TM Krishna Not To Be Recognised As MS Subbulakshmi Award Recipient, Rules Supreme Court; Here Are Details

New Delhi: In a blow to TM Krishna, the Supreme Court on Monday restrained the eminent Carnatic music singer from being recognised or projected as the recipient of the MS Subbulakshmi award.

A legal battle is ongoing between organisers of the MS Subbulakshmi award, instituted in the name of the legendary vocalist and Bharat Ratna awardee, and Subbulakshmi’s grandson V Shrinivasan, who has objected to “misogynistic” remarks made against her by Krishna.

Supreme Court’s interim order came a day after Krishna received the award from the Music Academy, a reputed name in the classical music world.

“As an interim measure, as the award has already been awarded on December 15, we deem it appropriate to say that the defendant (TM Krishna) should not be recognised as the recipient of the Sangeetha Kalanidhi MS Subbulakshmi award and is also restrained from projecting himself as recipient of the above award,” said a bench headed by Justice Hrishikesh Roy.

The top court termed the matter as “sensitive”, and issued notice on the grandson’s plea, seeking response from Krishna, the Music Academy and Hindu Group – which sponsored the award — within six weeks.

“It is a sensitive issue. Having gone through the response filed by defendant (Krishna) before the HC, it is clear there is no denial but justification. You have added fuel to what you said earlier. Unless and until the justification is decided by this court, you cannot be allowed to use the suffix of MS Subbulakshmi,” said the bench which also comprises Justice SVN Bhatti.

Articles written by Krishna were read out in court by the grandson’s counsel where words such as “sexy”, “saintly Barbie doll” and “hoax” were used Subbulakshmi’s context.

Additional solicitor general (ASG) N Venkatraman, who appeared in his private capacity along with advocate Namit Saxena for Shrinivasan, said that associating Krishna with the award conferred in memory of Subbulakshmi was an insult to her.

Shrinivasan had got a stay on the grant of award from a single judge bench of the high court on November 19, but a two-judge bench set aside the interim injunction on December 13. When the matter was mentioned the same day, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna agreed to post it on Monday and observed that an award can be recalled.