Tamil translation of T.M. Krishna’s book launched

One of the books chronicles the work of mridangam makers

The Tamil translation of the books Sebastian and Sons: A Brief History of the Mridangam Makers and A Southern Music: The Karnatik Story written by musician T.M. Krishna and translated by D.I. Aravindan was launched here on Sunday.

Historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy said the Sebastian and Sons: A Brief History of the Mridangam Makers’ is a historical book that takes the reader through the journey of a mridangam from Thanjavur to Chennai, from the time of choosing the right wood to falling into the hands of an artist. The author describes how creating this instrument was not like making a furniture but rather an extremely intricate and fine art.”

“In the book, Krishna tells how some of the greatest mridangam artistes were dependent on these mridangam makers and without them, these artistes would not be what they are,” he said and added that the book had a phenomenal reach. “Most of the political opinions that Krishna voices are already known yet since it is coming from a top artiste like him who has accomplished so much, it gains significance,” Mr. Venkatachalapathy said.

Poet N. Sukumaran said: “As an artiste of our times, Krishna talks of the permanent place of art, compares it with its relevance today and creates a discussion around it. Only because it is an art, music helps religion. Art only improves religion and not vice versa.”

Mr. Krishna said Mr. Aravindan had made a huge contribution by beautifully translating the book to keep the essence intact. Transgender Bharathanatyam artiste Narthaki Natraj and B. Kolappan, senior journalist of The Hindu, spoke.