Info about Lalgudi Jayaraman

[balaji]

When a few weeks back i posted a question as to why LGJ was not given
Sangita Kalanidhi i received a reply that he had some dispute with them..
Does anyone know the true story behind it.. someppl i ask say that he "was
too arrogant" while others say that "MA refused to allow him (and other
violinists) to play at MA)
thank you

[Avittam]

Mr. Jayaraman ought to have been given the title of Sangitha
Kalanidhi, even before it was given to Mr. T.N. Krishnan, but
was overlooked. Having known Mr. LGJ very well, I could say
that he is not arrogant at all. His contribution to the advancement
of Carnatic music is immeasurable. He is not only an accomplished
artist but also a great composer of modern times. Afterwards
Music Academy offered the title many times and he turned it
down, that is what I have gathered from talking to many
persons. Now it will be an honor to Music Academy if he
chooses to accept the title at any time in future. There is no doubt
in the minds of lovers of Carnatic Music that LGJ has carved a
special place for himself. He is enthorned in the hearts of all
lovers of music. I don't think that MA did not allow him to
play at MA.

Rangarajan.A.V.

[Vpaddy]

Hi! I happen to have some info on the whole issue. There was a time during the
late sixties, 70's and 80s when the Music Academy was very partial towards
vocalists. Instrumentalists were not given prime-time slots. This could be
attributed to the fact that the time was dominated by stalwarts like
K.V.Narayanaswamy, Madurai Mani Iyer, M.S.Subbulakshmi, D.K.Pattamal,
Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. But it was also the time when there were some
extrodinary instrumentalists like Lalgudi, MSG, TN Krishnan, Mali, Ramani...
just to name a few.
Lalgudi was trying to get more prime-time slots alloted to
instrumentalists. TTK was very adamant that vocalists be given precedence over
instrumentalists. This led to a very deep chasm in the relations between
Lalgudi and the Academy. The media threw it's weight behind Lalgudi and so did
the rasikas who preferred good instrumentalists over OK vocalists in the
prime-time slot. After a while, the Academy backed off and offered Lalgudi a
prime-time slot. But he refused and instead gave it up to MSG. That was the
first time an instrumentalist had ever played in the prime-time slot. Along
this time, Lalgudi aligned himself closely with Krishna Gana Sabha and it's
owner Yagna Raman. The Academy was dissapointed to lose one of the greatest
violinists in India to a rival Sabha and offered him the Sangeetha Kalanidhi
but Lalgudi refused and probably will not get it ever.
Lately though, relations have improved and Lalgudi even presided over the
Vidwat Sabha at the Academy about 3 years back.
So that's the story behind the issue.