Grammy Winner Ricky Kej Reacts To Madras Music Academy Letter For Ranjani-Gayatri: 'Reeks Of Arrogance...'

A row has erupted in the Madras Music Academy after it honoured musician TM Krishna with Sangita Kalanidhi award this week. Protesting against the award, Carnatic vocalists Ranjani-Gayatri and Harikatha exponent Dushyanth Sridhar have withdrawn from the Music Academy Conference 2024. In response to this, N. Murali, President of the music academy, has sparked outrage after his letter to the sister duo went viral. Grammy-winning artist Ricky Kej has reacted to the same.

Sharing a copy of the letter on his X(formerly Twitter) handle, he wrote, “I am absolutely no one to judge right and wrong, or who is deserving of the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award. I deeply admire everyone involved, and everyone who have won or close to winning. But, I cannot deny that this letter reeks of arrogance, hatred and superiority. It hurts especially when directed against such amazing souls like @ranjanigayatri. I personally feel this letter is quite unbecoming of such a prestigious art institution. @musicacademyma.”

Take a look:

Excerpts from the letter reads, “Dear Ms Ranjani and Ms Gayatri, I received your joint letter of 20th, March, 2024 and was shocked by both its vituperative content, which is replete with unwarranted and slanderous assertions and insinuations verging on defamation, and its vicious tone against a respected senior fellow-musician. You are aware that the Sangita Kalanidhi award instituted by The Music Academy in 1942 is the highest accolade in Carnatic music. The choice of Sangita Kalanidhi made year after year is a prerogative of The Music Academy and has always been made after careful deliberation, with the sole criterion being musical excellence demonstrated over a significant and sustained career. This year the Executive Committee of the Academy chose T.M. Krishna for this accolade based on his excellence in music over a long career, with no extraneous factors influencing our choice.”

“We regard your decision to withdraw from the upcoming annual conference because the

Academy has chosen for the award a musician you dislike and malign as unbecoming of artistes and in poor taste. I note that you have shared your letter addressed to me and the Academy on the social media, which apart from being discourteous, raises doubts about the intentions behind and the purpose of your letter. Normally, a missive of the kind you have addressed to me and the Academy posted on the social media before you have received a reply would not warrant a response. But I would not like to deny you the courtesy of a response in consideration of your contributions to the field of Carnatic music,” concluded N. Murali.

For the unversed, Carnatic vocalist Vidushi sisters Ranjani and Gayatri said that they will not be performing at their concert on December 25 and won’t participate in the conference to be held from December 15 to January 1. They accused TM Krishna of causing “immense damage to the Carnatic music world” and “willfully and happily” stomping over the sentiments of the music community. They also alleged that TM Krishna insulted most respected icons like Tyagaraja and MS Subbulakshmi.

“His actions have tried to spread a sense of shame in being a Carnatic musician and have been exhibited through his consistent denigration of spirituality in music,” Ranjani Gayatri wrote in a social media post.

Accusing TM Krishna of vilifying the Carnatic music fraternity, they said, “It is dangerous to overlook Mr TM Krishna’s glorification of a figure like EVR.”

Dushyanth Sridhar, too, has refused to perform on January 1, 2025. “I have conveyed to the Madras Music Academy that I will not be performing on the 1st January 2025 (after the sadas). Below is a copy of the letter drafted to them,” he posted on X.

TM Krishna was honoured with the Sangita Kalanidhi award earlier this week. On March 18, he had posted a thank-you message on social media. He will also preside over the Music Conference 2024.