Palghat Mani Iyer
Encyclopedia
Palghat T.S. Mani Iyer was one of the leading mridangists in the field of Carnatic music
and the first mridangist to win the Sangeetha Kalanidhi
and
Padmabhushan awards.
He was a legend even in his lifetime, one of the all-time greats, a genius at innovation. His scintillating performances were an unforgettable treat to the audience. 'Palghat' on a poster or just a 'Mani' was sufficient to attract the crowds in droves. It would be no exaggeration to say that Palghat Mani Iyer raised the status of the mridangam and the mridangist to dizzy heights. An artiste of few words, he would sit on the dais all attention to the vocalist or violinist, a picture of dignity and composure. Popular carnatic musician Nithyasree Mahadevan
is Palghat Mani Iyer's granddaughter.
, Kerala
. He first studied with Palghat Subba Iyer, Kalpathy Viswanatha Iyer and later with Thanjavur Vaidanatha Iyer. Mani came into prominence after accompanying Chembai Vaidanatha Bagavathar
in a music concert at Madras (now called Chennai
).
for later mridangam vidwans such as Palghat R. Raghu
, Palghat Suresh and Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman
. He also taught mridangam to children at the Rishi Valley School started by Jiddu Krishnamurti
.
Before Mani Iyer’s arrival in the music scene, the two mridangists Alaganambi Pillai and Dakshinamurthy Pillai (also a kanjirist), dominated the art of percussion playing. The innovations of Mani changed the style of mridangam playing as Y. G. Doraisamy points out: "It was Mani Iyer who started the now prevalent trend of the mridangam, not just keeping the time with tekkas and moras, but actively accompanying the musical phrasing, so as to be a rhythmic running commentary, reproducing on the drum all the subtleties and rhythmic complexities of the musical composition."
Palghat R. Raghu
, a disciple of Mani Iyer, describes his guru as a genius in that he showed music followers the manner of blending with the music of the main artist in handling the kritis of every conceivable mood and tempo. By his consistent excellence he could raise the concert to thrilling heights.
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
and the first mridangist to win the Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Sangeetha Kalanidhi or Sangita Kalanidhi is the title awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy. This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.-----Sangeetha Kalanidhis:-External links:*...
and
Padmabhushan awards.
He was a legend even in his lifetime, one of the all-time greats, a genius at innovation. His scintillating performances were an unforgettable treat to the audience. 'Palghat' on a poster or just a 'Mani' was sufficient to attract the crowds in droves. It would be no exaggeration to say that Palghat Mani Iyer raised the status of the mridangam and the mridangist to dizzy heights. An artiste of few words, he would sit on the dais all attention to the vocalist or violinist, a picture of dignity and composure. Popular carnatic musician Nithyasree Mahadevan
Nithyasree Mahadevan
Dr. Nithyasree Mahadevan, also previously referred to as S. Nithyashri, is an eminent Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. Nithyasree's paternal grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and her granduncle, D. K...
is Palghat Mani Iyer's granddaughter.
Early life and background
He was born and raised in the old Kalpathy village of PalakkadPalakkad
Palakkad , formerly known as Palghat, is a municipality and a town in the state of Kerala in southern India, spread over an area of 26.60 km2.The city is situated about north of state capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He first studied with Palghat Subba Iyer, Kalpathy Viswanatha Iyer and later with Thanjavur Vaidanatha Iyer. Mani came into prominence after accompanying Chembai Vaidanatha Bagavathar
Chembai
Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar was a Carnatic music singer from Palakkad . Known by his village name Chembai, or simply as Bhagavatar, he was born to Anantha Bhagavatar and Parvati Ammal in 1896, at Kottayi near Palakkad on Janmashtami day, with Bharani star in the month of Chingam...
in a music concert at Madras (now called Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
).
Career
Mani Iyer accompanied all the leading vocal artists of his era. He was also the guruGuru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
for later mridangam vidwans such as Palghat R. Raghu
Palghat R. Raghu
Palghat R. Raghu was a famous Carnatic musician and percussionist.- Early life :Palghat R. Raghu was born on January 9, 1928 in Rangoon, Burma . He died of cardiac arrest on June 2, 2009. As a child, he was immensely talented and inducted into mridangam lessons very early in his life...
, Palghat Suresh and Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman
Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman
Umayalpuram Kasiviswanatha Sivaraman is an Indian mridangam player. He was awarded with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honor, on the occasion of the country's 61st Republic Day observance on January 26, 2010 and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kerala in...
. He also taught mridangam to children at the Rishi Valley School started by Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
.
Before Mani Iyer’s arrival in the music scene, the two mridangists Alaganambi Pillai and Dakshinamurthy Pillai (also a kanjirist), dominated the art of percussion playing. The innovations of Mani changed the style of mridangam playing as Y. G. Doraisamy points out: "It was Mani Iyer who started the now prevalent trend of the mridangam, not just keeping the time with tekkas and moras, but actively accompanying the musical phrasing, so as to be a rhythmic running commentary, reproducing on the drum all the subtleties and rhythmic complexities of the musical composition."
Palghat R. Raghu
Palghat R. Raghu
Palghat R. Raghu was a famous Carnatic musician and percussionist.- Early life :Palghat R. Raghu was born on January 9, 1928 in Rangoon, Burma . He died of cardiac arrest on June 2, 2009. As a child, he was immensely talented and inducted into mridangam lessons very early in his life...
, a disciple of Mani Iyer, describes his guru as a genius in that he showed music followers the manner of blending with the music of the main artist in handling the kritis of every conceivable mood and tempo. By his consistent excellence he could raise the concert to thrilling heights.