The Music Season as it is fondly called was started way back in the 1920s and it featured music concerts, harikathas, lec-dems and dance for a month. Titles were conferred and awards were given to highly competent musicians. It allowed aficionados of music to appreciate performances of not only the professionals but also the amateurs. The rasikas and performers were not only from Chennai, but also from all over the country. In fact it has become a way of life for many who cross the seas across the globe to be heard, seen and appreciated and to be part of the event. This slowly grew over the years and today it is one of the largest cultural events to be organized with more than 2000 performances between December – January.
The music and dance at these performances have undergone a radical change. While retaining the core values of the art a lot of novelty has been introduced to suit the modern era. There are the old timers who bemoan about the changes and still long to listen to the kutchery format of M. L. Vasantakumari and for the visual appeal of the margham of dancer Balasaraswathi. But the winds of change has never brought down the aesthetic appeal of the art form. So what is the view of teachers about the Chennai Music Season. A round up.
Originally written for The Hindu, read more at https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/What-does-the-Music-Season-mean-to-these-people/article16852826.ece