Tue Nov 19 10:21:41 UTC 2024: ## Madras High Court Clears Path for T.M. Krishna’s Prestigious Awards, But with a Condition

**Chennai, November 19, 2024** – The Madras High Court has ruled in favor of Carnatic singer T.M. Krishna receiving both the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award and a ₹1 lakh cash prize from *The Hindu*. However, the court stipulated that the cash prize, originally titled the ‘Sangita Kalanidhi M.S. Subbulakshmi Award,’ cannot retain the late musician’s name due to a clause in her 1997 will prohibiting the establishment of awards or memorials in her honor.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by V. Shrinivasan, claiming to be M.S. Subbulakshmi’s grandson, who objected to Krishna receiving the award citing past critical remarks made by Krishna about the legendary singer. Justice G. Jayachandran dismissed this objection, stating that Krishna’s opinions, regardless of their nature, do not disqualify him from receiving the Sangita Kalanidhi. The judge emphasized that the Music Academy, not the plaintiff, has the prerogative to decide the suitability of the recipient.

The court, however, upheld the validity of Subbulakshmi’s will, ruling that using her name for the cash prize would violate her wishes. Justice Jayachandran stated that respecting the deceased’s wishes is paramount, even if it means foregoing the use of her name in honoring others. The court therefore prohibited the use of M.S. Subbulakshmi’s name in connection with the cash prize awarded by *The Hindu*, while allowing the Music Academy to proceed with the Sangita Kalanidhi award and *The Hindu* to bestow the cash prize without the disputed title. The court’s order doesn’t prevent *The Hindu* from awarding the cash prize to Mr. Krishna. The court also acknowledged that several other awards exist bearing M.S. Subbulakshmi’s name.

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