The music concert of a controversial artist, TM Krishna, where several other artists were also to perform, has been cancelled by the organisers. The show, which was part of two-day ‘Dance and Music in the Park’ festival at Nehru Park, New Delhi, was cancelled citing ‘exigencies of work’. It had also faced protests from after people called who called out TM Krishna’s alleged ‘bigotry and Hinduphobia’.
According to the reports, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the cultural body, SPIC-MACAY had jointly organised ‘Dance and Music in the Park’ festival. Incidentally, several members raised their objection against using public money to hold music shows involving an artist who allegedly holds objectionable views about India, its culture and art forms.
AAI on Tuesday informed SPIC-MACAY over email that it had decided to call off the concert citing “exigencies of work”.
“Because of some exigencies of work, we are not in a position to go ahead with the dance & music concert jointly organised with SPIC MACAY on 17th and 18th November 2018 at Nehru Park, New Delhi. Hence, we request you to kindly postpone to a new date and inform all concerned. The new date will be discussed with SPIC-MACAY soon,” the email said.
AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said that some exigency has come up and AAI is not free on that day, hence it is unable to organise the concert. Whatever note we have given in the media, that is all, there is nothing more I want to say on this,” Mohapatra told to the media.
As soon as the event got cancelled owing to public pressure, TM Krishna has reportedly said, “Give me a stage anywhere in Delhi on November 17, I will come and sing. We just can’t let ourselves be cowed down by this kind of threats.”
TM Krishna, a notable Carnatic music artist, has been in news recently for his contentious views on Carnatic music after he had announced that he would compose and sing Carnatic songs to gods of other religion. His statements to belittle age-old traditions of Carnatic artform had caused furore across the country.
Recently, a concert of TM Krishna was cancelled in Maryland, USA and called out for his “Hinduphobia”. The organisers of the Maryland show was cancelled after TM Krishna had said that he would compose Carnatic songs for “Jesus and Allah” every month to shame people who had requested not to break the traditions of Carnatic Music.
Now, there are questions that have emerged as to whether the concert was cancelled because of TM Krishna’s Hinduphobia and the ensuing backlash, or some other reason.
Please clarify on the following:
The show was to also host Dr @sonal_mansingh in addition to @tmkrishna.
1. Has the entire show been cancelled or would Dr Mansingh be performing still?
2. Have you cancelled the show because some people objected to Mr Krishna?cc @jayantsinha https://t.co/nNkI2heYb1
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) November 15, 2018
