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 One
of the greatest exponents of the Mridangam (South Indian
Percussion Instrument), Palghat Mani Iyer was born in
Palghat, Kerala, in 1912. Son of Seshan Bagavatar and
Ananthambal, Palghat Mani Iyer was naturally inclined
towards music and was introduced to the world of rhythm
when he was ten.
He had the privilege of training under Palghat Subba Iyer
and Kalapathy Viswanatha Iyer. It was his association with
Vaidanatha Bagavatar that made him popular with the Rasikas
(patrons of the arts). But it was his experience as
accompanist to the legendary Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar
that he cherished most. Among the violinists, Mani Iyer had
a special liking for Rajamanickkam Pillai. Having come from
Kerala, the land of the Panchavadhyam and the Chenda Edakka,
(both Percussion Instruments of Kerala), Palghat Mani Iyer
used these influences in fine-tuning his mastery of the
Mridangam.
Mani Iyer had a firm belief in Sampradaya (tradition). He
had great praise for singers who preferred singing in the
high pitch, which was common in the mikeless era. He
believed that Sadhana (practice) and dedication were the
most important attributes of a good singer. Mani Iyer
warned musicians to avoid using a low pitch as it would rob
much of the creativity and originality of a singer. He
often stressed the need for consistent performance. He had
a preference for Thyagaraja Krithis (songs of Thyagaraja)
over those of Shyama Sastry and Muthuswamy Dikshitar.
Clad in his trademark white shirt and dhoti, his forehead
smeared with sandal paste, Mani Iyer won the hearts of
music lovers across the world with the virtuosity he
brought to his performances. He was a trendsetter. Not
content with being a mere accompanist, he involved himself
in and with the musical phrasing. He is also famous for his
deft handling of the Krithis (songs). His timing and
control of the Thala (rhythm), especially his skill in
simultaneously playing two different Thalas for the same
song with his right and left hand, placed him in a class
all his own. Mani Iyer is best remembered in music circles
for his brief tani avatarams(solo renditions).
Among the many titles bestowed on him are the Sangeetha
Kalanidhi (1967), the Padmabhusan (1971) and the President
of India's National Award (1956). Mani Iyer personally
cherished the Navarathna Malai, given to him by the
Sankaracharya of Kanchi.
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