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Madurai
Mani Iyer |
At the tender age of nine, Mani Iyer
had started his musical journey. Born on October
25 in 1912 in Madurai as only son to an erudite
veteran in classical music, Ramaswamy Iyer, he had
three sisters. His mother too was knowledgeable
in classical music. Small wonder he imbibed an interest
in music at an early age.
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Music was soaked in the family. A
cousin brother was well-known musician of the times
Madurai Sri Pushpavanam Iyer. Madurai Mani Iyer
received his early training in music through a ‘gurukula
vasam’ under Sri Rajam Baghavathar, reportedly
an expert in singing swaras. He learnt under Sri
Rajam Baghavathar for two years. His father also
taught him the discipline of the art and its niceties.
Later, Madurai Mani Iyer studied under the tutelage
of the famous Muthiah Baghavathar, who had begun
a teaching institute called “Thyagaraja Vidyalayam”
in Madurai.
The traditional moorings in music and his own deep
abiding devotion to the art found encouragement
from elders and Madurai Mani Iyer gave his first
concert at the age of 12 in the year 1924 in Sivaganga
district during a ‘kumba abishegam’
at a place called Alvak Kottai. It was a big success
and more concerts came his way on a regular basis.
Madurai Mani Iyer’s music is characterized
by his uncanny ability to sing ‘aduku swaras’
(inspired consecutive additions of notes in the
kalpana swara phase, which embellish the raga or
kriti) and weave magical patterns in the ‘swara-prasthara’
stage of the concert. Invariably he wove such a
magic with his swaras that the audience swayed to
his music enjoying it thoroughly.
He had the ability to easily scale the octaves while
singing. His “shruti sense” was perfect
and he took special care to preserve this aspect
of his music all through his life so that listeners
got the full benefit of the ‘bhava sangeetham’
in his music in perfect alignment with the tonic
note.
He was also a master of laya and bhava. So his music
was rich in content and feelings. He had an original
approach to presentation of the raga or kriti or
swaras which came to be accepted by listening public
and he was in great popularity and in great demand
from all sabhas and for special occasions like a
temple festival or marriage ceremony among the rich
and famous.
He was conferred the title “Gana Kaladara”
in 1943 in the temple town Tanjore.
He was well-informed and reading newspapers regularly
was a passion. He provided rich fare in music for
many years showing imagination and dared to present
many new ragas and compositions. In time they became
popular and his brand of music was loved by thousands
of admirers.
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