Systems of Music and brought out strengths and weaknesses of both system in the following few words:
In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Subbudu's acerbic wit and deep knowledge of music made many readers look forward to his views. But he also made many enemies. A board saying "Dogs and Subbudu not allowed," was hung outside the [[Madras Music Academy]] in [[Chennai]] during the 1980s.  An example of his commenting is what Subbudu said about the doyen of Carnatic Music, [[Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer]]: "Even the dreaded [[Emergency]] has come to an end, but there seems to be no end of Semmangudi". Madras Music Academy convened an emergency meeting to condemn Subbudu and reaffirm their faith in the greatness of Semmangudi. He was no mere wielder of an acid pen; he had deep insight into both arts—dance and music—he commented upon. For example, he compared the Hindustani and Carnatic Systems of Music and brought out strengths and weaknesses of both system in the following few words:
"I am also listening Hindustani music from my birth. I am also commenting upon them in Delhi papers. I am writing without being afraid of
"I am also listening Hindustani music from my birth. I am also commenting upon them in Delhi papers. I am writing without being afraid of any one. In fact, there is nothing great in Hindustani music apart from the purity of the
any one. In fact, there is nothing great in Hindustani music apart from the purity of the
shruti. It is because of the lack of purity of [[śruti]] that South Indian music is not perhaps
shruti. It is because of the lack of purity of [[śruti]] that South Indian music is not perhaps
appreciated in the North. Further in Hindustani music, every artist specializes in specific
appreciated in the North. Further in Hindustani music, every artist specializes in specific
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are still at an elementary level".<ref>Subramaniam P V ''Isai Thukatai'' (Tamil), p. 153</ref>
are still at an elementary level".<ref>Subramaniam P V ''Isai Thukatai'' (Tamil), p. 153</ref>


In the early 1990s, Subbudu was the prominent critic of [[A.R.Rahman]]'s [[syncretic]] music style. He lambasted the maestro for ''drowning the lyrics with gadgetry''.
In the early 1990s, Subbudu was the prominent critic of [[A.&nbsp;R. Rahman]]'s [[syncretic]] music style. He lambasted the maestro for ''drowning the lyrics with gadgetry''.


He have appeared as himself in the Tamil film [[Ivan (2002 film)|Ivan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/evan-review-tamil-pclusGgjchdeg.html|title=Evan|website=Sify|language=en|access-date=2020-04-09}}</ref>
He has appeared as himself in the Tamil film [[Ivan (2002 film)|Ivan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/26/stories/2002042600970400.htm |title=The Hindu : A success team reunites |website=www.thehindu.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020621130404/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/26/stories/2002042600970400.htm |archive-date=21 June 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
<br />


==Notes==
==Notes==
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[[Category:Indian music critics]]
[[Category:Indian music critics]]
[[Category:Dance critics]]
[[Category:Dance critics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

Latest revision as of 07:58, 19 December 2025


Subbudu
A portrait of Shri P.V. Subramaniam 'Subbudu' was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Scholarship Overall Contribution in performing Arts by the President Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in New Delhi on 26 October 2004
Born
P. V. Subramaniam

27 March 1917[1]
DiedMarch 29, 2007(2007-03-29) (aged 90)[2]
Occupationcritic

P. V. Subramaniam popularly known as Subbudu (27 March 1917 – 29 March 2007) was an Indian dance and music critic.

Early life[edit | edit source]

Subbudu was born in a brahmin family[3] who spent his early life in Burma (present name Myanmar).[1] In the wake of the World War II, under general evacuation orders by the British, his family left Burma, undertaking a long and hard journey on foot through the North-East India. In India, first he moved to Shimla and soon blossomed into a cultural critic, when he started commenting on local carnatic music soirees. Soon Kalki the Tamil magazine started by Kalki Krishnamurthy and T. Sadasivam. published his first full-fledged review. A chance meeting with V K Narayana Menon, the then deputy director of All India Radio resulted in Subbudu's appointment as dance and music critic for the newspaper The Statesman.

Music and dance critic[edit | edit source]

In a career that spanned more than 50 years, Subbudu's acerbic wit and deep knowledge of music made many readers look forward to his views. But he also made many enemies. A board saying "Dogs and Subbudu not allowed," was hung outside the Madras Music Academy in Chennai during the 1980s. An example of his commenting is what Subbudu said about the doyen of Carnatic Music, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer: "Even the dreaded Emergency has come to an end, but there seems to be no end of Semmangudi". Madras Music Academy convened an emergency meeting to condemn Subbudu and reaffirm their faith in the greatness of Semmangudi. He was no mere wielder of an acid pen; he had deep insight into both arts—dance and music—he commented upon. For example, he compared the Hindustani and Carnatic Systems of Music and brought out strengths and weaknesses of both system in the following few words: "I am also listening Hindustani music from my birth. I am also commenting upon them in Delhi papers. I am writing without being afraid of any one. In fact, there is nothing great in Hindustani music apart from the purity of the shruti. It is because of the lack of purity of śruti that South Indian music is not perhaps appreciated in the North. Further in Hindustani music, every artist specializes in specific aspect – khayal, dhrupad, thapa, thumri etc. So far as rhythm (tala) is concerned, they are still at an elementary level".[4]

In the early 1990s, Subbudu was the prominent critic of A. R. Rahman's syncretic music style. He lambasted the maestro for drowning the lyrics with gadgetry.

He has appeared as himself in the Tamil film Ivan.[5]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Veteran critic Subbudu dead". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. "Critic with a cutting edge". Tribune India. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  3. "Kishori Amonkar soared despite media neglect of classical music". Zee News. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  4. Subramaniam P V Isai Thukatai (Tamil), p. 153
  5. "The Hindu : A success team reunites". www.thehindu.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

  • [1] TRIBUTE TO SUBBUDU
  • [2]. Fearless Pioneer of Art Criticism: The Statesman
  • [3] Subbudu: A Tribute by N Vittal

Books on Subbudu[edit | edit source]

Biography: Beyond Destiny : Singh, Lada Guruden, The Life and Times of Subbudu Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai. 2005. 265 p.