One hears a lot these days about taking art to the masses.As I have already stated this is a little like taking the horse to the river.It is up to the horse to drink water or not.The masses might take to art Or it might not.What is worse masses would start criticising what they do not comprehend.As has happened to so many artists starting from Vincent Van Gogh to  our very own Hussein.Recently I had a tete e tete with a niece of mine of whose aesthetic sensibilities I was largely unaware until then.I am fond of her but have not found her to be particularly good at any thing except at making a large number of friends and having superficial but pleasant relations with the.She is also goodlooking and is fond of the good life.She told me that she had joined a musical troup recently, one that specialised on the veeNaa.To my utter surprise she also let me know that her group would be performing in the neighbourhood and asked me if I would come and liusten to her.I agreed and went to the concert.

I have already reviewed this concert in an earlier blog.So I will be brief now.It was arranged in a marriage hall and was conducted like one.On the dais and around it were many large women who looked even larger than life in Kaancheepuram silks and finery of gold.Men were also there but cowered in their presence.There were eight 'artistes' as they are called in Chennai who performed to the cacophonous beats of drums of different descriptions.Theis was followed by similar sessions with the artistes of varying sizes and shapes and accomp-lishments.The proceedings were presided over by a formidable looking lady and her dear husband who wore a self satisfied grin.IThey were not guilty of playing one single swara right.The public address system did full justoice to the musical rendering.And every one was extremely happy except of course a few creatures like me.

There was a valedictory session in which the organiser of this outrageous performance was extolled and honoured.There was some one from the press to boot.Remarks were made on this occasion about taking carnatic music to the masses.

Artistic perception and accomplishment is given only to a few among us.The rest must stay satisfied with the Cmajor of their lives.There is nothing lamentable about this.If you have it in you by all means dedicate yourself to the noble pursuit and reach for the stars.If not, let us try to accept the situation and stay out of passing intemperate judgemental pronouncements in the thought that every one is entitled to speak on any thing-an illusion engendered by the nonsense of democracy.Art is an elitist and aristocratic pursuit.Even if some one is not aristocratic by way of riches he or she has to be an aristocrat of thhought and aesthetic sensitivity.If not he or dshe will be shown the door before long.Best would be to stay out and let art and artists flourish without being polluted by our own linguistic, religious,socio political jingoism.

Same goes for the visual arts too.