Each year, just around this time I write an article for the Sruti magazine on the December Music Season 75 years ago. And so it was this time too, the focus being on what happened in the Margazhi of 1948. It was while I was researching for it that I realised that the Tamil Nadu Government Music College located at historic Brodie Castle aka Thenral, will soon be embarking on its Platinum Jubilee – 75th year sometime in 2024. I am not sure as to the exact date but the year was 1949 when the Central College of Karnatak Music as it was known came into existence.
Proposing a government music college
During his brief tenure as Union Minister for Education post Independence, Rajaji suggested that there ought to be two central government-funded institutions, one each for the promotion of Hindustani and Carnatic music. The 1926-established Marris College in Lucknow, now the Bhatkhande Music Institute University, was selected for the former. For the South Indian art form however, a fresh institution had to be created.
Putting together a Committee for the music college
A Committee was formed in Madras. This comprised TS Avinasilingam Chettiar (Education Minister, Govt. of Madras), Dr Sir A Lakshmanaswami Mudaliar ( Vice Chancellor University of Madras), PV Rajamannar (Chief Justice, High Court of Madras and Chairman Sangeet Natak Akademi), K Srinivasan (Vice President Music Academy and Editor, The Hindu), Rao Bahadur KV Krishnaswami Iyer (President, Music Academy), ‘Rasikamani’ TK Chidambaranatha Mudaliar (noted Tamil scholar and authority on Kamban), Prof P Sambamoorthy (musicologist), S Venkateswaran ICS and Tiger K Varadachariar (musician and academic). A powerful outside influence, though not in any official capacity then was TT Krishnamachari.
A Disappointment for the Music Academy
With so many members of the Music Academy on it, that organisation fancied its chances of being asked to create the proposed music college. In fact, during the inauguration of its 1948 music festival, the Academy committee said as much in its welcome address to the Chief Guest, Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavsinhji, Maharajah of Bhavnagar and Governor of Madras. But the Academy’s largely negative role in the then ongoing Tamil Isai movement no doubt scuttled its chances.
The inception of the music college
Sometime in 1949, the Central College of Karnatak Music came into existence under Government control. It’s syllabus was formulated by Prof P Sambamoorthy and it was believed that he would be its first Principal. But here too there was a twist. The renowned musician Musiri Subramania Iyer was selected for the post. In retrospect it was a wise choice for Musiri brought his many-sided personality – musician, intellectual and social networker -to the job and gave the college a high profile and status. A stellar faculty in the early years made sure the college acquired a great reputation. Several high profile artistes have followed in Musiri’s footsteps and become Principals of the institution.
The various homes of the music college
The college began life at Rahmat Bagh on Santhome High Road, now demolished but remembered as the first building in which Swami Vivekanananda stayed during his maiden visit to Madras in 1893. Thereafter, the college shifted to Bridge House, a handsome building on the northern bank of the Adyar and which too has now gone making way for the Sivaji Ganesan memorial and the TN Rajarathinam Pillai auditorium. In 1956 the college moved into Brodie Castle, which has remained its home ever since.
The legacy
During its silver jubilee in 1974 the institution was renamed the Tamil Nadu Arasu Isai Kalloori and in 1991 it was brought under the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram. Since 2013 it is under the TN Music and Fine Arts University. It’s then principal and noted Veena artiste E Gayathri became that University’s first Vice Chancellor.
Read my article on ‘The Hindu’ dated November 21, 2023 here and in my book ‘Chennai – A Biography’
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