Guru Karaikudi Mani

Carnatic Musicians
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remeshpb
Posts: 4
Joined: 30 Jun 2008, 08:09

Post by remeshpb »

Great to hear this small nadai of Guru karaikudi mani sir. Interested members can download it, just 1 MB.

http://rapidshare.com/files/126350182/K ... ishram.mp3
Last edited by remeshpb on 02 Jul 2008, 08:26, edited 1 time in total.

Nethursan
Posts: 4
Joined: 21 Jan 2008, 22:36

Post by Nethursan »

hi is it possible for you to upload the whole track and what other tracks you have of KRM please and thank you :)

layarasika
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Joined: 30 Mar 2009, 18:07

Post by layarasika »

Thanks for posting this, incredible clarity and great presentation...it is one of Guru Kaaraikudi Mani's Sankeernam sections

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Post by rajeshnat »

KarAikudi mani is indeed legendary, especially in the way he plays for krithis. Superb anticipation and bringing the true mrudangam nAdham. But what bothers me long time is that he is simply not willing to play for 99% of the artists.

In the last few years atleast in chennai I have seen he is playing year after year for TM krishnA (TMK always has the best of connections ) and Hyderabad brothers (I am assuming since they are in the same age bracket , possibly long time camaraderie is making him play).

But why cant he play for atleast many of the top class artists. What is this exclusivity?. What is stopping this legend is beyond me ? He playing will inspire many many junior mrudangam artists and many rasikas will understand his spellbound roll in his dear mrudangam.

laks1972
Posts: 144
Joined: 27 Jul 2009, 13:29

Post by laks1972 »

KM has amazing clarity in his stroke play. His crispness in strokes even in fast tempos is unmatched. However, at the risk of facing stones hurled at me, I will speak out my mind:

He has changed the way mrudangam is played. Many artists have adopted his style which , while accompanying kritis , I find to be non-stop ********. Compare it with the greats such as PMI, PSP, UKS etc. Strokes and gaps (silence) have to be judiciously mixed. Mrudangam accompaniment is not about playing always. It is also about not playing, and making an impression with silence as warranted

This is sadly missing in his style which the younger generation has blindly adopted.

cacm
Posts: 2212
Joined: 08 Apr 2010, 00:07

Post by cacm »

laks1972 wrote:KM has amazing clarity in his stroke play. His crispness in strokes even in fast tempos is unmatched. However, at the risk of facing stones hurled at me, I will speak out my mind:

He has changed the way mrudangam is played. Many artists have adopted his style which , while accompanying kritis , I find to be non-stop ********. Compare it with the greats such as PMI, PSP, UKS etc. Strokes and gaps (silence) have to be judiciously mixed. Mrudangam accompaniment is not about playing always. It is also about not playing, and making an impression with silence as warranted

This is sadly missing in his style which the younger generation has blindly adopted.
Karaikudi Mani is the first SUCCESSFUL student from the school poineered by HARIHARA SARMA(Father of "VIKKU" Vinayakaram the great Ghtam Vidwan who also was a child prodigy). Sri. Sarma had claimed 7-9 strokes were enough to play Mridangam in a masterly fashion & K.M was his principal student. This was in contrast to the complicated books on how to learn to play Mridangam. I had the privilage of listening to K.M. in H.S' s School when he was under 10. Of course being an innovative artist he is he has developed his own style of playing.....Just for Info. VKV

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Post by Nick H »

Sri. Sarma had claimed 7-9 strokes were enough to play Mridangam in a masterly fashion
There are not many strokes in playing mridangam, it's vocabulary is quite small, and entirely learnt by the beginner in a few months.

It is the combination of them, and the astonishing variety of sentences that those few words can make, and the depth of the calculations, that is so infinitely complex

coolkarni
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Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

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Last edited by coolkarni on 26 Aug 2009, 18:08, edited 1 time in total.

coolkarni
Posts: 1729
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

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Last edited by coolkarni on 26 Aug 2009, 18:07, edited 1 time in total.

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Post by rajeshnat »

:cool:
I clicked the link, but it is giving an invalid file, I am assuming since you said my favourite artist , it should be TRS-KM combination. Two testimonies of KM.

Testimony 1:
Any way as a return of thanks , this 9 minute DKJ-KM , soundararAjam -brindAvana sArangA is a perfect testimony of why I adore KM for his brilliant play for the concerts, he goes along the up and down hairpin bend contours of MD. Almost he is singing with mridangam.
http://rapidshare.com/files/263279789/0 ... a.mp3.html
file size : 4253KB

Testimony 2:
Going in a controlled aggression mode in tulasidhala-mmgowlai, an inspirational number showing the style, speed and clarity, nowadays lot of mridangists silently tap in the name of sowkhyam and donot bring the vibrancy of mridangam, the same DKJ-KM combination
http://rapidshare.com/files/263282895/0 ... a.mp3.html
file size : 7907 KB

BTW I have heard DKJ-KM :) live concerts, unlike TRS-SKR with KM :( which I have totally missed.

Is there a SSI-KM ever available?

Nick H
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Post by Nick H »

coolkarni wrote:
vkv43034 wrote: Sri. Sarma had claimed 7-9 strokes were enough to play Mridangam in a masterly fashion & K.M was his principal student. This was in contrast to the complicated books on how to learn to play Mridangam.
Nick-
VKV was simply echoing the sentiments of the author of this quote :)
Quote
I had an occasion to buy a Silver Soup Ladle and the shop owner laid out an impressive array of designs in front of me.When I was just about to seal the Purchase , one simple design without any of the enormous craftsmanship that were featured on the other models , caught my attention.
But the Price ?! It happened to be the most expensive.
I asked for the reason and the shop owner explained it like this .
You see Sir , in these more ornate designs , the flaws do not easily show.But this one .These are difficult to get .It takes many of these to locate one which is humble in its design , pure as the cloudless blue sky.
Yet something magnificent ,between us and a different World !

Un quote

Just 7-9 strokes...!!!!!!
I Never knew that.In fact I have always been too scared to ask. :D
That is a nice tale :)

Of course, the other great, possibly greater thing about mridangam, is not the stringing together of the words, but the tone with which they are spoken.

mahesh_narayan
Posts: 228
Joined: 22 Aug 2006, 20:51

Post by mahesh_narayan »

Are there any recordings of KVN Sir with KRM Sir? Haven't listened to any yet. Would be a great treat !!!

semmu86
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 09:39

Post by semmu86 »

rajeshnat wrote: Is there a SSI-KM ever available?
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/manjunat ... m-Jun1983/

Here it is rajesh...

Arvind...

coolkarni
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Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

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Last edited by coolkarni on 26 Aug 2009, 18:05, edited 1 time in total.

coolkarni
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Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 06:42

Post by coolkarni »

..
Last edited by coolkarni on 26 Aug 2009, 18:05, edited 1 time in total.

srinivasrgvn
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Post by srinivasrgvn »

-
Last edited by srinivasrgvn on 28 Dec 2009, 19:33, edited 1 time in total.

ajsriram
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Joined: 21 Mar 2005, 13:17

Post by ajsriram »

Website Re-designed and launched :

URL : http://www.karaikudirmani.com

Mohan thanks for correcting it!
Last edited by ajsriram on 11 Aug 2009, 08:08, edited 1 time in total.

mohan
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Post by mohan »


ambika.sundaram
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Joined: 18 Sep 2009, 11:46

Post by ambika.sundaram »

"Weight" (the thrust on mridangam while playing) & speed ..... both you can see while you listen to Karaikudi Sir .....

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Post by rajeshnat »

There is a passing mention that karthik fine arts has awarded 'Thamizh Isai vendar' title to karaikudi mani sir for this year season . Sorry cant find the url in the hindu website. Best wishes to one of the finest mrudangam players. I always wish that he plays for more artists , he is not accessible to 99% of the artists.

ambika.sundaram
Posts: 24
Joined: 18 Sep 2009, 11:46

Post by ambika.sundaram »

Ohh that is a great news rajeshnat.
Karaikudi sir, we all adore you.
Last edited by ambika.sundaram on 25 Sep 2009, 14:18, edited 1 time in total.

sbala
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Joined: 30 Jul 2006, 08:56

Post by sbala »

Article says that he is Rajinikanth of carnatic music.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/stor ... kuKw=&SEO=

vmr
Posts: 56
Joined: 14 Sep 2009, 16:08

Post by vmr »

Mani Sir is scheduled to play a jugalbandhi with Ustad. Zakir hussain in Jan 2010 in Mumbai. Rasikas to watch out....once in a life time experience in store.

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Post by rajeshnat »

Yesterday in the hindu , there was a mention that Neyveli santhanagOpAlan will be accompanied by sri Karaikudi mani, incidentally in the hindu it was mentioned (maiden concert of KM-NSG). Nice to hear that , so far the only musician that KM plays apart from hyderabad brothers is TMK . Good to hear NSG had this chance . I wanted to go to this concert but could not make it as I had to leave late night. Hope KM plays for more and more vidwans and vidushis.

vmr
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009, 16:08

Post by vmr »

Mani sir had indeed accompanied NSG y'day at asthika samajam alwarpet. His tani was outstanding though brief. He played misra nadai and did koraipu in the same nadai along with ghatam Suresh. He announced that he would play this just b4 the tani.The main song for which tani was played was Nannu palimpa in Mohanam.

VMR

ugk
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Joined: 27 Sep 2009, 17:52

Re: Karaikudi Mani

Post by ugk »

I have heard the highest praise aswell as some not so nice remarks about KRM.
It seems he has a style which you either love or hate.
He is probably the most advanced mridangist in a mathematical sense. Very hardcore mridangam style. Very direct and to the point.
The type for laya lovers.
My personal feeling is that he has some exciting aspects to his playing. Nobody uses the thom aswell as he does. He can also move from rhythm to rhythm with incredible sharpness and clarity and speed.
But then i have hardly ever heard him using chaapu (which to be fair enough is not so good with kappi mridangams) and also KRM rarely uses gumaka as much as some other players
For one thing, it is very difficult to play KRM style on a kutchi mridangam. One well known
mridangam artist told me that KRM style is not actually mridangam style but Thavil techniques which he is playing on the mridangam.
This brings me to another point. Why do we have Kutchi and Kappi mridangams? Which one was the original and which came later? Some say Kappi and some say kutchi. I hope somebody creates a debate for Kappi vs kutchi on this website. I want to hear what people have to say about it. Because i have tried playing both and not only do they sound different, but you are inclined to play both differently.
Kappi mridangams are extremely rare. Most youngsters who use them are usually from the KRM school or the late Palghat Raghu school.
I have heard that there is alot of politics going on and this is one of the reasons why KRM does not perform with alot of people.

ugk
Posts: 17
Joined: 27 Sep 2009, 17:52

Re: Karaikudi Mani

Post by ugk »

Anyway,
Here is one of his most in demand solos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVK27RrT ... re=related

Be sure to download it and save it on your computer as i believe it might be taken down.
I did not upload it myself.
It is a very valuable thani

rajeshnat
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Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Karaikudi Mani

Post by rajeshnat »

Personally to me KM is one of the best mrudangam player especially during rendition of songs ,few recordings where he has accompanied TRS, SKR and DKJ are very very memorable.His tani is little too long in general but as ugk said he has incredible clarity and speed .

With respect to politicking , what I have heard thru grapevine is KM had a big rift with music academy (If i am right)for close to 10 or 15 years and very recently in the last 4 or 5 years there was a patch up and KM started playing .I would love to hear him play with more vidwans, the only musician that KM plays is TM KrishnA , TMK and KM are regularly featured in music academy during decemeber season ( TMK has got the connections and persuasiveness to bring in KM to play for him at the academy).

Usually politicking will affect the career of few brilliant vocalist as they may be viewed as a serious threat. With the prevailing shortage of real top class mridangam players and with more vocalist taking up, great mridangam players will be very much in demand and KM will have a premium.

I am assuming if at all KM is willing to change his stand that he will accompany for more vidwans and vidushis, many vocalists and sabhas will bring in KM to play for their concerts and would be delighted too.

Apart from TMK, in the last few years I have seen KM playing for hyd brothers(they may have good legacy contact) and very recently there was one concert in Asthika samAjam,alwarpet where it was advertised for the first time neyveli santhAnagOpAlan will team up with KM , so only 3 vocalist have had chances with KM in the last few years. There are many more deserving musicians who can team up with KM for sure.

To an extent KM has disappointed all of us by not willing to play a lot for more vocalists , certainly it is rasikas loss in not hearing him often.Hoping to hear him often

varsha
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Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

Mesmerising artist.
A lovely interview here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2pcws2ftm8

Images of Lalgudi- KM at KGS in the 80s are still fresh in my memory

Rsachi
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Thanks Varsha. I also heard Karaikkudi Mani (KGM) for the first time in IIT Music Club with Ramani and Lalgudi. It was a wonderful concert and I could see the huge value-add of his mridangam to the wonderful music the other two famous artistes could conjure up.
After that, wherever I have heard him, KGM has always shown himself to be a dynamo of creative energy and musical resonance with the main artistes. He is one of the true jewels in Carnatic music.
An extremely knowledgeable friend tells me that KGM reinvents himself every once in a while and he is unique in that respect of his continued musical journey.

The interview you have shared so kindly shows his personality so well. He mentions how his greatest title is what the maestro PMI mentioned about his bright talent and future way back to a close circle.

Here is another interview: http://youtu.be/vcY0S4_bZZQ


The way KGM speaks of Abhishek Raghuram, how I dearly wish I could be present in their last year's concert in London!!!!

Thanks again.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Kararikkudi Mani is an excellent mridangist, and one of the greatest of all times!

In addition to the stellar LGJ concerts, I remember being blown away by his explosive (in a good way) accompaniment to a very mathematical DKJ and super-sensitive accompaniment to a very soulful KVN in the late 70s.

I remember when he had his accident some three decades ago (that he speaks of in this interview), at which time everyone had given up hope and several medical hand specialists gave him a bleak prognosis. But he recovered miraculously and regained his amazing playing ability.

Sachi, it is interesting that you refer to him as KGM (which is accurate, his given name is Ganapathy Subramanian). But I am more used to referring to him at KRM (R. Mani) which is his more common stage name...

devan
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by devan »

how come he is not considered for sk this year?

rshankar
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by rshankar »

Water under the bridge...
Ramesh, I have not have the chance to catch up with the interviews posted - isn't he (Hyderabad-based bharatanATyam dancer) Smt. Rajeshwari Sainath's brother?

Rsachi
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Uncle.
He had come to Sydney a few years ago and she danced to some wonderful compositions of his with him on the mridangam.
Brilliant.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Sachi is right. I believe Smt Rajeshwari Sainath co-founded the Shruthilaya trust with KRM.

mohan
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mohan »

Rajeshwari Sainath is KRM's niece, not his sister.

varsha
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

https://archive.org/details/PakkalaNila ... ATyAgarAja
A track with a range of beauty power grace and aesthetics of a mind blowing range . a 95 minute pakkala nilabadi
tns=llg-km-hs 15-8-81

semmu86
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by semmu86 »

OMG!! This is just breathtaking. Thanks so much Varsha, for this. The final reply by Lalgudi is worth dying for. Just beyond my capacity to put it in words. Just unbelievable!!

Sorry, even though this thread is about KRM, just cant help observe Lalgudi's genius here.

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Completely agree with Semmu.
Thanks Varshaji for this treat!

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Getting ready for the feast...
BTW the track seems to be only 23 min long??

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

The track is a full hour and 35 minutes. Although when you import it into iTunes (or equivalent) it says that it is 23 mins.
But believe me, every second of the 95 minutes is needed to relish this piece!

Sreeni Rajarao
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Sreeni Rajarao »

Varsha avare,

Thank you! I am delighted to find this!

I have an audio tape, a live recording of very good quality, same song by TNS, probably same duration around 90 minutes.
This is from a performance in Cleveland in the year 1983. I am not sure who the accompanists are (I can say that it is not Sri LGJ and Sri Karaikudi Mani).

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Sreeni: I think TNS toured N.America in 1983 with S.D.Sridhar and Srimushnam Raja Rao (just realized he is your namesake!)
I am not certain if SRR accompanied him at Cleveland, but that would be my most likely guess. I have a recording of pakkala NilabaDi from Toronto 1983 as well (about 90mins including Tani).

TNS toured extensively with KRM after that period. I have come across recordings of his performances in East Asia with KRM (Malaysia, Singapore). KRM stopped accompanying him in the early 90s and that was that!

Rsachi
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Joined: 31 Aug 2009, 13:54

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by Rsachi »

Varsha-ji
I heard it last night as I upgraded my XpZ to Jelly Bean.

It is typical TNS, exuberant, almost breathless, a bit like Vinod Kambli chasing his 400 runs. A more stylish and sedate Lalgudi is like Tendulkar watching and matching his antics. The mridangam of KRM more so khanjira of GHS come in later and pile on the works. Even on headphones, the bass leaves something to be desired, but what the heck, it is one helluva impresario performance altogether. Like in Shivaji Park, Dadar, they play with almost a home team advantage in KHP.

So interesting for me that this raga has a unique combination of melody, structure and a non- threatening grammar. Not any of your cracked pitch like Todi or uneven bounce like Bhairavi. Not your dull and damp shubhapantuvarali or 'Me Hero' cockyness of Shankarabharanam.

When people like you share such lovely tracks, it is a real celebration. Bravo!

varsha
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

It was a pleasure to share . Thanks

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

Here is a lovely Sriranjani by Ramnad Krishnan with LGJ and KRM.
KRM's accompaniment for the song (bhuvinidAsudanE) is just superb! His nadai amaippu, use of the right flourishes and the symmetry in his kOrvai arrangements belong in a textbook of how to play for a kriti!

https://soundcloud.com/ramesh-balasubra ... sriranjani

Just thought I would share it here.

pvs
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by pvs »

Thanks, Mahavishnu. RK gives me the impression of having all the time in the world whatever the tempo is! KRM's bold strokes making continuous rhythmic patterns are extraordinary. On an different, opposite-end-of-spectrum fashion, it reminds me of some vidwans who let silence occupy most of their 'play' time, accompanying with sparse strokes!

I was fortunate to enjoy KRM accompany TMK at KGS (2011, December). His playing for Bhava nuta and the kIravani RTP were a class apart, still etched in memory. That was the famous concert where his tani preceded the pallavi!

mahavishnu
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Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

PVS: Yes, RK represents the most laid back yet extremely intense style I have ever encountered. It is lovely to see how KRM adapts his playing for him.

Here is another great example of the adaptive KRM. This time with KVN. His majestic playing (even through the old-ish ambient microphone) is very reminiscent of PMI or PR. If you go to my soundcloud root page, you can find the tani associated with this piece.
https://soundcloud.com/ramesh-balasubra ... thodi-mcha

Can anyone guess who the violinist is?

varsha
Posts: 1978
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 15:06

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by varsha »

brilliant track . oozes classicism in its most pristine form
answ - VVS

mahavishnu
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Joined: 02 Feb 2010, 21:56

Re: Guru Karaikudi Mani

Post by mahavishnu »

answ - VVS
hmm.. no. any other guesses? :D

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