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T M Krishna. Now here is a fascinating story of a musician born and bred in privilege by his own admission, who enjoyed a liberal, progressive environment both at home and at school that laid the foundations for a fearless, critical mind and outspoken tongue, enjoyed the best of teachers who fostered an abiding love for Carnatic music in his young heart and was one among the band of young musicians who took the Carnatic stage by storm in the 90s.
Just when it appeared to be the perfect ending to a fairy tale, Krishna flipped the script and stepped into a path of enquiry and innovation, all the while questioning how art is created, performed and shared, addressing issues of caste, class and gender in society. Over the last decade, his efforts and collaborations have focused on bringing closer art forms and communities that belong to polar ends of the social spectrum, drawing as much adulation and admiration from some sections as rebuke and disapproval from others. The tale, fairy or not, is as engrossing as it gets…

Notes to Myself is one of MOPA's flagship projects - a series of interactive, expository documentaries that deconstructs the lives and creative processes of some of the most impactful professionals associated with South India's performing arts. Done in a let-your-hair-down and from-the-heart way, these offer an honest, moving and at times funny and charmingly unguarded look at the lives of these artistes.

02:00 - Childhood reflections
06:37 - Upbringing and education at KFI's The School
10:37 - Your mentors in music
16:57 - Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer
23:50 - Chengalpet Ranganathan
28:25 - Early performances
32:13 - YACM
37:02 - The shift in thought
49:08 - Unconventional ideas and spaces for performance
58:05 - Mission Swanubhava and Urur Olcott Kuppam festival
1:07:22 - Singing with the Jogappas
1:13:08 - Reconciling old and new patterns and processes
1:15:48 - In the role of a teacher
1:20:57 - Being what you are in today's climate

Film Credits:
Concept, Curation and Artistic Direction: Savita Narasimhan
Direction and Editing: Gowrishankar Venkatraman (@gowrishankarv)
Director of Photography: Kalaiselvan Sivaji (@kalaiiiiiiiiii)
Associate Cameraman: Shanthakumar Chakravarthy, Gowthaman
Production Management: B Charles, Gowtham Ganesan (@chennaiarttheatre)
Video Production & Post Production: Swung Dash Studios, Chennai


Photographs and Visual Excerpts:
From the collection of:
T M Krishna
Hariharan Sankaran
First Edition Arts (special thanks to Devina Dutt)
Kumaran Nadesan
YACM archives
TT Vasu, authored by S Muthiah

Subtitling: Samanvitha Sasidharan
Soundtracks by: Matt Stewart Evans, Phelipe Figueiredo, J Scott Rakozy, Philip Daniel, Atlas Reach, Kevin Bean, Joel Porter, Matthew L. Fisher, Ardie Son, Morris, ATAP

Venue Courtesy: Ashvita Exhibition Gallery, Chennai (special thanks to Ashvin Rajagopalan)

Chief Sponsor - Kauvery Hospital, Chennai
MOPA is grateful to Kauvery Hospital for supporting this project.

Produced by MOPA Foundation ©2021