Never faced discrimination based on religion: Nadhaswaram playing Muslim couple

By Venkatachari Jagannathan Chennai, Oct 19 : They are the first nadhaswaram playing Muslim couple to be selected for the Padma Shri award. And perhaps they are the first husband and wife to be selected for the Padma Shri award.
The Central government’s decision to select them for the award earlier this year came as a pleasant shock and surprise for this Srirangam-based couple.
“We thought we had to go some more miles to aspire for the Padma awards,” 64-year old Sheik Mahaboob Subhani told IANS.
Nadhaswaram is a double reed wind instrument that is used as a traditional classical instrument in south India. It is played at weddings, temples as well as in music sabhas.
Nadhaswaram and thavil – a percussion instrument – are part of temple festivals, wedding and other auspicious occasions in south India.
The Muslim couple hailing from a family of nadhaswaram artistes has played nadhaswaram in several Hindu temples in south India.