TM Krishna reimagines Carnatic music not as elite preserve, but public arsenal against injustice. Chennai-born on January 22, 1976, his prodigious talent flowered early, nurtured by musically inclined parents. He shuns superficial virtuosity, channeling songs into critiques of power dynamics.
Though less known in northern India, his book ‘A Southern Music’ enlightens on Karnatic depths and dilemmas, spotlighting caste exclusions. Krishna battles for lower-caste performers’ prominence, undeterred by traditional backlash, convinced art flourishes in inclusivity.
His repertoire tackles ecological ruin vividly. At Ennore Creek, he performs anthems against encroachments, using ‘poramboke’—derided common grounds—to symbolize erased natural heritage. Amid chimneys and effluents, he laments the river-sea bond destroyed by relentless industry.
Krishna bridges classical and folk realms, embedding awareness in every note. Rare is the classical artist who defies authority so boldly; his work signals a paradigm shift, where music catalyzes dialogue on caste, environment, and equity, inspiring a more conscious artistic legacy.