Chennai enters UN ‘Creative Cities’ list, courtesy its music

MUSIC ACADEMY CHIEF N MURALI SAID HONOUR HAS COME FOR HOSTING ONE OF THE LARGEST MUSIC FESTIVALS – THE MARGAZHI SEASON IN DECEMBER, SINCE 1927

PARIS/CHENNAI: Widely known as the cultural capital of south India, Chennai has added another feather in its crown by being included in the Creative Cities list of Unesco, the UN cultural organisation, for its contribution to music. Chennai is the third Indian city to make it to the list after Varanasi and Jaipur.

The news was hailed by prime minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, both of whom tweeted about the honour bestowed on the Tamil Nadu capital.

“Congratulations to the people of Chennai on the city’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for its rich musical tradition. Chennai’s contribution to our rich culture is precious. This is a proud moment for India,” Modi tweeted on Wednesday.

It is not for nothing that Chennai has found a pride of place in the Unesco list. The city is home to all types of music and musicians of repute, from classical Carnatic maestros to the Mozart of Madras – AR Rahman – who has in recent times won international acclaim for his experimentation in classical and folk music and adapting it to popular music.

Elated over the special honour, N Murali, president, Music Academy and chairman, Kasturi and Sons Ltd, the holding company that publishes The Hindu, told Hindustan Times that “it is an honour that has come for Chennai for hosting one of the world’s largest music festivals – the Margazhi season in December.”

The Academy, set up in 1928, began the “Music Season” informally in December 1927, and over has grown into what it is today. Rasikas (connoisseurs) come from across the globe to soak in the Carnatic classical, but now other forms of classical music are also showcased.