Music fraternity shocked, margazhi shows cancelled

CHENNAI: The news of Carnatic vocalist Nithyasree Mahadevan’s husband’s suicide came as a shock to the music fraternity in the midst of the Margazhi season. Nithyasree was due to perform for Chennai Cultural Academy Trust at Rama Rao Kala Mantap on Thursday at 7pm. The trust cancelled the performance as soon as it heard the news. “It is a great shock,” said Bala Natarajan , secretary of Chennai Cultural Academy Trust.“I spoke to her in the morning to discuss some details of the performance. We can only pray for the family now,” she said.
Nithyasree has about nine more concerts lined up for the rest of the season , having already performed for Brahma Gana Sabha, Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha and Mylapore Fine Arts, among other sabhas.
Arepresentative from the Music Academy , where she is due to perform on December 30, said they have a system in place to deal with emergencies and that they would find another singer.
N Balasubramaniam, secretary of Brahma Gana Sabha, where Nithyasree performed on December 9, said he was extremely upset by the news. “I met both of them last week when they came to our sabha,” he said.
Sabhas usually tweak their schedules and make changes if a singer is unable to perform. “Even when legendary vocalist M S Subbulakshmi died, no sabha cancelled its programmes,” said the secretary of a leading sabha.
Musicians who know Nithyasree said they were saddened by the news. “I had a concert in the morning and got the news when the concert got over and I am shocked,” said Ghatam Karthick. “I have known the family, from the time of Nithyasree’s grandmother, the late Carnatic vocalist DK Pattammal.” Violinist V V S Murari, who has been an accompanist for Nithyasree’s concerts since their school days, said, “It was shocking to hear the news. Music will give her strength in this difficult time.”