Subbudu's pen expanded the circle of carnatic music lovers

Chennai, March 30 (UNI) The biggest contribution of Carnatic music and dance critic Subbudu, who passed away yesterday was that he was responsible for ''expanding the circle of rasikas.'' His style of writing attracted those who knew music as well as those who did not.

This tribute comes from no less an artiste than violin maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman, who described the demise of Subbudu as the end of a 'sahaptam' (era) and a ''void in the field of art review''.

Lalgudi's son, G J R Krishnan, speaking to UNI on behalf of his father, said, ''There was one group of people who welcomed his criticism and another who detested it. However, whether informed or lay persons, they eagerly looked forward to reading his pieces.

Among critics he enjoyed unique status in the art fraternity. His writing was valued highly whether he praised artistes or criticised them.'' Subbudu was the nom de plume of P V Subramaniam. Born in Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), on March 27, 1917, he had his early education there. He wrote on culture for the 'Rangoon Times.' He landed in India after the British ordered all Indians to vacate Burma in 1942. The family moved to Shimla and Subramaniam found the place a ''fecund orchard'' for his affinity to music to flourish.

Known for acerbic style, Subbudu's skirmishes with artistes including 'Sangeetha Pitamaha' Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer were the stuffs of legends.

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