Karnatik Musician, Author
Thodur Madabusi Krishna is a pre-eminent vocalist in the Karnatik tradition of India’s classical music, trained under B. Seetharama Sarma, Chengalpet Ranganathan and Semmangudi Srinivasier. While rooted in tradition, he is known for the individuality, inner luminosity and intensity of his renditions; his concert practice is wholly classical yet uncompromisingly his own.
A public intellectual, Krishna writes and speaks on cultural and social issues. His books include A Southern Music – The Karnatik Story (2013), which won the 2014 Tata Literature Award for Best First Book (Non-Fiction); Sebastian and Sons (2020), recipient of the Tata Lit Live Award for Best Non-Fiction; and We, the People of India: Decoding a Nation’s Symbols (2026).
His collaborations include the Chennai Poromboke Paadal, performances with the Jogappas, Karnatik Kattaikuttu, and a musico-poetic partnership with Perumal Murugan. With Ashoka University, he leads The Edict Project, reimagining Ashoka’s edicts in musical form.
His honours include the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (2017), Isai Perarignar (2017), Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram (2019), Pasumai Award (2021), Sangita Kalanidhi (2025), and the P. Govinda Pillai National Award (2025).