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Centenary Celebrations of Madurai Mani Iyer - Inauguration function, a report from THE HINDU published
on 18/11/2011.
25th October 2011
Today is the 100th Birthday of Gaana Kalaadhara Shri Madurai Mani Iyer. (1912 to 1968).
A 100 Pranaams to the great master :
Who raptured(s) the sangeetha rasikas with his suswara
madhura sangeetham!
Who established the "Sukha bhaavam" and "Sowkhya bhaavam" aspect of Sangeetham with his roaring success
in his outstanding career!
Who resonated through his music that music has to be enjoyed by Self first! - be it practising,
be it presenting or be it listening!
Who proved to the world by his success that Melody is more important than Mathematics!
Who by his hard work and meticulous practise, obtained purity and clarity in every aspect of sangeetham and established
that one who is strong in basics and devotedly follows Sruthi bhakthi and laya bhakthi could transform his rasikas to a divine
bliss while listening to him!
Who had singularly popularised the Navagraha krithis of Dikshithar!
Who contributed
immensly to the cause of thamizh isai!
Who introduced many apoorva ragas and krithis of the trinity!
Who proved by
his examplary life that music is not just a profession but when coupled with great virtues, could make a man immortal!
Longlive
his divine music! Longlive suswara sangeetham!
Remembering Shri Madurai Mani Iyer on his 40th death anniversary. Uploading Sadaananda Thaandavam Sung by Shri Mani Iyer
at the Tamil Isai Sangam, in the year 1967 (his last concert at TIS) with Mayavaram Govindaraja Pillai, Vellore Ramabhadran
and Alangudi Ramachandran. Recollecting Shri Mani Iyer association with Tamil Isai Sangam : Shri Mani Iyer was one of the
earliest Isai Perarignar (1963), to be honoured by the Tamil Isai Sangam. He had an unbroken stint with the Sangam since
1941 when it was founded. A photo dated 23/12/1943 has Shri Mani Iyer with Mayavaram Govindaraja Pillai and Palani Subramanya
Pillai performing at the sangam at the George Town (Victoria Hall) also show cases the huge crowd that he draws in the concert
including the elites Shri Rajaji and others attending it. The review by Shri Kalki in the Ananda Vikatan highlights the
great rendering of Paratparaa Parameshwara in Vachaspathi with neraval and swaras in Hari Ayanum kaana ariyajyothi followed
by Thookiya Thiruvadi in Shankarabharanam which drew rounds of applause for his raga renderings, neravals and swaras. Kalki
says MMI has proved that he has the ability to draw both Pandithaas and Paamaraas for his concerts and could provide them
a tranquil and soulful music with remarkable shruthi shudham and absolute clarity in raga bhavam and original creativity.
He wishes MMI for good health and a prosperous career. This review was one of the classic reviews featured in Kalki's collection
of reviews released a book sometime back. Here is the link of Sadaananda Thaandavam a tamil isai favourite immortalised
by MMI .. Please copy paste this link in a browser to download the song : http://www.sendspace.com/file/80ag42
Madurai Mani Iyer is a Nada Yogi. Despite his physical
disability, he had some distinct qualities. He had the uncanny ability to convert any sound into music. He had that `yoga
stage.' He had that `siddhi.' Nobody asked if he had sung this or that. But they all listened and accepted what he sang as
music. Even as he sang that simple, he used to sing simple nava varnams. He would do it in his own simple but great style.
-------------Shri T.N.Seshagopalan, a the top ranking
musician of today, said in an interview to Sify Carnaticmusic during December 2003 (http://www.carnaticmusic.com)
Last Update : 06/08/2008 (Listen to Manasunilpa sung by the master!)
Date of hosting : 08/11/2002
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