Madras HC restrains grant of honour in MS Subbulakshmi’s name to TM Krishna

The Madras High Court on Tuesday, November 19, restrained the Madras Music Academy from presenting the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi Award’ to vocalist and writer TM Krishna in her name.

After hearing the matter, Justice G Jayachandran observed that the Sangita Kalanidhi Award, along with the cash prize, can be granted to Krishna, but not in Subbulakshmi’s name. The court clarified that there was no bar on the music academy to confer awards or awarding Krishna in particular, Bar and Bench reported.

The interim order was passed after a plea by V Srinivasan, grandson of MS Subbulakshmi, claimed the conferment of the award was against Subbulakshmi’s wish.

Dismissing the application filed by the academy challenging the lawsuit, the court noted that Shrinivasan had the locus to maintain the suit as he was the beneficiary of Subbulakshmi‘s will, Live Law reported.

“The best way to honour a departed soul is to honour and respect her wish and not to disrespect her. If any person is really having reverence and regard for MS Subbulakshmi, after knowing her desire and mandate, should not continue to give awards in her name,” the High Court stated.

Shrinivasan mentioned the late singer executed her will on October 30, 1997, wherein she clearly specified that no trust, foundation or memorial of any kind should be made in her name and memory, while no funds/donations be collected for these purposes, reports said.

Hence, he noted the award was against her mandate.

Further, he contended before the high court that TM Krishna made “vile, vituperative, and scandalous attacks” on his grandmother on social media, thereby maligning her reputation. He argued Krishna also questioned the credibility of Subbulakshmi in the Carnatic music world and should not be legally permitted to get the honour.

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He told the court that he and his family did not want the award to be given to anybody since it would be ‘against the spirit’ of Subbulakshmi’s will.

However, the music academy filed the application saying his lawsuit be rejected since Shrinivasan had no locus to challenge the conferment of the honour.