What a fantastic day it was? Those who attended the events were truly lucky to have been a part of this celebrations. I reached academy around 8.45 AM. The hall was almost empty, but for the organisers. And we had Various thani avarthanams of Mani Iyer being played through the sound systems. That itself transported me to a state of bliss.
The morning session began with a bit of a set back - that Shri T.K.Murthy couldn't attend the function due to some personal reasons. So the day began with a power point presentation by Shri T.R.Rajamani, son and disciple of Palghat Mani Iyer, explaining salient features of Shri Mani Iyer's playing style. The presentation was shaped in a concert format, where it contained various songs from Varnam to Mangalam sung by various artists, accompanied by Shri Mani Iyer. The list and the features explained below.
Kambodhi Varnam - By Alathoor brothers - The mastery of Mani Iyer over the varnam was clearly visible, especially when he embellishes the mel kalam of the varnam with various sollus of various speeds.
Ninnu vina Gamari - Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar - The highlight was Mani Iyer's anticipation of Ariyakudi's singing, when he stood on "Mel Sa" for a long time, and Mani Iyer embellished it beautifully and joined along with ARI exactly when he restarted the line from the sahityam. It was mesmerising to say the least.
Manasa Etulo - GNB - The highlight here was Mani Iyer's flawless accompaniment for the keerthanai, and swaram. And also the way he accompanies the violin while the swarams were played by Lalgudi Jayaraman.
Nannu Vidachi - MDR - This is a clipping from a Bombay concert. while singing the pallavi, suddenly the sound of a passing train will hinder the concert. Once the train passed, mani iyer will begin playing exactly in the train's rhythm which will get a lot of applause from the audience. The MDR remarks "Adhukkum layam irukke (even the train has layam)". PMI responded "Layam illama edhuvume illai. (there is nothing without layam). MDR settles the issue "Unga kitta layam mattum illai, nadhamum irukku (In you, we not only have layam, but also naadham). And the concert continues.The highlight being, Mani Iyer's tremendous accompaniment to Lalgudi for the swarams.
Sanithodi Swaram - Alathoor Srinivasa Iyer - This is a small clip, where Srinivasa Iyer sings non stop swarams for 2 minutes, with no gap. Mani Iyer, instead of resorting to normal sarva laghu nadai, plays various patterns to embelish the music. Stunning.
vinatha sutha - MMI - The kriti was sung in a tricky kalapramanam. So PMI safely starts and observes the kalapramanam during the pallavi, and once he got the kalapramanam, he brings the roof down(not sure if this is the right analogy
) along in the anupallavi by playing tremendous sollus and mel kalam to suit the song. Muddumomu - Lalgudi Violin duet - To me, this was the highlight of the presentation. Mani Iyer, plays like chendai, for the charanam of the keerthanam. And I can vouch that noone has ever played that sollu with that perfection ever since. PMI himself hasn't played it again I believe. It was simply divine. Touched by Lord Shiva himself. I heard a lot of "tchu tchu tchu"s and a lot of "aha aha aha"s from the crowd. And a few (including yours truly) shouted "deivame", when that mel kalam was played. It was the moment of the day.
Excerpt from a speech by Lalgudi - Lalgudi says that like how one can never replace a phrase or a word used by Shakespeare with some other phrase or word, one can never replace a sollu played by Mani Iyer, because a better sollu doesnt exist. And also remarked that not only that Mani Iyer's playing has a lot of depth in it, Mani Iyer's silence during a concert also has a lot of meaning to it. (avar vaasikardhula aayiram artham irukkum. Avar vaasikama irukardhuliyum aayiram artham irukkum)
Chetulara - Chembai - Highlight was Mani Iyer's playing to Chembai's style of swaram singing.
Thiruvadi Charanam - Flute Mali - Highlight was the azhutham and sound that PMI was able to produce in a high pitched mridangam accompanying Mali.
Vandhan Vandhan Bharathan - ARI - The highlight here is how Mani Iyer almost pronounces the lyrics in his mridangam. First time, he is silent when ARI sings "Nayagan sol marandhan" - From the next time, the mridangam literally pronounces the words.
Na jiva - T N Krishnan Violin - This was another wonder. Mani Iyer's playing sounds as if the mridangam is singing the keerthanam along with the violin. Every sangathi is known to mani iyer and he plays various fineries instead of playing nadai. Simply jaw dropping. I couldn't resist clapping for every sangathi.
Janani Ninnu Vina - Semmangudi - Highlight was Mani Iyer's playing for Semmangudi.
Excerpt from a Semmangudi Speech - Semmangudi says "aakasathuku aakasam dhan samanam. Samudrathuku samudram dhan samanam. Mani'ku Mani dhan samanam" (Only the sky can be equivalent to the sky. Only the ocean can be equal to the ocean. Similarly, only Mani can be equal to Mani.). Soul stirring.
Kopamtula - Javali sung by D K Pattammal - Highlight was Mani Iyer's playing for the javali.
Thillana in Ananda Bhairavi by D K Jayaraman - Highlight was Mani Iyer playing for a thillana
Bhujaga shayino - Mangalam - KVN - Highlight was Mani Iyer's playing for the mangalam and how he played for one more minute after the mangalam was finished.
The presentation was truly mind blowing. I have requested Mani Iyer's fmaily if they can share the presentation with me, so that I can post it here in Rasikas.org. If I get my hands on it, I will upload it here.
This was followed by Shri. T.R.Rajaram's (son of Mani Iyer) speech about Mani Iyer as a father and as a man. This was followed by a group discussion about the Tanjore Bhani. I will write more about the speech of Shri. Rajaram and the group discussion later.
The evening session was even more brilliant, with various tributes, honours, Shri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman's thani avarthanam etc. about which I will write later as well. In the mean while, if any other rasikas.org member was present in the function, please add your comments as well.
Like how Appayya deekshithar said about Shankara's works, I would state that If I am blessed with the resources and gyanam to listen and enjoy Palghat Mani Iyer's playing in every birth I take, I will have no hesitation to be born even 1000 times.
Hail Mani Iyer
Regards
T
