S. Mahathi
Smt. S. Mahathi categorically states that online concerts can never be a substitute for physical ones, making her point with a simple analogy and discussing the elephant in the room – artistes’ compensation. She thinks it is too early to get back to live performances, however, much as she would like to, enumerating her concerns lucidly.
This video is part of the Melodies during Maladies podcast. After almost two full months of worldwide quarantine due to COVID, restrictions gradually began loosening in May 2020. In this podcast, musicians, concert organisers and audience members share their thoughts on getting back to physical concerts.
S. Mahathi wears two hats each of which she keeps distinct. As a Carnatic musician, she is an A Graded vocalist from All India Radio and has won many awards from major sabhas including The Music Academy. As a playback singer, she is the recipient of multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer. She was noticed at the age of 3 for effortlessly recognising several ragas. She is the great granddaughter of Sangita Kalanidhi Pazhamaneri Sri. Swaminatha Iyer, and the daughter of Thiruvaiyaru Sri. P. Sekar, a vocalist, and Smt. Vasanthi Sekar, a flautist.
Check out the earlier Quarantunes podcast where several Carnatic and Hindustani musicians shared their thoughts while quarantined.
‘Facebook live’ is referred to a delicious lunch taken outside, when some one is bored with home food. Home food is always routine like a Sabha kutcheri in a big hall with a vocalist supported by co artists in a big hall. Ms.Mahathi, is over cautious on hygiene and personal safety to the extent of carrying her own Mic. Mahathi should also remember Indians in general have more immunity than an average foreigner , and that is reflected in the number of positive cases , and deaths percentage on Covid 19. Let us develop an herd immunity and fight Covid19, rather than fear to touch Door knobs, or brush shoulders with somebody. Only Ranganathan Street, T. Nagar comes to my mind. I even feel Covid is throwing new norms into our way of life, and it is going to be a accepted practice. The entertainment industry, the fine arts, sports programmes are all going to be recalibrated with the passage of time. The society will adopt to changes as there will be no other go. The revival of Economy is paramount in the minds of people, as majority are hit badly with lack of income. Experts are also of the view that Covid19 will stay for longer duration and we need to learn to live with it. Now even healthy people with high immunity levels have experienced themselves to live inside homes in the 4.0 lock downs , and whether Mahathi accepts the term new normal or not, the Music Sabhas cannot expect the same audience response of the past in the future. We wish Ms.Mahathi many more laurels in the field of Carnatic music, and she is one person who has fans both from light music as well as classical music.
Thank you Sir.
Iam always your fan Mahathi. Thanks you read my comments.