Madras High Court bars using MS Subbulakshmi’s name for award to TM Krishna

The Madras High Court has restrained the Madras Music Academy from presenting the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi Award’ to renowned singer TM Krishna under its current name.
Justice G Jayachandran ruled that while Krishna’s achievements could be recognized, the award must not bear the name of the musician MS Subbulakshmi.

The order followed a plea by V Shrinivasan, MS Subbulakshmi’s grandson, who opposed the Academy’s decision, alleging that Krishna had made “vile, vituperative and scandalous attacks” on the late singer. Krishna denied the allegations, asserting in a counter affidavit that he admired MS Subbulakshmi and that his comments were misconstrued to misrepresent his stance.
Shrinivasan approached the court in August, seeking to prevent the Academy not only from conferring the award on Krishna but also from using Subbulakshmi’s name for the award altogether.
The court also referenced MS Subbulakshmi’s will, which expressly forbade using her name for memorials, statues, foundations, or donations. It held that instituting an award in her name violated her stated wishes and mandate.

“If any person is really having reverence and regard for MS Subbulakshmi, then after knowing her desire and mandate, they should not give any awards in her name,” the High Court said.
On March 17, 2024, the Academy announced TM Krishna as the recipient of this year’s Sangita Kalanidhi Award, which also made him automatically eligible for the MS Subbulakshmi Award. This decision sparked opposition from several prominent singers, many of whom have traditionally performed during the Academy’s December concert season. In protest, they announced a boycott of this year’s event, with some even returning their previous awards to the Academy.