Thoughts on T M Krishna's concert

Rasika N. Srikumar shares his thoughts after attending T M Krishna's concert on Dec.7. Here is his note ---

One always goes to T M Krishna's concert these days with both trepidation and uncertainty of what to expect and what can happen next. And at the Kartik Fine Arts concert on 7 Dec. TMK did exactly that. He was predictability unpredictable. And he lived up to it in every sense of the phrase. 

The concert ( TMK no longer performs a kutcheri if anyone did not know that) as usual began on a slow pace and before long, and even before he began "thodi" in right earnest, he quickly closed it saying " thodi mudinchuduthu" meaning the end of thodi ragam . 

Some time soon after, he got very emotional and said, " iddukku mela continue panrathu sari ille. Aana ippa niruthitta, enna aaghumnu ennakum theriyum ungallukkum theriyum. Adhunnala continue panren." ( It may not be correct to continue from here. But if i stop here i know what will happen,and everyone else knows. So I am continuing . .). 

Alas, it was a big relief to hear TMK say that he was continuing and not do what he did at Vani Mahal last year, where he abandoned the concert mid way. 

TMK was close to his best thereafter, albeit with his now usual pranks, before finally closing the concert with Vatapi ganapatim in Hamsadhwani, which is usually sung as a prayer song to Lord Ganesa in the beginning. Nothing new in what TMK did. He had to deviate from anything close to norm ( whose norm ? ) and he did that without disappointing the large gathering. 

TMK is great talent. No two opinions on that. He has great following. No two opinions there too. But it is his predictable unpredictability which is where there appears to be divided opinions - some for and some against. But for one who is constantly searching for new answers to old problems, TMK refreshingly brings in an aroma of new thoughts and actions, which may seem disruptive to some, but development to others. 

But if "unpredictability" is going to be the most predictable way forward to preserve the future of Carnatic music, then who can complain ? But then who decides that that this indeed is the best way forward ? At the cross roads currently, both direction and destination, both seem missing ! Hope this settles sooner than later !