The Music Season. What else is new?

The much-anticipated music season has just kicked off in Chennai. As the season of ‘mists and mellow fruitfulness’ in the words of John Keats, ripens into a mélange of melody and soulfulness, the days will pass and it will all be over before you can warble in Sankarabharanam, Svara Raga Sudha Rasayuta Bhakti. Which, of course, was one of saint-composer Tyagaraja’s top hits. The purists could have me drawn and quartered for describing one of the greatest compositions in Carnatic music as a ‘hit,’ but there you are. I have said it, I meant it in the best possible spirit and I shan’t backtrack. Just harking back to Keats’ quote, mists in Madras are clearly a non-starter though the music could bring us some mellow fruitfulness. Just prior to the strains of Todi and Kalyani drenching the culturally-evolved city with musical outpourings, Chennai itself was literally drenched, thanks to the unrelenting pouring of the north-east monsoon.

It is a supreme irony that the rain gods, who have been paid an everlasting tribute through the raga, Amritavarshini, created specially in their honour, reputedly by Muthuswami Dikshitar, should choose to return the compliment with floods and misery. The many organisers of this festival must be keeping their fingers and toes firmly crossed and crooning ‘Rain, rain go away’ in an appropriate raga of their choice. If they choose to go with Amritavarshini, on their heads be it. Quite literally. As we speak, the rains are pelting down on other parts of Tamil Nadu but Chennai is mercifully dry. Even the gods need to enjoy the music without having to sail in rubber dinghies to the concert venues!

Every time the music season in Chennai is ushered in, writers with a special interest in Carnatic music fill our newspapers and social media with their views on what to expect, the stars who are likely to shine, new faces emerging on the horizon, interviews with artists who have been honoured by various sabhas, a large dollop of nostalgia, one or two light-hearted pieces on the canteen scene and, of course, actual reviews of concerts which is ongoing throughout the month. In fits and starts, over the years, I have also participated in this journalistic voyage. As evidenced by this piece. Been there, done that.

Noted singer Bombay Jayashri, recovering from a serious illness, and being designated Sangita Kalanidhi by the Madras Music Academy on its inaugural evening, was an emotionally-charged moment for her fans and family members.

It is therefore a challenge to wrack one’s grey cells to figure out what fresh insights one can bring to the table while writing on the December, or Margazhi, music fiesta that somebody else has not already covered. The pandemic came and went and the scribes went to town writing in a vacuum about what it is like not to have a music festival. ‘Woe is me,’ being the reverberating emotion. Waves of nostalgia poured from the metaphorical quills of scribes. If there was nothing to talk about in the present tense while the future looked tense, the writers decided they might as well wax eloquent looking over their shoulders, and took to the past tense. The arts and culture sections of the newspapers were full of articles accompanied by nostalgic sepia bromides of those who have given Carnatic music its pristine sheen.

Meanwhile present-day musicians, not to be outdone, took to the digital medium and flooded YouTube with chamber concerts at home and in other safe venues where the dreaded virus was held at bay. Those who had a strong brand franchise, monetised (and merchandised) this activity thereby ensuring their income stream did not dry up altogether. Those musicians who were less fortunate, found help from different altruistic segments of society to keep their home fires burning.

 Happily, we were able to give the Covid 19 scourge a swift kick in the pants. There are still threats emanating from places like Kerala, where the pestilence threatens to raise its ugly head. With any luck, this time round it should peter out without raising too much ‘alarums and excursions.’ With most of us having been jabbed three times, we are able to look the bug in the eye with fortitude. I find it eerie that it is always during the Chennai music season that some form of catastrophe or the other lurks round the corner to spring a nasty surprise on an unsuspecting public.

Hopefully all that is behind us and the music loving hordes from all over the world are once again congregating to this Mecca of music (if that is not an inappropriate term) to enjoy a full month of non-stop performances by musicians of all groupings. Those striving hard to make a mark, those that are on the periphery of breaking through, those established stars who are firmly in the saddle, and those approaching veteran status who might be left wondering when they will be put out to grass by the all-powerful sabhas. This season, in an innovative curtain-raiser, some of our ladies and gentlemen musicians even sashayed on a ramp in a first-ever Carnatic music-inspired fashion show! Whatever next? Social media went ballistic!

Speaking for myself, every time I step off the train or plane in Chennai during December, the strains of Carnatic music envelope me in a way no other city can manage. It is something in the air. It also happens to be the harbinger of Christmas and New Year. They do it differently in Calcutta or Bangalore where clubs and hotels get bands and pop musicians to strut their stuff till the witching hour. That happens in parts of Chennai as well, but in the cloistered and sanctified atmosphere of the Music Academy the celebrations are strictly a day-time affair. We recall with fondness the late veteran violinist Sangita Kalanidhi T.N. Krishnan inevitably ending his morning solo recital with Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, as he wishes the packed house a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Not a dry eye in the audience and a fist pump for pluralism. I echo the same joyous sentiments to our readers, as I raise a tumbler of hot, filter coffee to health, happiness and plenty of music.

As published in Deccan Chronicle issue dated 22/12/23.