Book Review-Sebastian and Sons- by T M Krishna
Prologue: I have seen news articles about singer T M Krishna, conducting music concerts on the beaches of Chennai. He wanted to take these to places where it had not been done before. I have known him via numerous vikatan articles speaking of his singing during December season and reviews were all ravishing. I have never been to any Carnatic music concert, so my live listening experience is zero. Nowadays, you get to know a movie or book via the buzz it generates, and this book was no different. I did not have the inclination to buy it right away, and thankfully I had not yet watched Sarvam Thala Mayam, both the plots are of the same topic. Sensing my urgency and interest, my dearest friend CHANDRASEKAR M gifted the same on my birthday and I completed this in 4 days a record time for a 340-page book.
Slow claps to the author for finding, researching, and publishing a book on forgotten or conveniently neglected subject.
For all, I know about Carnatic music was sabha food, nice music, and kanjivaram saris. Mridangam, a constant accompaniment in every concert, has a story on its own, leather origins, families who make it, the elaborate process involved, changes in the instrument for the singer, steps taken to maintain it, the artists who did it, the makers who made it, the divide that existed, is all a huge revelation to a common man like myself. I still remember the brilliant scene in Avvai Shanmugi, where Gemini Ganesan, a rich businessman dealing with leather exports, but is uncomfortable with a Muslim cook, then Kamal explains to him, that you export leather for your comfort, and he cuts meat for his food.
The book crisscrosses with music knowledge, trivia, and geography about the music scene. Since the author is an accomplished artist, he is able to do justice to the nuances of the music that is being discussed. Pencil sketches of drawings are cool, but I would have been happier if there were color photographs of the same. Skin work is discussed at length, cow, buffalo, and goatskin is used in the making of this percussion instrument. Kudos to T M Krishna for the research of old books, travel across south India, interviews done with the makers and artists in his personal capacity.
An interesting point is, earlier singers used to adjust their pitch to the mridangam, but now percussion instrument is tuned to pitch of the singer. It is based on their tonality, and 6–7 pieces are accompanied for every concert. One and only goal of the author is to introduce parity between the maker and the artist. He wants them both to be called collaborators in the creative output which is true. I cannot stop wondering, this parity exists everywhere, companies sucking labor of employees, masters getting from their labor, cine stars walking away with the bulk of movie budget, Mary Kom heroine making more money than the real Mary Kom in just one movie.
This shall never end, but that does not mean, that we should never talk. Delta improvements to life and equality shall always be work in progress.
Parlandu, the master maker and his artistry is weaved beautifully, it is said that the artist had no qualms from this man. Politics and rivalry of a specific maker only tied with a specific artist and any deviation was frowned upon. Different making styles belonging to Thanjvaur, Madras and Kerala are told, and factions making claims of which one is best. Sourcing of skin, wood, stone, ropes, are all different in each case and the final output is different as well.
The book and topic are sensitive for cow is a sacred animal in Hindu Religion, and cow skin is used in the making of this instrument, and Carnatic music is an indispensable part in devotion-you get the drift
Imagine this- dead skin from an animal, made into sound aka music generating instrument by the sheer artistry of the makers and the players who present it to the audience. Try getting it from your leather wallet, there is science and love behind this process.
The poor state of affairs of the makers, their shops, movement from Thanjavur to Chennai, and their clan rivalry are all interesting information to chew on. I was almost a zero in the beginning of the book, but this book enlightened me with the tone, musicality, resonance, etc, my first concert experience would not be the same. The book starts off like a roller coaster ride but meanders to meaningless directions of visits, insignificant mentions of non-music elements to it, and constant connections being made with caste. My belief is every line of reasoning cannot be clubbed with a caste angle. But, the news of his book launch stopped at last minute, kept me thinking of any such axis.
“Caste was presented as a concrete wall when it actually operates like a wicket gate” — beautiful lines summarizing the caste divide. What do you explain as a caste to a 6-year-old, you say it is there, but it is not there.
Only jackfruit tree wood is selected for its quality, age, and width of the stem is a key criterion. Since it is not just a utilitarian item being made, and a musical instrument and any deviation shall affect the sound quality of it. It is said, only female cows are used, and also the ones which given rise to calves, countless experiments had been done to arrive at this juncture, also a snake, lizard skin were all tried at once, but none gave the quality desired. A chapter dedicated exclusively to women makers is applaudable, and their efforts in this making are explained beautifully.
A good editor could have trimmed the unwanted skin of this book, scientific analysis of stones, and C V Raman analysis is also being studied. I marvel at the four-year-long efforts done in the preparation of this book, but felt it could have been science and society book separately, combing them has made me confused at places.
To be fair, and critical and true to me, this book did open up on a new topic, making me a question, understand, and reason about this issue. I believe, it is a victory for the author, but I felt, this book could have been done in two, one explaining the process of making, and another one on the blurred caste lines that exist. I say this because, often the author reasons every divide as due to caste, and it becomes monotonic. Maybe it is true, I do not know, even he does not confirm, and also when the questions are pointed not as centrist but often taking a stance, you are left to wonder, if it is taking a neutral approach on the issue.
Also, I felt, now that the whole artistic process has been documented and laid threadbare, anyone from anywhere in the world could attempt this making of the instrument. I cannot help but think of a Chinese reading it, and making it with every animal skin possible, and flooding the market with high-quality instruments or even ordinary quality ones. Quality of skin selection, chemicals used, stone selection, and the areas visited, contact names, measurements of the cut, dipping, and time required, exposure to the sun are all detailed. If anyone has the time and wants to make a splash, you could attempt at making a mridangam purely based on this book. By spilling the trade secrets of this makers, I begin to wonder if the author thought of this angle to it.
Also, I felt by publishing the book in English, audience will be limited to classes and not to masses. Let me reframe this line, I do not say the population of this state does not know English, everyone here is more comfortable than anyone else in the world, but most of us prefer to read and converse in Tamil. Also, I believe had this book be published in Tamil, it would have reached a wider section of the audience. Also, I hope the makers are made aware of their interviews and answers post the book, as they have every right to know of the content of content. If we have not done this, then we shall be the very perpetrators that this book deals with.
On a final note, fantastic selection of a topic, and research behind it. But felt it could have been edited at places, or made into science book explaining the process and society book explaining the divide could have been appropriate. Nevertheless, give the book a read, for the wisdom it imparts, questions left to ponder, and the attempt at it.
Thanks to the social crusader author T M Krishna, looking forward to your next book sir.
