There are critics and critics, some glorify their travels, some their connections. One man stood just by the power of his pen. His name was PV Subramaniam.
He would slide quietly into any available seat of a hall and inconspicuously observe. He did not wear flashy clothes to attract attention or hug and kiss, later only to knife in the back! This man, our man, his opinion counted and his observation set the tone for the season. The man - PV Subramaniam - strode like a giant in the field of dance and Carnatic music criticism. “An Andhra family doctor friend never called us three brothers by proper names. As it happens in Telugu, he added ‘du’ to each of our names. Hence, Subbudu, Krishnadu and Ramadu. My brothers shrugged it off. To me, it stuck like glue.”
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He would slide quietly into any available seat of a hall and inconspicuously observe. He did not wear flashy clothes to attract attention or hug and kiss, later only to knife in the back! This man, our man, his opinion counted and his observation set the tone for the season. The man - PV Subramaniam - strode like a giant in the field of dance and Carnatic music criticism. “An Andhra family doctor friend never called us three brothers by proper names. As it happens in Telugu, he added ‘du’ to each of our names. Hence, Subbudu, Krishnadu and Ramadu. My brothers shrugged it off. To me, it stuck like glue.”
Read the article in the site
Thank you for the enlightening article on Subbudu. It is amazing to read about his audacity to stand up against people at odds with his reviews. Dance history is incomplete without the history of critics such as Subbudu.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Those days were great , when you waited for the Friday newspaper hoping to get a review from subbudu sir or Shantaji. It is an inspiring article and I hope it becomes the making of another 'honest' critic. the dance world really needs to hear honest opinions and unbiased truths
ReplyDeletevery nice. ethics lessons for critics
ReplyDeletePriyaLasya
I admired from a distance of this great man with pen as his weapon to tear into the Art critics of many a doyens of music and dance
ReplyDeleteSurya Narayana Murthy
San Francisco California
Thanks Ashish ji, for such a nice article about Subuddu.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteRashmi khanna1 October 2024 at 15:38
The article about the great, revered and feared dance critic Subbudu ji, was an absolute delight to read! The insights into his life and his talent and his humorously quirky attitude towards life defines him in a way no one else could! It brings to life his persona exactly as I remember him!
Thank you Ashish ji for stirring up so many fond memories of him...
ARCHANA CHETANA1 October 2024 at 17:37
ReplyDeleteNice to know about the critic subbudu sir. It's enriching for youngsters to know the history of these legends. Thank u ashish sir on the in depth writings of yours
Anonymous2 October 2024 at 18:36
ReplyDeleteThe article about the legendary critic was very interesting and absorbing.i did not know he was related to my favourite Padmasini teacher . Paddu teacher as we fondly called her . Thanks so much.
Minal Prabhu
Nisha Mahajan, Delhi4 October 2024 at 11:42
ReplyDeleteAshish, the column on Subbudu ji is so beautufully written, thank you for sharing it !